With the 3 Days Mount Karisimbi hiking tour in Rwanda, you shall reach the highest point in the country and return rejuvenated after that good feeling of being away from the rest of the world. Mount Karisimbi Volcano is the highest in Rwanda and the tallest of all the eight Virunga volcanoes. Part of Mount Karisimbi lies in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and in Congo’s Virunga National Park. Hiking Mount Karisimbi up to the summit takes 2 days with some space for acclimatization which makes it doable to even non-seasoned hikers. Karisimbi hike is one of the most rewarding hikes one can ever take though its steep slopes present some difficulty in conquering its summit.
Tour Highlights for 3 days Mount Karisimbi hiking tour in Rwanda
- Scenic viewing
- Mount Bisoke hike
- Kigali city tour
- Kigali Genocide Memorial Site
- Visit Ibyachwu cultural visit
- Virunga Volcano climbing experience
- Crater lakes tour.
Itinerary for 3 days Mount Karisimbi hiking tour in Rwanda
Day 1 – Kigali city tour, transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Your tour driver from Jungle Escape Africa can pick you from any place in Kigali city to start your 3 days Karisimbi hiking trip in Rwanda. We can take a drive through this clean city to check on markets, visit the Genocide Memorial site and some important places with in Kigali if you haven’t had this opportunity yet. Take an early lunch in Kigali and drive to Musanze in the north. Check into your lodge to unwind after the day’s activities or go for a cultural experience at Ibyacwu cultural village. Another optional tour activity is for a boat/canoe ride on River Mukungwa for some beautiful views of the country side. Request a Quote
Day 2 – Briefing, Karisimbi hike day 1
After breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters at Kinigi for briefing and registration which starts at 7.00am. You will drive to the hike starting point which is away from Kinigi and it’s where you will find your guides and the armed rangers. Your team shall be joined by a chef and porters with whom you shall start off the climb up to about 3,700m above sea level where you are to camp for the night in a mountain shelter. At night, stretch your eyes out to Congo and be treated to the beautiful views of the light that comes from the lava lake atop Mount Nyiragongo.
Day 3 – Ascend to the summit, descend and depart for Kigali
On the last day of your 3 days Karisimbi hiking trip in Rwanda, rise up so early to start on your ascent to the summit where spectacular views await. With a clear weather, you are to have views of other volcanoes in the Virunga ranges like Nyiragongo, Nyamulagira, Muhabura, Bisoke, the forested areas of Congo, other parts of Volcanoes National Park and the neighboring Uganda. In the dry season, it will be a snow filled summit. Leave the summit, have breakfast at your camp and start on the descent up to the base where you will find your driver for a departure to Kigali. Drop off in Kigali city or at the airport. End of the 3 days Mount Karisimbi hiking trip in Rwanda.
What to pack for Mount Karisimbi hiking expedition
- Hiking shoes/boots.
- Rain gear.
- A tent and a sleeping bag.
- A chef and porter(s).
- Enough (packed) snacks.
- Packed lunch for the first day.
- Waterproof backpack for your snacks or packed lunch and drinking water.
- Sunscreen and insect repellents.
- Camera and a pair of binoculars.
- Wear hiking trousers and long sleeved tops/shirts to avoid the stinging nettles which can terribly itch at the slightest contact.