Volcanoes National Park
🇷🇼 Rwanda
🦍 Gorilla Families on Volcano SlopesVolcanoes National Park sits in north‑west Rwanda, part of the East African volcanic chain. The park protects a mosaic of tropical rainforest that climbs steep slopes and cradles mist‑shrouded valleys, giving a stark contrast to the savanna that surrounds it.
-1.533° S 29.471° E
Wildlife
⭐ Iconic Species
★ 
Eastern Gorilla
Gorilla beringei
★ 
Streaky Seedeater
Crithagra striolata
★ 
Coarse Chameleon
Trioceros rudis
★ 
Blue Monkey
Cercopithecus mitis
📊 Most Spotted
Chubb's Cisticola
Cisticola chubbi
Common Bulbul
Pycnonotus barbatus
Pied Crow
Corvus albus
Baglafecht Weaver
Ploceus baglafecht
Variable Sunbird
Cinnyris venustus
Red-eyed Dove
Streptopelia semitorquata
Bronze Sunbird
Nectarinia kilimensis
Black Kite
Milvus migrans
Hadada
Bostrychia hagedash
Northern Grey-headed Sparrow
Passer griseus
African Stonechat
Saxicola torquatus
Black-crowned Waxbill
Estrilda nonnula
⭐ Iconic Species
📊 Most Spotted
Northern Bushbuck
Tragelaphus scriptus
Southern Tree Hyrax
Dendrohyrax arboreus
African Buffalo
Syncerus caffer
Carruthers' Mountain Squirrel
Funisciurus carruthersi
Spotted-necked Otter
Hydrictis maculicollis
Bush Duiker
Sylvicapra grimmia
Stuhlmann's Golden Mole
Chrysochloris stuhlmanni
African Forest Elephant
Loxodonta cyclotis
⭐ Iconic Species
📊 Most Spotted
Chubb's Cisticola
Cisticola chubbi
Common Bulbul
Pycnonotus barbatus
Pied Crow
Corvus albus
Baglafecht Weaver
Ploceus baglafecht
Variable Sunbird
Cinnyris venustus
Red-eyed Dove
Streptopelia semitorquata
Bronze Sunbird
Nectarinia kilimensis
Black Kite
Milvus migrans
Hadada
Bostrychia hagedash
Northern Grey-headed Sparrow
Passer griseus
African Stonechat
Saxicola torquatus
Black-crowned Waxbill
Estrilda nonnula
⭐ Iconic Species
📊 Most Spotted
Jackson's Forest Lizard
Adolfus jacksoni
Johnston's Chameleon
Trioceros johnstoni
African Striped Skink
Trachylepis striata
Uganda blue-headed tree agama
Acanthocercus ugandaensis
Sparse-scaled Forest Lizard
Congolacerta vauereselli
Great Lakes Bush Viper
Atheris nitschei
Montane side-striped chameleon
Trioceros ellioti
Kivu blue-headed tree agama
Acanthocercus kiwuensis
📊 Most Spotted
Natal Puddle Frog
Phrynobatrachus natalensis
Gong Rock Frog
Hyperolius glandicolor
African Common Toad
Sclerophrys gutturalis
Kisenyi Forest Tree Frog
Leptopelis kivuensis
Common Reed Frog
Hyperolius viridiflavus
Kivu Reed Frog
Hyperolius kivuensis
Rugegewald Screeching Frog
Arthroleptis adolfifriederici
Nile Ridged Frog
Ptychadena nilotica
Kisolo Toad
Sclerophrys kisoloensis
Anchieta's Ridged Frog
Ptychadena anchietae
Recent sightings in Volcanoes National Park
LIVEiNaturalistAnimal Events
1Gorilla Peak Activity Season
During these months, mountain gorillas experience increased mobility and social activity across the forested slopes, aligning with optimal trekking conditions.
3Reptilian Basking Window
Drier breaks in the montane weather allow unique reptiles to frequent exposed branches and rocks to thermoregulate.
2Avian Breeding and Song Period
Many resident bird species reach peak vocalization and breeding readiness, making the montane forests exceptionally vibrant for birdwatching.
Sighting Calendar
Average chance of spotting the park's most-spotted species, month by month
- 1Gorilla Peak Activity Season
- 2Avian Breeding and Song Period
- 3Reptilian Basking Window
Sighting Zones
Warmer areas are where all species together are recorded most often.
Essentials
Climate
What visitors saw
We would have reached the monkeys much sooner, but we came across a couple of chameleons on the vines and fences along the path.
We did still get to see the Golden Monkeys, though.
We were told that we occasional see elephants and buffaloes, but we only saw birds – in this case a pair of weaver birds.
The greatly anticipated gorilla trek, where they assured me “one hundred percent” I would see gorillas, is in the books.
Quick answers
What animals can you see in Volcanoes National Park?
The most likely sightings are Streaky Seedeater (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), Eastern Gorilla (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), Coarse Chameleon (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), Blue Monkey (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), Chubb's Cisticola (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers) — among 1298 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.
When is the best time to visit Volcanoes National Park for wildlife?
December has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.
Can you see Eastern Gorilla in Volcanoes National Park?
Yes — about 80% of wildlife watchers report a Eastern Gorilla sighting in Volcanoes National Park, based on 121 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Streaky Seedeater in Volcanoes National Park?
Yes — about 80% of wildlife watchers report a Streaky Seedeater sighting in Volcanoes National Park, based on 799 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Coarse Chameleon in Volcanoes National Park?
Yes — about 80% of wildlife watchers report a Coarse Chameleon sighting in Volcanoes National Park, based on 66 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Blue Monkey in Volcanoes National Park?
Yes — about 80% of wildlife watchers report a Blue Monkey sighting in Volcanoes National Park, based on 94 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Where Wildlife Score
How good is this park for seeing wildlife?Biodiversity
Very goodHow rich is the wildlife?
Sighting
GoodHow likely to see animals?
Experience
GoodHow easy and pleasant is the visit?
