Mount Sabyinyo Climbing Tours

Searching for authentic Mount Sabyinyo climbing tours? Mount Sabyinyo, also spelled as Sabyinyo, is an extinct volcano located in the Virunga conservation area, which borders three countries: the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and Rwanda. The Virunga massif comprises a range of 8 volcanoes, and Mount Sabyinyo is the oldest volcano in this range.

The mountain has three peaks, with an elevation of 3645 meters above sea level. It is considered one of the best mountains to climb in the Virunga mountain range, offering spectacular 360° views of the other Virunga volcanoes. It’s slopes provide habitat for mountain gorillas and golden monkeys. See some of our Mount Sabyinyo hiking tours below.

Top Mount Sabyinyo Hiking Tours



Ultimate Guide for Hiking Sabyinyo Mountain

“Old Man's Teeth,” that's what the local phrase “Sabyinyo” translates into.

Mountain Sabyinyo is famous for being home to the Mountain Gorillas and not leaving out the Golden Monkeys.

This name, Sabyinyo, comes from a local Rwandese phrase, “Iryinyo,” which means a tooth, and when you view its summit at a distance, it is indeed shaped like human teeth.

This is one of the oldest and extinct volcanoes in Africa and is still part of the Virunga Volcano chain that consists of 8 volcanic mountains.

Standing at an elevation of 3669m above sea level, Sabyinyo Mountain forms a joint border intersection of 3 neighboring countries: Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Guide to Hiking Mount Sabyinyo - Prices, Permits, and Planning
The Sabyinyo Mountain

The mountain also lies at the intersection of 3 national parks in the 3 respective countries: Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, famous for Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safaris, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, as well as Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The other chains of volcanoes are Muhabura Mountain (4127), Gahinga (3475), Sabyinyo itself (3669), Karisimbi, Bisoke, Mikeno, Nyiragongo, and Nyamuragira in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Due to its rugged nature, the mountain has proved to be one of the hardest to climb among the 8 volcanoes on the Virunga Massif.

On the Rwanda side, Sabyinyo is part of the Volcanoes National Park, also known as Parc National des Volcans.

This was established in 1925, making it one of Africa's oldest national parks. This 160 sq km mass of rain-forest and bamboo is home to over 178 bird species, with 13 of these being endemics to this region.

Mountain Gorillas are the main tourist attraction in that national park.

On the Democratic Republic of Congo side, Sabyinyo Mountain protects part of the Virunga National Park.

The flora in Virunga National Park is rich and diverse, ranging from rainforests, plain savannah woodlands and grasslands, to the volcanic mountains and the rain-forests in this park.

This has become an ideal habitat for over 264 plant species, 709 bird species, and 218 mammal species, including over 22 Primate Species, with the mountain gorilla being the most popular.

This is the highest count in any African national park on the continent.

On the Ugandan side of Sabyinyo lies Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, which is home to over 76 mammal species, including forest elephants, Buffaloes, Bush pigs, among others.

The park is also home to over 180 species of birds, with a big list of 14 Albertine rift mountain endemics, as well as 39 Afro-Tropical Highland species.

Hiking Sabyinyo Mountain

Mount Sabyinyo
The Mount Sabyinyo Volcano

Due to its rugged nature, the mountain has proved to be one of the hardest to climb among the 8 volcanoes of the Virunga Massif.

Hiking Sabyinyo Mountain only takes place on the Ugandan side of the mountain.

The other sides of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda are too steep to be hiked.

The hiking tourist activity on Sabyinyo takes about 8 hours to reach the summit, with 4 hours of going up and about other 4 hours of coming back down.

If you have not yet made it to the last peak by 3 pm in the evening, you are always advised to return back to the starting point.

While at the peak of this mountain, you get to stand in 3 countries at the same moment with no visa.

The items to pack for hiking include, among others, a long-sleeved shirt and trousers, hiking boots, gardening gloves, a raincoat as it could rain at any time of the day, a packed lunch, and enough drinking water.

The Sabyinyo hiking permit costs $85 for non-foreign residents and can be obtained at the Ntebeko park headquarters.

How to get there

Sabyinyo is found in the extreme southwestern corner of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, forming part of the bigger Mgahinga or Virunga Conservation Area that separates these 3 countries.

Sabyinyo Mountain is just 14 km from the town of Kisoro and is about 480 km from Kampala by road, a journey that is likely to take you over 10 hours of driving.

However, for those on short notice travel, you could charter a flight from Entebbe offered by Aerolink flight services to Nakabande Airstrip in Kisoro and just drive the 14 km by road to the park headquarters.

