Mountain Hiking

Almost hundred percent of all mountaineering interest in Rwanda can be found in Virunga Volcanoes: the three most important massifs rising above Rwanda are:  The Karisimbi (4507m), highest point in the Country; Muhabura (4127m), lower but offering much more mountaineering challenge; and the Bisoke Volocano (3711m) the smaller among the Three.

Hiking Karisimbi in Volcanos National Park

 

Karisimbi is 4507 metres /14787 feet, Its name in Kinyarwanda means "white shell", which refers to its often white-capped summit. The Karisimbi is the fifth highest mountain of Africa. The climb will start early in the morning and takes 6 hours. You will climb further via the Bisoke side, before reaching the first stopping place at an altitude of 3.700 m for overnight (camping).

The best months to climb the Karisimbi are: January, February, March and July, August, September.

 

Climbing Volcano Muhabura

 

 

Muhabura is 4, 127m / 13,540 feet, Mt. Muhabura is amazing hike. . . . it is very serious. From base to peak it is about 5,000 feet. Muhabura is the 2nd tallest Mountain in Rwanda but the most difficult due to the steepness and the fact that you must finish the roundtrip in one day. 

​Climbing Volcano Bisoke 

​

Mt. Bisoke is an extinct volcano in the Virunga mountain range in east Africa. It stands at 3,711 meters with a crater lake at the summit that can be hiked on one s. The hike leads through rain forest inhabited by the endangered mountain gorillas that were the subject of the movie "Gorillas in the Mist" about Dian Fossey. The hike to the crater lake (no swimming) takes about 3 hours up and 2 hours down. It is non-technical but can be muddy and slippery, especially on the steeper sections. Long pants are suggested due to the stinging nettles plants that are found along the trail.