Geologically, the park is a spectacle. It’s home to part of the Virunga Mountains—a stunning chain of volcanoes straddling Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. These volcanoes are not just static sentinels; they are living entities, occasionally spewing ash and lava, acting as reminders of Africa’s fiery geological past. They mark the stretch of the Great Rift Valley, symbolizing the very forces that have shaped the continent’s unique topography over millions of years.
The Batwa people’s poignant story is interwoven through the park’s fabric. The indigenous inhabitants of these forests, their life was symbiotic with nature. Displaced from their ancestral forest homes for the dual objectives of conservation and tourism, their plight is a subject often sidestepped. While their cultural performances may well enchant tourists, the shadow of their marginalization and the realities of their new dwellings can’t be overlooked. Addressing this complex issue transparently is paramount, as tourism shouldn’t come at the cost of indigenous rights, and it is vital to acknowledge this human cost and work towards an equitable coexistence model.