Mount Karisimbi Hike – Facts, Costs, When To Go
Mount Karisimbi Hike – Facts, Costs, When To Go

Mount Karisimbi Hike – Facts, Costs, When To Go.

The tallest of the Virunga Mountains, which are shared by Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is Mount Karisimbi, a dormant volcano. Standing at 4,507 meters, it is also the eleventh highest point on the African continent. Situated inside Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, it shares a border with the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo and is encircled by many other volcanoes, including Mikeno, Nyiragongo, and Bisoke.

The name Karisimbi, which means “white shell” in the native Kinyarwanda language, comes from the fact that the top of this mountain is covered with snow throughout the dry season. This mountain has two craters, the greatest of which is the Mutango crater, which is also two (2) kilometers wide. Caldera Branca

 

Mount Karisimbi Hiking

One of the most popular tourist activities in Rwanda is hiking Mount Karisimbi. In Volcanoes National Park, hiking Mount Karisimbi is often coupled with a gorilla trekking safari. During this incredible journey, you will have the opportunity to see a variety of wildlife, including birds, monkeys, including the golden monkey, and, if you are fortunate enough to see mountain gorillas, the grave of Dian Fossey, a renowned researcher who devoted a significant portion of her life to studying the mountain gorillas in this region.

All participants must be in excellent physical condition and have the necessary energy to tackle the mountain’s difficult slopes, since the walk to the top is often regarded as being rather difficult. A qualified park guide will lead you as you rise, and you will follow the hiking group’s slowest hiker throughout your ascent or descent. Additionally, a number of porters are available for hiring at the park headquarters for $20 USD apiece, and they will help you with your personal belongings, camping gear, and baggage.

Mount Karisimbi

The trip starts early, and after the park guide gives a briefing, participants begin the real ascent around 7:00 a.m. Starting from the base of Mount Bisoke, the round-trip journey, including the climb and descent, takes two (2) days to complete. You will halt at an elevation of around 3,700m, or almost halfway, during the roughly 7-hour climb, when you will set up a tent for supper and the night.

Mount Karisimbi Hike – Facts, Costs, When To GoWhen you are strong enough, you will finish the last portion of the climb early the next day. After spending a chilly night on the mountain, a hot cup of tea or coffee for breakfast the next day will be well worth the effort. On the second day, you will go on to the last climb to the summit, which will include a difficult part with fog that makes it difficult to see, steeper terrain with stronger winds, and muddy pathways. You will start the about six-hour descent down to the starting point after spending some time at the summit.

A Two-Day Trek Up Mount Karisimbi in Rwanda

Day 1: Ascent to the top
You will start the day early today, at approximately five in the morning, and then be taken to the park headquarters in Kinigi, where you will get an overview of this incredible journey. Following this, a professional guide will lead the trek, with two armed ranges accompanying them, one at the front and one at the rear.

Your hiking speed throughout the potentially seven-hour trek will be determined by how fit the slower hiker on the team is. As you go through the breathtaking scenery on the mountain’s slopes, you will come across a range of species, such as birds, golden monkeys, and, with any chance, the Karisimbi mountain gorilla family, which inhabits the mountain’s lower slopes. You will eventually reach the camping location, set up your tent, and spend the night there. It is strongly recommended that you pack adequate warm clothes and bedding since the mountain is quite chilly.

Day 2: Climb Mount Karisimbi
You will be able to take in the magnificent dawn and the views of the Great Lakes from the peak after an early breakfast today. You will also be able to see the far-off local towns, the far-cultivated farmlands below, and the other mountains that comprise the Virunga Volcanoes.

On this journey, remember to bring your camera since the sights are very amazing. After you return to the bottom, your safari guide-driver will meet you and take you to Kigali International Airport in time for your flight out.

Things to bring on a Mount Karisimbi hike

A list of some of the necessities that we believe are important for any vacationer considering an exciting walk to the summit of Mount Karisimbi may be found below.

  • A raincoat
  • Cozy sweaters
  • Long pants or trousers
  • Gloves for gardening
  • Sunglasses
  • Ideally, hiking shoes should provide enough ankle support.
  • Stockings
  • A cap
  • Warm bedding, a sleeping bag, and a tent for the night
  • Repellant for insects
  • A package for first aid
  • A walking stick
  • Enough water in bottles
  • Sufficient snacks

The price of climbing Mount Karisimbi

Hiking permits on Mount Karisimbi are $400 per person each trek, and they are necessary for everyone who wants to walk the mountain. Although these permits may be acquired on the day of the hike, travelers are strongly encouraged to reserve them in advance via the Rwanda Development Board or a reliable travel agency.

The Ideal Season for Mount Karisimbi Hiking

Although Mount Karisimbi is open year-round, hiking is most enjoyable during the dry season, which runs from June to August and December. You will get the chance to see the snow covering the volcano’s summit if you visit at this time of year, which is not possible during the rainy season.