Planning a photography safari in Volcanoes National Park

September 16, 2023

Planning a photography safari in Volcanoes National Park

Photography safaris are another way of exploring the national park with all it offers. Located in the northern part of Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park is best known as the best and only gorilla trekking destination in Rwanda. It is part of the other four national parks where gorilla trekking takes place: the Mgahinga and Bwindi in Uganda and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Four categories of tourists visit Volcanoes National Park, including foreign non-residents, East African citizens, foreign residents, and East African foreign residents.

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When planning a photography safari, some factors need to be considered: the accommodation (where it is located and the cost), transport, park entry fees, and each activity carried out in the national park. The fees levied on the different activities include the following:

Gorilla trekking: This is one of the most expensive activities carried out in Volcanoes, and the cost of a gorilla permit is $1500 for travelers
Volcano hikes: If you plan on hiking all the mountains, the total cost is $1500. Mount Bisoke goes for $65 for EAC citizens, $55 for Rwanda citizens, $60 for foreign residents, and $75 for foreign non-residents. Mount Muhabura is $80 for EAC citizens, $75 for foreign residents, $55 for Rwandan citizens, and $100 for foreign non-residents.
Musanze caves: Foreign residents pay $30, 4000RWF for Rwandan citizens, foreign non-residents pay $50 and East African citizens pay $30.
Dian Fossey hike: Foreign non-residents pay $75, Rwanda citizens pay $55, East African citizens pay $65 and Foreign residents pay $60.

The above-stated costs of the different activities carried out in Volcanoes Park can be paid at the park headquarters or to the Rwanda Development Board at their offices, and foreign residents need to show proof of their residence to pay the residents’ fee.

Packing list for a photo safari in Volcanoes National Park

The packing list for a photo safari in Volcanoes National Park includes the following:

Clothes: These should be the first thing that should be packed for a photo safari, but only pack a few clothes because you wish to have heavy luggage on your safari, and even if you hire a porter, they can only carry a maximum of 15kgs. The clothes that need to be packed include a sun hat, waterproof and strong hike boots, long-sleeved shirts, under shirts, trousers that are not jeans (make sure that the trousers are lightweight), warm sweater, rain jackets, scarfs, and thick socks (pants are tucked into the trousers for protection from insects). The clothes should be neutral colors like green, khaki, or brown and avoid camouflage associated with the army and blue associated with tsetse flies.

A camera: A camera is essential to take advantage of your photography safari. It does not matter which type of camera you have or whether you have prior photography skills; all you need is passion, and a professional guide will take you through the steps of capturing good photographs. A regular point-and-shoot camera is all you need, and the camera gear you need to carry includes extra batteries because you might not get a chance to charge, extra memory cards, a lens solution, a zoom lens, a Tripod to help take precision photos, and a camera bag to help you carry all the camera equipment.

Binoculars: Besides a camera, you will also need to carry binoculars for the photo safari. These are mainly used to see all the wildlife in the park that is either far away or hidden. Binoculars are essential in zooming in on the wildlife you wish to take photos of, especially during bird watching.

Packing list for a photo safari in Bwindi

Packing for a safari sounds easy, but it is a bit hard, especially if you need to know exactly what to pack or leave behind. This packing list is to help you with this dilemma, and we are going to categorize the packing list into essentials, gadgets, and clothing.

A day backpack: The backpack is to help you carry your day-to-day essential items to be used during the safari, and these include the camera and the camera equipment, insect repellent, sunscreen, toiletries like wet wipes, toilet paper, documents, water bottles, snacks, and personal items.

Insect repellent: This is used to protect your skin from insect bites. Do not forget that the jungle is filled with different insect species, and you do not wish to go back home with a fever.

Sunscreen: Sunscreen is to protect your skin, and you need to carry it in your day backpack for when you need to reapply.

First aid kit: The first aid kit should be well stocked with band-aids, diarrhea medicine, painkillers like Panadol and Ibuprofen, stomach pain medicines, iodine, personal medicine prescribed by a doctor, and cotton, among others. First aid kits are usually available at the lodges, and guides carry some as well, but to be safe, carry an extra one.

Activities offered in Volcanoes National Park

Gorilla trekking: This is the main activity in Volcanoes National Park, with about 10 habituated families open for trekking to the public. Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes can be carried out all year round; however, the best time is during the dry season (June to September) when the gorillas can easily be trekked. Tourists can only enjoy the trek after purchasing the gorilla permit, which can be bought from the Rwanda Development Board or a tour operator. The gorilla permit costs $1500 for foreign non-residents, $200 for East African citizens, and $500 for African citizens and residents. Rwanda offers discounted gorilla permits during the low season, which will only last until December 2023. The trek starts early in the morning with a briefing from the tour guides about what needs to be done during the trek and the rules to follow. This is when tourists are grouped and each assigned a gorilla family.

