Searching for authentic Mount Karisimbi climbing tours? As everyone thinks of national parks, lucky are you, a reader of this article, exploring to know more about mountains, a lonely world above congestion, dust, and noise, but rather a free space for wonder and imagination.
Out of several mountains in the planet world, it is not by mistake that the name Mountain Karisimbi appears in the brochures, websites, and several tour packages. You are in the right place. Being the tallest of the 8 Virunga volcano mountains, hiking this mountain comes with great views and adventure. See some of our Mount Karisimbi hiking tours below.
Beginning with, here are some of the facts you must know.
Gorillas on the foothills and a crater lake on top; what a perfect combination in one scene, masked around a jungle, of one of the world's most exciting safari destinations: Volcanoes National Park in the Republic of Rwanda.
Talking about Rwanda; this is one of the most beautiful countries in the east of the continent of Africa, though one of the tiniest and landlocked countries.
It is neighbored by Uganda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
More about Rwanda: visitors land at Kigali International Airport, explore the clean Kigali city, and freely interact with the local natives.
Volcanoes National Park; home to Mountain Karisimbi is located in the northwestern part of Rwanda, a 2-3 hour scenic drive, with the sight of rolling hills, plantations, and scattered homesteads.
Mountain Karisimbi is a dormant mountain and the eleventh tallest mountain in the continent of Africa; the very first being the snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
However, it is the tallest of the Virunga Volcano Mountains, a stratovolcano, with the summit covered by snow and a crater lake.
The other mountains in the Virunga chain of mountains, where Karisimbi tops in height, are Mount Muhabura, Mount Nyiragongo, Mount Nyamuragira, Mount Mikeno, Mount Gahinga, Mount Sabyinyo, and Mount Bisoke; these combined have roots in three countries in East and Central Africa, namely Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
About Mount Karisimbi
Mountain Karisimbi is a stratovolcano, standing at 4,507 meters above sea level; surrounded by lush forest cover, Sub-Mountains, and valleys, among other features.
Its name is derived from a local Kinyarwanda word: “Amasimbi,” meaning “snow.”
This is because it was something unique for locals to see snow throughout the year on the mountain top.
Around the mountain are compact forest cover, giant Lobelia, bamboo zone, giant groundsel, and the volcanic bases at the mountain peak.
Viewing the mountain from the bottom is a real experience, yet watching the land from the mountain peak is an unforgettable experience.
Mountain Karisimbi borders Mount Nyiragongo; one of the most active mountains, in the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west, Mount Bisoke to the east, and Mount Mikeno to the north.
Unfortunately, in 1908, up to about 20 porters returning from Branca crater lost their lives due to an abrupt hailstorm and snowstorm.
However, such incidents have not been recorded in recent years, confirming the safety of hiking to the summit.
On the other hand, records reveal that Mount Karisimbi's lavas are estimated to be between 0.24 ma to 0.10 ma, meaning the volcano is still young.
New trailheads are being created to simplify the hike to the mountain summit since everyone deserves to make a victory story and not otherwise.
The Karisimbi Mountain, Rwanda
Hiking is a notable activity here, with ascending and descending taking only two days.
Porters, security escorts, and park guides are present to offer company to the summit, meaning you can also consider it for your honeymoon experience, a date, family day out, a weekend experience, a hiking escape, or research, among other purposes.
Knowing the Virunga chain of mountains is one of the most eye-catching groups of mountains in the continent of Africa.
You will need to seize any opportunity that comes your way for mountain hiking.
Though taking only a day, the hike requires that one be fit and in good health because it is strenuous.
There are several attractions to encounter enough the mountain summit, not limited to birds, unique plant species, primates, rolling hills through an aerial view, and many more.
On the hiking day, you will start your day with a hearty breakfast meal at the lodge and then drive to the hiking trailhead at the foot of Mount Bisoke for registration, briefing, and the actual hike that commences at about 7:00 am, early morning, local time.
Depending on your hiking speed, arriving at the peak may take about 6-8 hours, with a stopover at about 3,700m (midway up the mountain) for some acclimatization and dinner.
