Archive for category: Rwanda

Mount Bisoke

Planning to visit Rwanda and engage in one of the popular gorilla trekking events, in addition to gorilla trekking, Rwanda provides plenty of activities and things to do. you can also include mount Bisoke hiking on your things to do during your Rwanda safari tour.

 Mountain Bisoke is a dormant volcano Formed on the basis of a split which is slowly separating East African parts, rising at an altitude of 3711 metres. The mountain is one of the sequence of volcanoes that make up the Virunga Mountain Range that stretches across Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mountain Bisoke crosses the Rwandan frontier with the Democratic Republic of Congo, but most of it, including the summit & two spectacular crater lakes. Mount Bisoke is one of the 8 volcanic mountains situated in Rwanda and one of the easiest volcanic mountains to climb and best suitable for hikers who are not used to taking long hikes. The peak rises up to 3,711 meters above sea level, the range is distinguished by a collection of types of vegetation varying from bamboo forests, to Hypercom forests.

Mount Bisoke is also known as the Visoke Peak, the term Bisoke comes from the Swahili word meaning “soaked water” the last eruption occurred in 1957 and is fitted with two spectacular maker reservoirs, one about 11 kilometres from the summit and the other at the top.  Mount Bisoke just like any other Virunga mountains was formed out of a rift action. The mountain also boasts with the largest crater lake in the Virunga ranges, the mountain also comprises of alpine meadows and equatorial forests.

Mount Bisoke is a home to the endangered mountain gorillas which is one of the famous activities in volcanoes national park Rwanda. The lush bamboo forests and other plants around the mountain give these great apes an ideal food and shelter. Yet Hiking Mount Bisoke and hitting the top is also a favourite activity for many tourists to the National Park of Volcanoes. Many visitors to the National Park of Volcanoes merge gorilla trekking with hike to mount Bisoke.

Climbing mount Bisoke – Hiking Mount Bisoke

The Bisoke Mountain is one of Rwanda’s adventure activities. It’s just a6-hour hike with the 2 hours down to the starting point. Experienced hikers can get to the top of this mountain within 3 or even less hours and return to the base in about an hour. Hiking to the mountain requires only 1-day Rwanda safari tour. On the day of hiking, hikers are required to be at the park headquarters at Kinigi by 7:00pm for a briefing and assigned a park ranger. The rangers have knowledge and much information a bout the mountains. After the briefing, the guide will lead you to the starting point of your hike. Hikers are also required to hire a porter to help you carry your property.

Bisoke hiking is common with tourists to Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park due to the possibility of seeing the fog-filled hills, crater lakes, spectacular views and alpine vegetation seen anywhere else on earth. The volcano is a sanctuary for elephants from the jungle, lions, mountain gorillas, golden monkeys and several species of birds. During the trek, you can have an opportunity to meet the gorilla families or golden monkeys’ groups roaming around the trails which make the hike even more fulfilling experience.

Hiking Mount Bisoke Volcano, the trip to the starting point of the trail takes 40 minutes on a bumpy road. At this stage the park officials will provide you with hiking sticks. you will be assigned an armed ranger who will meet you and escort you up to the summit and have the opportunity to hire porters to help with extra luggage.  the armed ranger guide will provide you security all through the hiking process in case of the armed rebels who might cross from the Congo side (very rare).

Porters also help you navigate rough parts of the trail by dragging you up or down. The porters stay near the park, and are very skilled and informative about the mountain trail like the wardens and rangers. Some have guided mountain climbers since infancy. It will cost you 10USD to hire a porter.

The hiking ends at the foot of the volcano with walking across leveled yet rugged and rough terrain. Until entering the park entrance, you’ll walk through several nearby gardens / plants. The park is safeguarded by concrete walls which prevent animals entering the park from reaching out human homes and gardens. Once you have reached the top of the top of the mountain, you will be able to view different scenery and vegetation types around the mountain. Mount Bisoke weather will dictate how long you’re going to stay on top. You might even go for a picnic on the top of the mountain on a sunny day. At the summit the lake is unfit for swimming. The climb back to the starting point is simple except that the mud-filled paths have to be managed again. At the starting point, your driver or company guide will be waiting for you.

Suggested Tours

• 1 day mount bisoke hike

Mount Karisimbi

Mount Karisimbi is one of the volcano mountains found in Virunga region, mount karisimbi is the highest among the volcanoes found in the Virunga region. The extinct volcano is located in the National Park of Volcanoes and at the boundary between Rwanda and the DR Congo. Mount rises to 4,507 meters and is flanked by other local volcanoes such as Mikeno, Nyiragongo and Bisoke. Mount Karisimbi, derived it name form the local Kinyarwanda word to mean “white shell”, which is the snow that normally covers the top of the mountain during the dry season of the year, at the  peak of mount Karisimbi , you will find a Branca caldera and two craters with Mutango being the highest.

