Have a pleasantly blissful day by hiking the scenic Mount. Bisoke at Volcanoes National Park, in the northwest of Rwanda. Ascend up to the summit at the height of 3,711 meters above sea level on Mount Bisoke which lies at the border of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mount. Bisoke is nestled within Volcanoes National Park and Virunga National Park in the Virunga Massif in the Albertine Rift. Mount. Bisoke is an active volcano that is part of the eight volcanoes found in the Virunga massif. Other volcanoes include Karisimibi, Mikeno, Gahinga, Muhabura, Nyiragongo, Sabinyo and Nyamuragira.
At Mount. Bisoke you can view volcanoes Karisimbi to the southwest, Mikeno to the west Sabinyo to the north and Mgahinga to the east. There is an abundance of wildlife species that can be seen on Mount. Bisoke. These include mammals like elephants, mountain gorillas, buffalos, and golden monkeys. Birds are also plenty with species like the handsome francolin, red-throated alethe, Kivu ground thrush, Rwenzori turaco, regal sunbird, Rwenzori batis, strange weaver and collared apalis. You will also be mesmerized by the lovely views of two crater lakes, alpine and subalpine vegetation, and equatorial rainforest among others.
How hiking Mount Bisoke in Rwanda is done
Your driver guide will ensure that you arrive at the Volcanoes National Park before 06:00 for registration and a briefing by the park ranger. You will be taken to the trailhead which is a 40 minutes drive away. A ranger guide and armed ranger will lead you as you ascend to the summit. At the start you will walk on rocky ground and the entire ascension takes 3 to 4 hours or more if you are a beginner. Upon arriving at the summit, you will get clear views of alpine vegetation, Bisoke crater and volcanoes Mikeno and Karisimbi etc. Take pictures, have a picnic lunch and descend back to the starting point, which is about a 2 hours trek.
You need to be at least 15 years old to be allowed the opportunity to hike on this remarkable volcano. In addition, ensure that you are physically fit with great cardiovascular endurance to conquer this geological wonder. The adventure costs US$75 and you can pay with a reputable tour operator like Monteero Safaris to have a hassle-free experience. Payment and participation are done on a first come first serve basis, though you can do it in advance through Monteero Safaris. Since hiking Mount. Bisoke is much less challenging compared to other volcanoes in the Virunga ranges, both experienced and unseasoned hikers are allowed.
Best time for a hike on Mount. Bisoke in Rwanda
The dry season is the best time to have an exciting Mount. Bisoke hiking tour in Rwanda. With a bimodal dry season experienced in the region, you can either travel in the long dry season that runs from June to September or the short dry season that runs from December to February. During these months, the weather is relatively warmer in comparison to the rainy season. The hiking trails are drier to offer less challenging hiking situations. The clear blue skies and sunshine offer maximum visibility. Chances of rainfall are usually lower to enable uninterrupted hiking tours.
However, Mount. Bisoke is open for hikers throughout the year, even during the rainy seasons. Therefore, if you are a bold hiker and take pleasure in more challenging hiking adventures where the trails are muddy and slippery, visit Mount. Bisoke during the rainy season. The rainy season falls during March to May and November to October, bringing heavy rains and humidity at Mount Bisoke. The vegetation is denser and visibility is quite affected due to cloudy or rainy conditions.
Traveling to Mount. Bisoke in Rwanda
Mount. Bisoke in Volcanoes National Park is around 114 kilometers from Kigali on the road. Reaching there can be done either on road or air transport. By road transport you must first travel to the park headquarters at Kinigi, which is around 104 kilometers northwest of Kigali. The picturesque journey on a safari vehicle takes 2 to 3 hours depending on traffic and road current state. Select your private means from a reputable tour operator like Monteero Safaris who offer car hire services like 4X4 safari vehicles, drones, minibuses and saloon cars. We also offer insightful driver guides to enhance your travel experience to Mount. Bisoke.
For visitors who prefer a much faster means of transportation that guarantees aerial views of Rwanda, flights are available from Kigali International Airport to Musanze Airstrip. Private transfers on a helicopter by RwandAir takes only 30 minutes to the airstrip close to Volcanoes National Park. Our representative will be waiting for you at Musanze to take you to your booked lodge or Volcanoes National Park. You can book this helicopter transfer in advance with Monteero Safaris to ensure an efficient transfer. With our strong working relationship with RwandAir, you are guaranteed a smooth transition between flights and helicopter transfer.
What to pack for hiking Mount. Bisoke in Rwanda
To enjoy your thrilling hiking adventure on Mount. Bisoke in Rwanda, meticulous consideration should be put on the following essentials,
- Light clothes, long trousers and long-sleeved shirt
- Strong hiking waterproof shoes or boots
- Waterproof socks
- Warm sweater and head sock
- Gaiters
- Warm sweater
- Basic first aid kit with toiletries
- Backpack
- Refillable water bottle
- Sunglasses
- Suncream
- Wide-brimmed hat
- Light snacks
- Trekking gloves
- Trekking poles
- Raincoat
- Insect repellent
- Camera
- Pair of binoculars
- Cash for tipping and hiring porters