Tours to see the mountain gorillas in Africa have become one of the leading and most adventurous activities in the world. Thousands of visitors to Africa visit Volcanoes National Park Rwanda to take part in the daily gorilla tours to see these gentle giants in their natural habitat.
While on your gorilla tour in Rwanda, never miss adventurous trek to the peak of mountain Karisimbi, requiring on 2 days and 1-night camping in the mountains.
About Mountain Karisimbi in Rwanda
Mount Karisimbi is the highest of the eight volcanoes in the magnificent Virunga Mountains. It has a huge dome, now dormant, that dominates the range, more in girth than in height.
Karisimbi means a White shell in Kinyaruanda, which refers to its often white-capped summit. Interestingly, this cap results not from snow but from hail and sleet which accumulate in the higher elevations from its frequent storms.
Mountain Karisimbi is situated in Volcanoes National Park which is also known as the Parc National Des Volcans, located in northern Rwanda, less than a 2-hour drive from Kanombe International Airport.
Mountain Karisimbi stands at an elevation of about 4507m above sea level. The mountain is situated along the border between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda on the western branch of the East African Rift valley.
Climbing Mountain Karisimbi is strenuous and it requires a minimum of 2 days hike. The climb starts early in the morning taking 6 hours and involves navigating through the Bisoke side before reaching the first stopping place at an altitude of 3,700 meters for overnight camping before finishing off the journey the next day.
The hike to the summit of Mountain Karisimbi rewards the view of several bird species, monkeys, and some times mountain gorillas to lucky visitors. As you climb Mountain Karisimbi, be aware of rain which can come at any time due to the altitude. Therefore, it is advisable to move with rain Jackets.
Some level of fitness is needed to climb mountain Karisoke and it is wise to hire porters to help you carry your day pack and hiking equipment. No prior climbing experience required.
You need 4-5 day safari package in Rwanda to combine gorilla tracking and mountain Karisimbi climbing and the itinerary can be as below in brief;
Proposed Itinerary for Gorilla Tour and Mt. Karisimbi Hiking in Rwanda
Day 1: Kigali city tour, lunch, Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Day 2: Gorilla Tracking, afternoon relaxation
Day 3: Start Mt. Karisimbi hiking, overnight camping in the mountains
Day 4: Reach the summit, descend to the base, relax at your lodge or drive back to Kigali where the tour ends.
Other Tour Activities around Virunga Region
Your visit to Virunga region not only rewards you with mountain gorilla tracking but also other interesting tour activities such as golden monkey tracking, community tours around the Virungas in Rwanda, Uganda and DR Congo, forest hiking, visiting the tombs of Dian Fossey, Mt. Bisoke hiking, Trekking the active volcanoes of Nyiragongo and Nyamurangira in DR Congo and many others.