Mount Karisimbi Hike

Visitors visiting the volcanoes national park in Rwanda, purposely for gorilla trekking, end up taking a hike to Mount Karisimbi as a supplement to the Rwanda Gorilla trekking. although the two activities can be so strenuous, but it offers an exciting experience due to the fact that, the mountain is located within the volcanoes national park,  you will also have an opportunity to spot  lot more other exciting attractions such as the golden monkeys, several bird species, and the mountain gorillas but the gorillas are not common seen passing close to Dian Fossey grave European protagonist who dedicated her live in the conservation of the mountain gorillas. When passing along the trail, on top of the volcano, harbours great attractions like the physical features, volcanic features, dense forest and vegetation which offer great attractions and interesting to look at.  hiking Mount Karisimbi is best achieved during the drier time of the year that is between January to March, and from July and early October, though in the rainy season, the hiking could require walking through thick jungle, steep slopes and muddy paths which makes the hiking a little bit challenging. It’s for this purpose, that hiking mount Karisimbi would be best during the dry season of the year.

Climbing mount Karisimbi, requires one to be physically fit and have enough energy and stamina in order to navigate along the steep slopes, muddy and challenging areas of the mountain. Due to the challenges, you are advised to take a porter with you, they help in carrying your property and also offer a push or pull incise the hike gets tougher.

The hike to Mount Karisimbi, will take you approximately 2 days to get to the top and descend from the mountain. The hike starts as early as 7:00am with a briefing at the park headquarters for registration and to be briefed by the rangers /warden of the park. after the briefing, the driver who is also the guide will transfer you to the starting point of the hike. Ascending to the top of the mountain, will take you about 7 hours but you will be allowed to rest midway the mountain at an altitude of 3,700 metres for an overnight stay. There is a camp place set on to there and dinner is prepared for all the trekkers in preparation for the final stage of the hike the following day. After an early breakfast, you will then start the nest hike which will last about 1 hour but this stage is a bit challenging as the mud gets thicker and wet, too much strong winds, and fog covering the all place which makes visibility even a little difficult.

While at the top, the views form the top, are spectacular and interesting to look at you will be able to view Muhavura volcano, the Nyamuragira Volcano, the Nyiragongo volcano, the dense forests, the vegetation, and many more. Thereafter the great views and finally you have had enough time, you will start to descent back to the starting point which will cover about 6 hours of your time, where the guide will transfer you back to the park headquarters.

Packing List and tips required in Hiking Mount Karisimbi

 The office for Rwanda tourism and managing national parks, provides guides who help hikers in the navigating of the different trails during the hike. Therefore, trekkers are also advised to come with the following essentials.

Good hiking shoes sweater / warm clothes, a lightweight heavy jumper, a hat and a walking stick A tent for camping overnight A sleeping bag Packed provisions for the overnight stay until hitting the top, you will also need porters to help carry your backpack, tents, Cameras, and other equipment of your importance.

Mount Karisimbi Hiking permits

Karisimbi hiking permits are usually purchased from headquarters in the park. The permit can be purchased on the day of the walk, but it is highly recommended that you book in advance just to make sure they expect you and also have an ample time in preparation for this activity. The Mount Karisimbi hiking permit costs 400USD per person. When you book your Rwanda safari with as at adventure in the wild safaris, we will carry the entire burden and arrange for you the whole safari.  We will provide transport, booking for you the accommodation, and securing your hiking permit in advance, planning to have a trip, reach to us we have a team of experienced staff ranging from tour guides, are a available to help you plan one of the best and life changing experience after the hike to Mount Karisimbi. You can also book gorilla trekking safari with the hike to any of the volcano mountains for the travellers who physically fit and take longer hikes.

Suggested Karisimbi Hiking Tours

• 2 days Mount Karisimbi Hike

Volcanoes National Park Attractions

Volcanoes National Park Attractions – The Rwandan part of the Virunga’s is host to Volcanoes National Park, which stretches along the DRC and Uganda frontier. The Virunga’s, which contains five volcanoes, are completely captivating and few would claim that this is not one of Africa’s most fascinating national parks in east Africa. We certainly don’t need to remind you, but of all the incredible sights and attractions that accompany the Virunga’s, the popular mountain gorillas are one of those that particularly attracts people here in the volcanoes national park.

