The 3 Days Mount Karisimbi Hike tour is greatly designed for visitors who love mountain climbing adventures. Well, Mount Karisimbi lies at the border between the December Republic of Congo and Rwanda. Mount Karisimbi is the highest mountain within the Virunga ranges and one of the top ten in Africa, measuring about 14,787 highs. It is surrounded by several other mountains like Mount Mikeno, Bisoke and Nyiragongo. The mountain was formed as a result of earth movements around the time when the East African Rift Valley was formed.
Hiking mount Karisimbi is one of the activities to do while on a visit to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. Unlike the nearby Bisoke Volcano which requires only one day to get to the summit. You need only two days to access the summit of Karisimbi.
Reaching on top of one of Africa’s tallest mountains –gives you a chance to witness its snow-capped peak mostly during the dry season.
From the summit, hikers will be rewarded with amazing views of the other Virunga volcanoes, the Volcanoes National Park and the neighboring ones in Congo and Uganda. Hikers are also rewarded with thrilling night views of light coming out from the Lave lake at the summit of Mount Nyiragongo in Congo.
Climbing mount Karisimbi may not require advanced climbing skills but one needs to be in perfect shape to make it to its peak. This 3 days Hiking tour starts and ends in Kigali Rwanda.
This trip involves in a visit to the Kigali city tour and the Gorilla Guardian Village. Or you can combine your climbing adventure in Rwanda with Gorilla Trekking Rwanda in 4 Days. Our days are Karisimbi Hiking and Rwanda Gorilla Tour. Or you can do 4 days Uganda gorilla tour and a Karisimbi hiking package. Rwanda gorilla permits cost USD1500 per person and Uganda gorilla permits cost USD800 per person sounding cheaply compared to Rwanda’s gorilla permit.
Summary Highlights of the 3 Days Mount Karisimbi Hike Tour
Day 1: Kigali City tour and Transfer to Volcanoes National Park – Visit the Gorilla Guardians Village
Day 2: Hiking the Karisimbi volcano
Day 3: Reach the summit, Descend and travel back to the Airport or hotel in Kigali
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Kigali city tour – transfer to the Volcanoes National Park – Visit the Gorilla Guardians Village
On day 1 of the 3 Days Mount Karisimbi Hike Tour, you will be picked up by our driver guide at your hotel after breakfast. The guide will brief you about the tour. Thereafter, you will drive through a charming city Kigali, clean and well organized. Kigali city is dotted with thousands of hills, modern roads, beautiful street lights and interesting suburbs. During your city tour, you will learn about the history of the city, visit the former presidential palace, visit the Gisozi genocide memorial center and the main city market and also do some souvenir shopping. Have lunch in the city, after you will head for the Volcanoes National Park in a journey that takes ‘’3hours’’drive.
Along the way, you will view the full scale of Rwanda’s beautiful countryside characterized by rolling green hills, beautiful plantations and smiling peasants.
Arrive at the park and check into the lodge to relax as you prepare to go to the Gorilla Guardians village ‘’formerly known as Ibyiwacu Cultural Village where you will be entertained with their traditional dance and songs. You will also have a chance to put on traditional royal costumes with a spear in hand. Have dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Mount Karisimbi Hiking
On the 2nd day of the 3 Days Mount Karisimbi Hike Tour, wake up early and be driven to the park headquarters in Kinigi for briefing. You will be registered along with other hikers at around 9:00 am. Then after, you will be assigned by the guides and arranger who will lead you to the peak.
The guide will brief you about the park, the mountain, what to expect and how to prepare. The actual hike starts at around 10:00 am but not till you have been given hiking sticks to help you balance on your way up the mountain. You have to carry a packed lunch from your hotel. Remember to carry hiking gear, drinking water, a walking stick and hand gloves.
Our company includes the cost of a chef and porters who will carry supplies, tents and food to prepare while on top of the volcano.
After briefing, you will hike back to the starting point. You can hire an extra porter at the starting point to help you carry extra luggage. As you ascend the volcano, you will go through several sections including ridges, bamboo forests, calderas and steep sections.
Instead of hiking straight to the summit, you will stop when about to access to rest, eat and sleep. A camp will be set up where you will have dinner and sleep for the night. The chef hired is the one responsible for preparing dinner and tea.
Day 3: Make it to the summit and descend thereafter
After resting the previous day, you will wake up early to begin your day’s activity of climbing to the summit. The hike to the summit takes between 3 – 4 hours depending on the overall fitness of the group.
Once at the summit, you will be treated to impressive views of the Nyamuragira and Nyiragongo active volcanoes, dense forests, scenic landscapes, surrounding communities and the Virunga ranges. Remember to carry enough battery for your camera, which will help you to take as many photos as you can. Then, you will begin your descent back which will take the remainder of the day.
Once you arrive at the starting point, enjoy your lunch and a specific location where you can clean your boots. The driver guide will then take off the journey back to Kigali or the airport if you have a late-night departure flight. End of the tour.
Tour costs include;
Karisimbi permits USD400
Karisimbi package USD250 ‘’includes a tent, food, water, a chef and porters’’
4x4WD and fuel
Full Board Accommodations
Professional English-speaking tour guide /driver and his allowances
Mineral water on safari
Tour costs include;
International flight and visas
Laundry service
Tips and others