Other Tourist Attractions and Activities near Mount Sabyinyo

Discounted Gorilla Permits in Rwanda

Mountain Gorilla Trekking

Mountain gorilla trekking is the major activity in this park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, and to be more specific, Sabyinyo section.

However, it is important to note that there is only one habituated gorilla family in this park.

However, it offers you a different experience from that of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

This trek also starts at the park headquarters, and you will be allowed to spend one full hour with the gorillas as you watch them play, feed, and groom themselves.

The park has about 80 mountain gorillas, with only one family habituated and open for trekking.

Eight people are allowed to trek that gorilla family daily, and this is why it's always recommended to secure your gorilla permit as early as possible through your travel agency.

A gorilla permit in this park costs $700, a figure that is less compared to that of Rwanda, which is $1500.

Golden Monkey Trekking

4 Days Rwanda Chimpanzee & Golden Monkeys Trekking Safari

This is among the most epic activities carried out in Sabyinyo Mountain as it involves tracking these endangered species of monkeys that are only found in the Virunga Massif.

Golden monkey trekking begins as early as 7 am in the morning from the park headquarters, where you make payments and register.

Later on, you will be assigned a Ranger guide to accompany you to the forest for about 2 hours before you reach these amazing creatures.

During this trek, you get to spend a whole hour observing these monkeys live their daily lives of feeding, playing, and grooming each other.

These monkeys love staying in the bamboo section of the mountain because they predominantly feed on bamboo shoots as their favorite food.

In Uganda, the cost for a foreign international tourist to track these monkeys is $80, and this can be booked through your travel agency.

Batwa Pygmies Trail Experience

Cultural Encounters
The Batwa People

The Batwa people are known as the keepers of the forest, and these were the major human inhabitants of the forests of Bwindi and Mgahinga, and to be more specific, Sabyinyo, before Conservation and Tourism took over.

These people all their lives survived on hunting wild meat and gathering wild fruits in the forest.

In 1991, when gorilla trekking and conservation took a step in Uganda, these people were evicted from these 2 national parks.

As a way of making these people love conservation, the park management has developed trails that lead you to their original homes - the Stone caves.

While here, the Pygmy guide demonstrates to you how they used to survive in the forest, including making fire, hunting, and using medicinal plants, among other things.

This five-hour tourist activity also begins at Ntebeko headquarters and costs $80, and this money goes back to these communities.

Remember that 20% of the annual national park entry fees are given back to these communities in the form of services like clean water and Health facilities as a way of enticing them to embrace conservation and Tourism.

Birding in Mgahinga

Kenya Birding Tips

This national park has a rich avian life of about 180 species of birds, and this activity can be done all year round.

The most commonly sighted birds include, among others, Cape Robin-chat, Handsome Francolin, Grey Capped warbler, Mountain Masked Apalis, Paradise Flycatcher, Pin Tailed Wydah, Dusky Crimsonwing, Black kite, Kivu Ground thrush, speckled Mouse birds, Rwenzori Turraco, among others.

The Sabyinyo Gorge Walk

This is another exciting 5 to 6-hour nature walk that takes you to spectacular river valleys of Sabyinyo Mountain.

The gorge is an excellent Bird watching spot in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, and while you are here, be ready to spot some birds like Grey Capped warbler, Paradise Flycatcher, Pin Tailed Wydah, Double collared Sunbirds, White-necked Raven, Crowned Hornbill, Black Headed waxbill, Black kite, speckled Mouse birds, among others. While in the gorge, there are higher chances of spotting the Bush duikers and some Golden monkeys, although shy in nature.

Where to Stay - Accommodation around Sabyinyo Mountain

Travellers Rest Hotel Kisoro - A Historical Haven in Uganda's Wilderness
Travellers Rest Hotel Kisoro - A Historical Haven in Uganda's Wilderness

A safari to Sabyinyo Mountain is never complete without good accommodation facilities since it lies within Mgahinga gorilla National Park, which is the second place you could track Mountain Gorillas in Uganda.

Like many other protected areas in Uganda, there is a wide range of accommodation facilities around Mountain Sabyinyo in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park that are ready to offer you comfort, relaxation, and safety depending on your budget and interests as you prepare for your next day in the park. These include:

Luxury/Upmarket/High-end Lodges:

  • Mount Gahinga Lodge

Mid-range Lodges:

Budget Lodges:

Mount Sabyinyo Climbing Video

Video Credit: Jonathan Benaiah

Useful links:

Magical Gorilla Adventures TripAdvisor
Magical Gorilla Adventures Google Reviews
Uganda Tourism Board
Magical Gorilla Adventures TripAdvisor Travellers Choice

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