Worry not because lunch will be provided during the hike; however, note that nights are spent in tents. Do you love tents?
The second day starts very early in the morning with a hearty breakfast meal and then proceeds to the mountain peak.
The last quarter of the journey is a bit challenging, with a change in temperature and the entire atmosphere, the summit covered with fog, and muddy terrain in case of rainfall, though it is very possible.
At the summit, you will take photos of the breathtaking landscape; watch the snow and Crater Lake.
After exploring the mountain summit, you will spend six hours descending to the bottom of the mountain, where you will meet your driver-guide for a departure journey.
A certificate is issued as recognition for a successful hike.
Some facts about hiking are that all members must keep time, stay together, cooperate, and obey all instructions issued by the guides and security personnel.
This is the only activity where you arrive as an individual but return as a family, with amazing photos, stories, and a wealth of experience.
Packing list for a Karisimbi hiking tour
As you consider hiking, here are some of the stuff you need to carry along.
We don't encourage over-packing since it leads to extra charges and causes divided attention as one will be thinking about luggage safety.
Documents include a visa, passport, yellow fever vaccine certificate, and several others.
Gadgets include a professional camera for photography, binoculars to spot distant objects, an extra memory card for storage, and many more.
Garments and personal items such as warm clothes, a hat to protect your head from heat, good hiking boots to make the experience easy, a sleeping bag for an overnight stay, a rain jacket, and a first aid kit.
Note that there are porters who help in carrying luggage to and from the summit at a cost.
Mount Karisimbi entrance fee
As earlier said, Mount Karisimbi is situated in the heart of Volcanoes National Park, meaning getting to it comes at a cost, as well as hiking it.
The park entrance and hiking costs are separate charges, though pocket-friendly.
At Volcanoes, the activity you intend to engage in determines the park entrance fee you will be charged.
Also, prices are attached to one's geographical location, meaning they differ.
Hiking permit fees are as follows: 200 USD for Rwandan citizens, 300 USD for the East African Community, 400 USD for foreign non-residents, and 250 USD for foreign residents and expatriates.
Interestingly, the hiking permit cost covers both accommodation and meals, except for the day of arrival, in case of additional time.
Besides hiking Mount Karisimbi, we also advise engaging in birding experiences where the sounds and sights of rare bird species are experienced, mountain gorilla trekking; Rwanda's prime safari offer at Volcanoes National Park, hiking to the late Dian Fossey's graveyard, enjoying a guided nature walk, and visiting the local communities for a cultural experience.
Best Time to hike Karisimbi Mountain
The time you choose for your Karisimbi hike is very important because any time without dry land and no rains might not make it a memorable adventure.
What is true is that you need to choose the dry months of Rwanda because rains tend to make the ground muddy and slippery, thus endangering the lives of the hiker.
Dry months run from June to early October and December to February.
However, that does not mean rain can't fall.
The importance of picking a dry season is that the ground is dry, camping is possible, and there is no activity interference.
Glad that you now know more about Mountain Karisimbi; Africa's eleventh-highest mountain, Nothing makes more sense than including it in your bucket list for the next destination option.
The mountain is located in a very safe destination, decorated by undulating hills and a variety of vegetation cover.
At a very pocket-friendly cost, you can have your passion for hiking come true.
Accommodation
Bisate Lodge, Rwanda
Spending nights in comfortable accommodation facilities affects the quality of your safari experience, especially as you have a strenuous activity like mountain hiking.
For that purpose, the management of the park, where Mountain Karisimbi is located, has ensured a quality accommodation site at about 3,700 meters as you ascend the mountain.
This is always a tented shelter used on the first day of the hiking experience.
Before and after hiking, you can spend your nights in the lodges, campsites, and hotels, ranging from budget to luxury, in and around the park.
Some of those facilities up for grabs include Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, Garr Hotel, Mountain Gorilla Nest Lodge, Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge, Virunga Lodge, Hotel Muhabura, Bisate Lodge, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, and Best View Lodge, among others.
