| This park was once closed for
tourism conservation in 1991during the outbreak of the genocide
and was reopened again in July 1999. The numbers of visitors
are increasing every day and it regained its former reputation
as the best organized and most popular mountain gorilla sanctuary.
Parc National Des Volcans (PNV) is part of the Virunga
Conservation Area and covers more than 125 km². PNV
is home of five Virunga volcanoes: the Karisimbi, the highest
volcano with an altitude of 4.507 Muhabura (4.127 m), Sabyinyo
Bisoke (3711 m), (3.674 m), and Gahinga (3.474 m). Two of
the volcanoes erupted recently that is; the Nyiragongo erupted
in January 2002 and Nyamulagira in July 2002 while the rest
are extinct. The active ones are located in Congo.
The Virunga ecosystem is composed of 4 major vegetation
zones: bamboo forests, bambooHagenia and Hypericum forest
(2600-3300m), (base altitude), Afro-alpine (4000m+) and
Sub-alpine (3300-4000m).
Conceivably best known as the home of the rare mountain
gorilla.
Rwanda also known as the land of "Gorillas in the Mist"
has its star tourist attraction in the Mountain Gorillas.
The giant but gentle primates were the subjects of the late
Dian Fossey who dedicated her life to their protection and
conservation. Her detailed work is best seen in the international
acclaimed film "Gorillas in the Mist", which was
shot in Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park.
The mountain gorillas spend most of their time in the hagenia
woodlands and during the rainy season when new bamboo shoots
are growing, the gorillas spend more time searching for
food in the bamboo forests (base altitude). The climb to
the natural habitat of bamboo forest and Hagenia woodlands
offers fantastic views.
PNV was Dian Fossey's base a long time ago (She died on
the 26th of December 1985), and it is at the Karisoke Research
Center that during 18 years she carried out her study on
mountain gorillas.
There are 4 gorilla groups habituated for tourism, the Sabinyo
group has been divided up in two:
Sabyinyo A - group has 13 individuals
Sabyinyo B - group has 4 individuals (breakaway group)
Susa group has 35 individuals
Amahoro group has 11 individuals
Distance (traveling time): Access to the area starts with
Ruhengeri a town about 1h30 drive from Kigali and afterwards
to Kinigi (14 km from Ruhengeri) where the park headquarters
are located.
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