These two volcanoes are part of the Virunga ranges, which are made of a chain of eight volcanoes. Virunga ranges are located in the Northern Province of Rwanda, bordering Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Among the peaks on Virunga, Rwanda hosts the mountains Karisimbi and Bisoke, located in the Kiningi sector within Volcanoes National Park in Musanze district bordering Rubavu district.

Mountain Karisimbi

This is Rwanda’s highest volcano, and the highest among the eight. It stands at an elevation of 4507 metres. Mount Karisimbi offers stunning views of the Virunga massif and Rwanda’s beautiful landscapes. It derives its name ‘ Karisimbi’ from a Kinyarwanda word “amasimba,” meaning white shells, due to the appearance of the snow-capped white summit of the peak.

Mountain Bisoke.

Mountain Bisoke is one of the most rewarding day hikes in Volcanoes National Park, standing at an elevation of 3711 metres above sea level. The mountain summit is Rwanda’s largest caldera lake, covering a diameter of 400 metres. The mountain also offers one of the most photogenic sights of the park.  

Attractions

The snow-capped summit: This is one of the most iconic attractions on Mountain Karisimbi. The mountain has the peak of the Virunga volcanoes, where snow falls between the months of June and August.

The caldera: The largest caldera in the Virunga ranges and in Rwanda, found on Mount Bisoke.

Birdslife : The two mountains are popular birding spots in the Volcanoes National Park, which contains over 200 bird species, including the 17 Albertine endemics such as the Rwenzori turaco and strange weaver, among others.

Musanze caves. These caves, located on the foothills of the Volcanoes National Park, were formed due to the lava that flowed from Mount Bisoke. The caves are 2km long with 31 entrances, and they shelter a large number of bats.

Mountain gorillas: These majestic giants live within the bamboo forests located on the lower slopes of Mountain Karisimbi in Volcanoes National Park, hosting the Karisimbi gorilla family.

Golden monkeys: These endangered primate species are located in the Volcanoes National Park in the forests on the lower slopes of Mount Karisimbi.

Accommodation In the Mountains

Mount Karisimbi has one mandatory accommodation option: Karisimbi midway camp for resting as hikers summit the mountain. Luxury accommodation includes Bisate lodge, Singita Kwitonda Lodge, One&only Gorillas Nest, among others; midrange accommodation options include Da Vinci Gorilla lodge, Le Bambou Gorilla lodge, Mountain Gorilla view lodge; budget accommodations near these volcanoes are Red Rocks campsite and Guest house, and Kinigi Guest house.

When to Go
The dry seasons (June-September and December-February) offer the best hiking conditions. The rainy seasons (March-May and November-December) make the trails treacherous and dramatically increase the risk of accidents.

How to get there

By road, a drive takes about 2-3 hours from Kigali to Kinigi via a paved route of approximately 104 kilometres to Kinigi Park headquarters.  Domestic flights from Kigali to Masanze are available; these take approximately 30 minutes.