2 Days Mount Karisimbi Trekking Tour

• Rwanda Excursions

Tour Ref MSA 1713

Tour Highlight: Kigali City / Mount Karisimbi Trekking / Kigali City

Mount Karisimbi stands at 4,507m above sea level and is highest peak in the Virunga Mountains. It is the 11^th highest mountain in Africa. The tour will take 2 days through the tropical forest. We shall set  our camp on the slopes of the active volcano and continue climbing to the summit for sunrise.

In preparation for the trek, we highly advise you to carry walking boots, walking poles, a small day sack with water, a warm jacket. Any other personal kit will be carried by the porters, along with camping equipment, sleeping bags, food and drink. All meals are included.

You shall be picked in the morning from a lodge near the Volcanoes National park and proceed to the park headquarters for briefing and meeting your guide. After the briefing, we shall drive for about one hour to the starting point. The starting point is at about 2,000M above the sea level and it is here where we meet our guides and porters.

Our climb is through a number of different vegetation zones, starting with the bamboo forest on the lower slopes, where you can visit Dian Fossey’s tomb for an additional fee. On the higher slopes you will find hagania-hypericum forest, then still higher, the open hillside is dotted with giant lobelia and senecio.

The Virunga Mountains are home to many birds and wildlife. Upon arriving at 3,700M, we shall settle down for the night at a basic mountain camp with small, backpacking-style tents. The following morning, with fresh energy, we shall wake up 5h30 to proceed to the summit. This final ascent is physically demanding as you will be hiking up steep slopes at high altitude. After about 2 hours, we will reach the top. At the summit, we can look at the steaming crater below us. Here, we are on the edge of the Congolese border

Climbing Mt Karisimbi depends on weather conditions and it is advisable in the dry season, between June and August and as long as the weather is good. Trekkers should be at least 15 years old. After summiting Mt Karisimbi, you will head back down the volcano and re-join your vehicle and guide at the car park.