Experience
Hiking & Volcano Climbs
Crater lakes, summits and the Congo Nile Trail
01What it is
Mountain and long-distance walking in Rwanda, from day summits in the Virungas to multi-day sections of the Congo Nile Trail.
Rwanda's hiking is better than its reputation. The Virungas give you real mountains, several of them climbable, and the country's terrain means almost every walk has a view.
Bisoke is the classic: a steep, muddy climb to a crater lake at 3,711 metres, out and back in a long day. Karisimbi at 4,507 metres is a two-day expedition with a cold night on the mountain.
Lower down, the hike to Dian Fossey's grave is short but meaningful, and the Congo Nile Trail runs 227 kilometres along Lake Kivu in sections you can take a day or a week over.
- Where
- Volcanoes NP, Lake Kivu
- Mount Bisoke
- 3,711 m, long day
- Mount Karisimbi
- 4,507 m, two days
- Congo Nile Trail
- 227 km, in sections
- Difficulty
- Strenuous
02What to expect
- 01
Mount Bisoke
A steep, wet, long day to a crater lake at the summit. The mud is the hard part, not the altitude.
- 02
Mount Karisimbi
Two days and a night at altitude to reach the highest point in the Virunga chain at 4,507 m.
- 03
Dian Fossey's grave
A shorter climb to the Karisoke site in the saddle between Karisimbi and Bisoke.
- 04
The Congo Nile Trail
227 km along Lake Kivu, walkable or rideable in sections.
03Best time
The drier months make a very large difference on these routes.
- JanJan: best
- FebFeb: best
- MarMar: shoulder season
- AprApr: shoulder season
- MayMay: shoulder season
- JunJun: best
- JulJul: best
- AugAug: best
- SepSep: best
- OctOct: shoulder season
- NovNov: shoulder season
- DecDec: best
- Bisoke in the wet season is genuinely hard going and the summit is often clouded in.
04What to bring
- Proper boots, broken in
- Waterproof jacket and trousers
- Gaiters
- Warm layers for Karisimbi's overnight
- Walking poles
- Head torch
- More water than you think
05Requirements
- Volcano climbs are guided and permits are arranged through the park.
- Karisimbi requires an overnight at altitude and reasonable hill fitness.
- Current hiking permit costs are confirmed at the time of booking.
Permit costs, age limits and park regulations are set by the Rwanda Development Board and its partners and change from time to time. We confirm the current position with you in writing before anything is booked.
06Where it happens
Destinations for this
Northern Province
Volcanoes National Park
Rwanda's gorilla country: bamboo and hagenia forest climbing the flanks of five volcanoes, home to habituated mountain gorilla families and golden monkeys.
2 to 3 nights
Western Province
Lake Kivu
One of the African Great Lakes, held between steep green hills on the Congolese border — islands, fishing boats, lakeside towns and the country's best place to stop moving.
2 nights
07Journeys that include it
Tours
Harder than the distance suggests. It is roughly six hours return, but the ground is steep volcanic mud and you are working between 2,700 and 3,700 metres. People who hike regularly find it tough but fine.
Add it to your trip
Plan hiking & volcano climbs
Tell us roughly when you want to travel and what you want to see. We will come back with an itinerary built around it, not a package pulled off a shelf.