History Of The Volcanoes Nationional Park
History Of The Volcanoes National Park: It is located in Rwanda, a small landlocked republic on the African continent. Because it is home to the gentle giants known as mountain gorillas, the Volcanoes National Park has become a highly popular tourist destination. Due to the fact that the Volcanoes National Park is one of only three national parks in the world where visitors can see mountain gorillas in the wild, a sizable number of travelers on Rwanda tours have been drawn to the nation in search of this exciting encounter.
Although gorilla trekking is the main activity offered by the Volcanoes National Park, visitors can also partake in a variety of other activities. In addition to the information that is current, this national park in Rwanda also has some historical information related to it.
The park presently known as the Volcanoes National Park was formerly known as the Parc National des Volcans, a French term that refers to the park’s current English name. The Volcanoes National Park is situated in the Ruhengeri district in northwest Rwanda, about two hours and forty-five minutes’ drive from Kigali, the nation’s capital.
Rwanda‘s Volcanoes National Park shares boundaries with two additional mountain gorilla habitats: the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda‘s north and the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo‘s west. In addition to being home to mountain gorillas, the Volcanoes National Park is renowned for its volcanic mountains, a wealth of vegetation, and forest animals.
Five of the eight Virunga volcanic mountains are contained within the limits of the Volcanoes National Park; nevertheless, these are extinct and dormant volcanoes that were once active. The Volcanoes National Park is home to five Virunga volcanoes: Mount Bisoke, Mount Karisimbi, Mount Gahinga, Mount Muhabura, and Mount Sabyinyo. Established in 1925 as a national park within Rwanda, this park holds the distinction of being the oldest national park in Africa.
In order to keep poachers away from the mountain gorillas and other natural riches found within the area, the Volcanoes National area was gazetted in 1925. Previously, the Volcanoes National Park’s borders extended into the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It was called as the Albert National Park, after the then-king Albert 1. The Belgian colonialists, who were in power at the time, oversawand administered the Albert National Park.
After the country’s independence, the Volcanoes National Park was divided into about half of its original size in the 1960s, giving rise to the other mountain gorilla habitat, the Virunga National Park of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Currently, the Volcanoes National Park occupies 160 square kilometers, with potential for growth.
The renowned primatologist Dian Fossey once called the Volcanoes National area home. In 1967, the area served as the starting point for her research on mountain gorillas. In addition to conducting research, she underlined the value of gorilla conservation and the history of the Volcanoes National Park.
Research on Dian Fossey dates back to 1966, when she began the study and is also reported to have died in her modest home, allegedly murdered by poachers whose actions she strongly opposed. Her tomb is located inside the park, and entry costs $75 USD, which includes a trek.
The Volcanoes National Park has also served as a battlefield in local civil wars and as a haven for Rwandans during the 1994 Rwandan Genocide Memorial. These unrest undoubtedly had a detrimental impact on the park’s tourism industry. Rwanda has stabilized over time, and operations have continued without incident or danger.
Motives for visiting Volcanoes National Park
Since its founding in 2005, the Volcanoes National Park has been the only gorilla sanctuary to host the yearly Kwita Izina infant naming ritual. On a certain day of the year, a ceremony was held to name the new babies born in the park. This event served as a means of keeping an eye on the park’s gorilla population while also showcasing the results of conservation efforts as they continue to increase year.
The Volcanoes National Park offers the best gorilla experience, with mountain gorilla permits costing $1,500 USD per person and offering travelers a clearer view of the gorillas due to the park’s lush foliage. Unlike the other dense gorilla homes, the Volcanoes National Park is primarily covered in bamboo. Get in contact with us to arrange a visit to the Volcanoes National Park as part of your Rwanda safari itinerary.