Volcanoes National Park is one of the ancient national parks in Africa, the park was gazetted in 1952 purposely for the protection and conservation of the endangered mountain gorillas that where under a threat due to the rampant poaching activities carried out by the hunters who intruded the forest. The park is also known as Parc National Des Volcans, its situated in Kinigi a small village known as Musanze formally known as Ruhengeri in the north western part of Rwanda. Volcanoes national park Rwanda, borders the Virunga national park in Congo and Mgahinga gorilla national park in Uganda, these great national parks, form together the Virunga conservation area. The park is situated in an area of about 160km2 and known for its abundant biodiversity that have boosted the tourism industry in the country, out of the nine Virunga mountains, five of which are found in the volcanoes national park in Rwanda, the park is also covered with different vegetation types that is a home to the endangered mountain gorillas which is the main draw of tourists in the park. Besides the gorillas, the park also harbors the Golden monkeys, different mammal species, the animals spotted here include; the elephants, buffaloes, bushbucks, giant forest hogs and different bird species are spotted in park among others. Volcanoes national park is famous for gorilla trekking activities but the park also offers many other activities like golden monkey trekking, cultural visits, visit to Dian Fossey Cave, genocide memorial and may more other activities that you will engage in when you visit the country.

Attractions in Volcanoes National park

Mountain Gorillas:

volcanoes national park, is famous for hosting a number of the mountain gorillas living in its forest. The gorillas in volcanoes, have become the major attraction that has drawn many travellers and the country as well to do these activities of gorilla trekking. Volcanoes national park has got several habituated gorilla families some of which are used in gorilla trekking and others for research and others are in the wild. Volcanoes national park has got a number of 10 habituated gorilla families available for visitors visiting the country for Gorilla trekking experience on daily basis. The gorilla families in volcanoes national park include; Amahoro family, Susa family, Karisimbi gorilla family, Sabinyo family, Agastya Umubano family, Kwitonda family, Titus group, Igisha family, Isimbi group, Pablo, Ugenda, Bwenge and Muhoza family. The mountain gorillas are the most threatened ape in the world, the mountain gorillas are found only in smaller portions of sheltered Afro-Montane forests in north-western Rwanda, southwestern Uganda and eastern DRC. One of many animals native to those areas is the mountain gorilla. The woods do contain several attractions such as, the beautiful birds, monkeys like the golden monkeys, l’Hiost monkeys, Magabeys, large mammals like elephants, buffaloes’ antelopes and others, rodents, insects like buffer lies are spotted here, different plant species among others.

The mountain gorilla was undiscovered until 1902, when the American zoologist Dian Fossey first the need to conserve these animals and later she was mercilessly slaughtered by the rebels. This sets the tone for the relation and the need to protect these great Apes. For a long time since it seemed owing to erosion and smuggling that the mountain gorilla was easily doomed to be lost to the earth once again. Not long after the greatest champion of the genus, protagonist was murdered in Rwanda in 1985 that lead to the destruction of the gorillas and reduced their number to less than 300 gorillas in the wild therefore, the government has tried to make sure that the primates are under protection thus they gazetted the volcanoes national park that inhabited the mountain gorillas.

Today in the world, there is over 1000 and more mountain gorillas in the Virunga mountain of central Africa, at the boarder of Uganda, Rwanda and the democratic Republic of Congo. Here the volcanic slopes are dense with tropical forests and numerous species of mammals, birds and reptiles living in the forest.

The gorillas live in groups of two to ten members and above, the family is lead by a male gorilla known as the silver back, he is the head of the family, he provides protection and provides food for the members in its family. In case of danger on the family, the male gorilla, shows of his physical power by Standing upright, throw things, make violent attacks, pound his massive chest while roaring strong hoots or unleashing an alarming roar. Given these appearances and the obvious physical strength of the species, gorillas remain generally calm and non-aggressive when not bothered. The female gorillas give birth to one child after almost nine months of pregnancy. In comparison to their dominant kin, new-borns are smaller, weighing four pounds (two kilograms) and can only stick to the fur of their mothers, from the age of four months most youngsters fly on their mothers ‘ backs during the first two to three years of their lives.

Golden Monkeys:

After the mountain gorillas, Golden monkeys are also one of the unique species found in volcanoes national park and have become one of the most thought of adventure in the park after the popular gorilla trekking. The golden monkeys are also among the endangered primate species in various national park, the monkeys live in groups of 50 individuals and their daily meal is bamboo shoots, fruits, leaves, plants etc.

The golden monkeys are known to be shy primates but due to the habituation process, these has helped to improve on the shyness which has helped which has helped them to accept the presence of visitors and researchers coming to the park to carry out golden monkey trekking. There is no bid difference between gorilla trekking and golden monkey trekking since they both require a trekking permit to access their natural habitats. A group of eight people is required to trek each habituated group and you are allowed to spend one hour with the them once you have found them. The monkeys are so playful as the jump from one tree to another which makes it so interesting to watch but a little difficult to photograph

Golden monkey trekking today is the second most done activity in volcanoes national park after gorilla trekking. Golden monkey trekking is worth going for and you shouldn’t miss during any of the visit to volcanoes national park also the other remaining golden monkey population is inhabited in Mgahinga national park in south western Uganda bordering Rwanda.