Photographing gorillas is a unique experience; although they are always on the move, it sometimes takes effort to take photos. There are a few rules that need to be followed while taking photos of the gorillas, and these: you shouldn’t take photos with your camera flash on, keep a distance of 7 meters between you and the gorillas, and you should take gorilla photos with better lighting and from a specific angle.

Golden monkey trekking: Golden monkeys are an endangered species that can be trekked in the Volcanoes National Park. The Golden monkeys live within the same area as the gorillas but are found on a lower level than the mountain gorillas found in higher altitudes. Golden monkeys can easily be identified by the gold coating on their backs and around their face. They are extremely playful and can be seen jumping from tree to tree. They predominantly feed on insects and bamboo shoots, but once in a while, they raid the nearby farms in search of potatoes. Golden monkey trekking is not as difficult and strenuous as gorilla trekking, and it can also be done in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. You will, however, need to purchase a Golden Monkey trekking permit at $100 per person, and these need to be booked in advance for proper planning.

Exploring the Musanze caves: The Musanze caves are adjacent to the Bisoke and Sabinyo mountains, close to the national park. The caves are believed to be over 65 years with tunnels running over 20 kilometers. They have 31 entrances and were formed when the lava that flowed out of the volcanic mountains cooled. The Musanze caves were used by kings in Rwanda as a hideout during wars and a place for regrouping. An experienced tour guide will take you around the Musanze caves at a cost, which is explored at $50 per person.

Visiting the Iby’iwacu village: Iby’iwacu village is adjacent to the Volcanoes National Park and the perfect spot to explore after trekking gorillas. It is currently referred to as the Gorilla Guardians village, and there are several activities you can engage in whether you are going to spend a few hours or days. These include getting a taste of the local dishes prepared by the locals, trying out the local banana brew, enjoying the music and dance performed by the locals and several dance groups, and trying the local herbal medicine that is harvested from the gardens by the medical staff, among other activities.

Mountain Volcanoes climbing: Volcanoes National Park is home to several volcanic mountains. Karisimbi and Bisoke mountains are the most commonly climbed Mountains in Volcanoes, with trekkers taking a day to get to the peak of Bisoke and two days to get to the peak. The trek starts early morning, and with your assigned guide, you set off for the two peaks that provide you with a great view of the national parks Volcanoes, Bwindi, Virunga, and Mgahinga national parks, views of the Rwenzori ranges, and the surrounding areas.

Bird watching: Volcanoes Rwanda is home to about 200 recorded bird species, including 17 endemic Albertine endemics. Some of the bird species you should look out for include the Brown-necked parrot, African long-eared owl, Dusky turtle dove, Lagden’s swamp warbler, Archer’s robin-chat, Ruwenzori Apalis, Handsome Francolin, Dusky Crimsonwing, red-faced woodland warbler, strange weaver, Scarlet-tufted sunbird, collared Apalis, weird weavers and Rwenzori double collared sunbirds among others. Although birding is an all-year-round activity, the best time is when migratory birds are around from November to April.

Visiting the Dian Fossey Grave: Dian Fossey pioneered the research and protection of Mountain gorillas. and she only researched the behaviors of the gorillas, but she also campaigned against the trafficking of baby mountain gorillas. She was killed in the 1980s by a poacher and was buried in the national park. The trek to the grave will be worthwhile when you see where she was buried. The trek to the grave takes between 1 to 3 hours, depending on your fitness levels, and some of the things you need to carry for this trek include long-sleeved shirts and pants, strong hiking boots, and a rain jacket for when it rains.

Accommodation in Volcanoes

Accommodation is categorized into three categories: luxury facilities, mid-range, and budget-friendly accommodation facilities. Although it is a high-end destination, tourists can still get accommodation that fits in their accommodation.

Rwanda is a luxury gorilla trek destination, and several luxury accommodation facilities are found near Volcanoes National Park. These offer luxury services to tourists, and some of the luxury accommodation facilities you can use include the Boutique Lodge, which has great views of Virunga mountains, Bisate Lodge, One & Only Gorilla Nest, which offers ultimate luxury facilities, and the Virunga volcanoes lodge. Other facilities you can check out include Five Volcanoes Lodge and the Sabinyo Silverback Lodge.

Mid-range accommodation facilities include La Palme Hotel, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Da Vinci View Lodge, and Lebambou Gorilla Lodge.

Getting to Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park is located in the north part of Rwanda and a 2 to 3-hour drive from Kigali. You can either drive or fly to the national park, and if you are planning on driving, a safari vehicle will pick you up if you booked through a tour operator and drive you to Volcanoes. Tourists who prefer flying can book chartered flights from Kigali International Airport to Kamembe Airport, and the rest of the journey will be completed by a short drive.