7 Days Virunga Mountains hiking experience in Rwanda: This is a Rwanda Safari Tour that gets you to explore the best of Rwanda’s destinations with unforgettable experiences.
Safari highlights
Day 1: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Day 2: Hike to Mount Karisimbi
Day 3: Descend – Lodge
Day 4: Mount Bisoke hike experience
Day 5: Mount Muhabura Hike
Day 6: Hike Mount Sabinyo
Day 7: Transfer back to Kigali – Departure
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Depending on your location in Kigali, meet with your driver guide and transfer to Volcanoes National Park in Musanze. Upon arrival, drive to the lodge for lunch and spend your afternoon at leisure. Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel Muhabura for budget/Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge for mid-range/5 Volcanoes Gorilla lodge for luxury
Day 2: Hike to Mount Karisimbi
After breakfast, return to the park headquarters for a briefing about the activity as early as 7am, you will then be allocated the ranger guides and you head for the hike. Karisimbi volcano is the highest of the 8 mount peaks of Virunga conservation region. The hike to the summit offers spectacular and magnificent views of different volcanoes including Nyiragongo and Nyamulagira volcanoes. The hike is strenuous and challenging so you need to be physically fit to do this hike. This is a 6 hours hike with great views different bird species and primates. On reaching at an altitude of about 3700m, you will stop at the first camping site where you will spend a night.
Day 3: Descend – Lodge
After early morning cup of coffee, embark on an hour’s hike to the summit. At this level, the hike is very steep going through trials of thick jungles surrounded by stunning scenery. On reaching at the summit, enjoy amazing views of the surrounding areas like Mount Muhabura. After enjoying your time at the summit descent to the starting point where you will meet your driver readily waiting to receive. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge above.
Day 4: Mount Bisoke hike experience
After breakfast, you will be driven to the park headquarter at Kinigi at 7:00 am for briefing and you will later head off for hiking. The hike will typically take a full day from 6 to 8 hours depending on your hiking experience. During the climb, you will cross a series of different vegetation habitats starting with bamboo forests, then moving into Hagenia – Hypericum forest and finally moving through Senecio – Lobelia bush near the summit. You will carry your packed lunch with you and some drinks as well. You will later return to your hotel. Dinner and overnight stay
Day 5: Mount Muhabura Hike
After breakfast, drive back to the park headquarters for briefing about the hike. The walk starts at 07:00 am from the Park HQs where the RDB guide will brief you about the tasks ahead. The trail takes a full day. Late afternoon, return to meet your driver and return to the lodge, dinner and overnight stay at lodge above
Day 6: Hike Mount Sabinyo
After breakfast, connect for your hike. The walk starts at 07:00 am from the Park HQs where the RDB guide will brief you about the tasks ahead. The trail can be completed by most hikers in 6 hours in total including 4 hours of ascending to the summit and 2 hours back from the summit. The narrow ridge provides a bit of excitement for hikers and amazing views over the Gahinga and Muhabura as well as tantalizing glimpses of the upper ridges of Sabyinyo itself.
As you walk to the top, you may see or hear the singing of different bird species like Ruwenzori’s Turaco, Mountain greenbul, Speckled mousebird etc. Primates like Golden monkeys, and mammals like elephants, buffaloes and bushbuck may also be seen or heard. On the top of the Peak, you will be fascinated by an incredible scenic view of the vegetation covering the trail to the peak, the oldest and gigantesque rocks of the ravines ranging from up to the bottom, the view of the country side etc.
Day 7: Transfer back to Kigali – Departure
You will first enjoy early morning breakfast and after which you will transfer back to Kigali city where you will do a city tour and visit places like the Museum, Genocide memorials, and the handcraft markets for souvenir shopping. Later proceed to the airport for your onward flight.
End of the 7 Days