Volcanoes national park, currently has two habituated golden monkey families open for trekking. The activity starts early morning with a briefing at the headquarters and then you will be led by the ranger guide in to the forest in search for the golden monkeys. And when you find them, you will be allowed one hour with them in their natural habitat.

Birds in Volcanoes national Park Rwanda

Volcanoes national park, is famous for harbouring a variety of bird species that have attracted the bird lovers in to the park for bird watching experience. The park is a home to over 178 recorded bird species and 29 which are endemic of the Albertine rift. Birding in volcanoes national park, is mainly done in the grassland, bushland vegetation, alpine and on bamboo among others, these site harbour birds which makes it easy for bird watching since they found inhabiting those places. Bird species in volcanoes national park include; red-faced woodland warbler, archer’s ground robin, Rwenzori Batis, Rwenzori double collared sunbird, and handsome francolin, African marsh harrier, common moorhen, long-crested eagle, grey throated tit, paradise flycatcher strange weaver among others.

Dian Fossey Research Centre

Dian Fossey Research Centre is an institute that was put in place by European primatologist Dian Fossey purposely for the conservation and the protection of the mountain gorillas that where under threat due to serious poaching activities. The visit to the institutes will offer you more knowledge about the gorillas and her interest in the conservation of the gorillas which later resulted in to gorilla trekking tourism in the country. You will be driven up to the starting point of the trail where you will then trek on foot for about 1-2 hours, during the trek , you will also be able to sight some of the animals in the forest such as the forest elephants, forest hogs, buffaloes and different bird species.
You arrive in the house of Dian Fossey in which she was miraculously assassinated in 1985 and afterward buried beside her favourite gorilla friend Digit. The gorilla grave yard is buried here with around 20 gorillas killed either by poachers or by natural causes.

Mountains in Volcanoes national Park

There are over 5 of the 8 Virunga Volcanoes found in volcanoes national park, which include; mount Muhavura, mount Gahinga, mount Sabinyo, mount Bisoke, Mount karisimbi. These mountains have both facilitated hiking activities. Travellers taking part in mountain hiking, you will have an opportunity to climb any of the volcano’s mountains of your preferred interest.

Mount Bisoke

Mount Bisoke is a dormant volcano mountain measuring a bout 3,711 metres above sea level, the mountain lies in the border between Volcanoes national park and Democratic republic of Congo. you can take a hike to Mount Bisoke, the mountain measures up to the height of about 400m has a stunning crater lake at its peak, Montane vegetation, Mount Mikeno in Congo, gorillas among others, rendering this volcano a fun experience to climb. The trip takes approximately 6 hours which is the 4 hours spend climbing on top and the 2 hours spent descending down.

Mount Karisimbi

Mount Karisimbi has the highest peaks among all the Virunga volcanoes, and the fifth highest among the mountains in Africa, measuring up to 4507 meters above sea level, situated along the equator, the mountain experiences cool temperatures which result to slow formation. The height of the peak makes hiking a little complex and challenging, so it’s only reserved for climbers who are involved in it.

Mount Muhavura

Mount Muhavura is the second heights peaks among the volcano mountains. The height measures up to 4,127 metres above sea level. mount Muhavura lies between Rwanda and Uganda and its both shared by the two countries. Therefore, travellers having interest in climbing this mountain, can both climb it in either of the countries. Climbing mount Muhavura takes approximately 6 to 8 hours to get to the top. While on top of the mountain, you will be able to view the beautiful crater lake, and stunning views of the landscape below and all that is in it such as the twin lakes including Burera and Ruhondo

Mount Sabinyo

Mount Sabinyo sits within the three east African countries namely Congo’s Virunga National Park, Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Peak top at 3,645 meters (11,959 ft). The peak is also an extinct volcano in the Virunga Range, in eastern Africa.

Mount Gahinga

Mount Gahinga is one of the shortest volcano mountains among all the Virunga ranges, the mountain measures up to the height of 3,474 metres above sea level. The height favours the hikers who do not take long hikes. The mountain is an extinct volcano lying between volcanoes national park in Rwanda and Mgahinga national park in Uganda therefore, hikers on Mount Gahinga, can hike the mountain in either of the countries.

List of Other Attractions in / Near Volcanoes National Park Rwanda

• Musanze Caves
• The twin lakes (Burera and Ruhondo)

Musanze caves are situated within the park and are triggered by volcanic eruption, which created an underground area that is wide enough for people to enter/access the inside. They are two kilometres long with walks and stairs which take you to the dark cave interior. The trek to the Musanze Cave, can be done as supplement to gorilla trekking in volcanoes national park. after morning gorilla trekking, you can also take time and visit the Musanze caves, it’s worth visiting.