3 Days Rwanda Mount Karisimbi Hiking Safari Tour
This 3 Days Rwanda Mount Karisimbi hiking safari is one of the most adventurous Rwanda safaris, offering tourists an opportunity to hike one of the most visited mountains in Volcanoes National Park. This 3 Days Rwanda Mount Karisimbi hiking safari requires one to be physically and mentally stable to have the best experience throughout.
A brief introduction to Mount Karisimbi Hike
Mount Karisimbi is located in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, the land of a thousand hills. This is a dormant volcano that last erupted about 10,000 years ago and stands tall at 4,407 m near the Rwanda and DRC border.
Mount Karisimbi is the highest volcano in the Virunga Massif, where 6 other volcanoes exist, including Mount Nyiragongo, the most active and most hiked volcano in the massif; Mount Mikeno; Mount Gahinga; Mount Bisoke; Mount Muhavura; Mount Sabyinyo; and Mount Nyamuragira, making it 7 volcanoes that are shared amongst three parks: Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Virunga National Park in DRC and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda.
The word “Karisimbi” is a Kinyarwanda word which literally refers to the “White Shell” due to the snow that covers the peak during the dry season.
An adventure to the summit of Mount Karisimbi enables hikers to have a stunning view of the neighbouring volcanoes, including the neighbouring Mount Mikeno, Mount Bisoke and Mount Nyiragongo, the most active volcano in the Virunga massif.
The hiking trail rewards tourists with lots of other fascinating encounters, including the stunning vegetation cover, primates like mountain gorillas on a lucky day, golden monkeys, other small animals, and abundant birdlife. While at the summit, hikers view the crater lakes and the caldera that are situated at the peak of Mount Karisimbi.
Mount Karisimbi is open for hiking all year round; however, the dry months of June to September and December to February are highly recommended when the hiking trails are dry and passable, making the hike smooth and manageable, unlike the rainy season when the trails are muddy and slippery, making it difficult to navigate.
While planning your Karisimbi hike, ensure that you’re prepared both mentally and physically to achieve the best hiking experience while in the wilderness of Volcanoes National Park.
Safari highlights
- Day 1: Kigali Pickup and Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
- Day 2: Mount Karisimbi Hiking Safari
- Day 3: Mount Karisimbi hike and return to Kigali
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Kigali Pick up and Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Depending on your arrival time, you will be welcomed by an experienced safari driver from Chopper Tour and Travel who will be your driver throughout your 3 days Rwanda Mount Karisimbi hiking safari. You will be briefed about Kigali and Rwanda in particular as you set off on a city tour to learn more about Kigali, its history and culture. You will visit key tourist attractions in Kigali City, including the Genocide Memorial sites, the King’s Palace, Kimironko Market and many more, depending on the time. Trust me, you will be impressed by how beautiful and clean Kigali is! By the way, did you know that Kigali was ranked the cleanest city in Africa? Well, you can now affirm that.
After the Kigali city tour, have lunch and embark on a 2-hour drive to your lodge in Volcanoes National Park through Rwanda’s rolling hills, as Rwanda is famously known as the land of a thousand hills. Upon arrival, proceed to check in to your lodge for dinner and have an overnight sleep, anticipating the next day’s fascinating Mount Karisimbi hiking safari.
Meal plan: Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation options:
Luxury: The 5 Volcanoes Lodge/Bisate Lodge/Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Midrange: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge / Davinci Lodge
Budget: Hotel Muhabura/The Garden Place Hotel
Days 2 and 3: Mount Karisimbi Hiking safari and return to Kigali
Start your day with a heavy breakfast at the lodge, then meet your safari driver for a drop-off at the park headquarters, where all hikers meet for a briefing about Mount Karisimbi before the actual hike commences. Hikers are provided with the hiking gear, including the hiking stick. At this point, hikers are encouraged to hire the porter to assist in carrying the extra backpack and camping gear, as well as offer a pull/push during the hike.
The actual hike starts with hikers being driven from Kiningi to the foot of Mount Bisoke to start ascending through various vegetation cover up to the first stopover at 3,700 m above sea level, where the 1st day of the hike ends after ascending for about 6 hours. For those who wish to hike only for one day, it’s at this point that they start to descend back to the base, while those on a 2 days hike set up their camping tents and have a night’s rest.
The next morning, on day 3 of your safari, hikers have a warm breakfast at the camp before embarking on the last push to summit Mount Karisimbi. This takes only 1 hour, but it’s such a challenging hike due to the steep nature of the trail, which makes it hard to navigate through. With good health and physical stamina, hikers are motivated to reach the summit and watch all the beautiful scenery and stunning views of the neighbouring Mount Nyiragongo, Mount Nyamulagira, and Mount Muhavura.
After spending time at the top of Mount Karisimbi, it’s now time to descend back to Kiningi, where the hike started, and then be driven to the park headquarters to receive your hiking experience certificate and meet your driver for a few hours’ drive back to Kigali for your next flight. Lunch will be en route.
End of 3 days Mount Karisimbi hiking safari
Packing for Mount Karisimbi hiking safari;
- Karisimbi hiking permit
- warm clothes, including sweater pants, a long-sleeved sweater, stockings and hand gloves
- Good hiking shoes/boots
- waterproof or rain jacket
- Insect repellant
- Sunscreen
- A hat
- A walking stick can be provided
- Camping equipment, like a tent and sleeping bag (available for hire)
- Packed lunchbox
- Enough drinking water and a refillable water bottle
- A camera and extra charged batteries
Safari inclusive;
- Karisimbi hiking permit at $400
- Rangers
- Camping equipment
- A 4×4 safari van/land cruiser
- An English-speaking safari driver/guide
- All accommodation is on a full board
- Enough drinking water
- All activities included in the itinerary
Safari exclusive;
- Visa
- Flight tickets
- Life insurance
- Porter (available for hire)
- Optional activities
- All expenses of a personal nature, like souvenirs, alcohol,
- Tips and gratuity, etc.
