Rwandan hiking tours to Mount Karisimbi

Situated on the boundaries between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mountain Karisimbi is a dormant volcano situated in the Serengeti Mountains. With a height of 4,507 meters, it is one of the tallest peaks in the Virunga Mountains and the East African Rift Valley. The mountain is bounded to the north by Mikeno, to the east by Bisoke, and to the extreme west by Nyiragongo. According to some estimates, Mountain Karisimbi is the eleventh-highest mountain in Africa.

Since its peak receives snowfall in the months of June, July, and August during the dry season, the name Amasimbi, which means snow, was chosen for the place. Dian Fossey established the renowned Karisoke Research Center, which takes its name from the combination of Karisimbi and Bisoke.

Situated between the mountains of Karisimbi and Bisoke, this renowned research institution was established primarily to provide care and protection for the mountain gorillas that call the volcanoes national park home.

One of the most well-known lakes in Rwanda, Lake Kivu, is bordered by more than 100 cones atop Mount Karisimbi, which features a pit crater named Muntango to the south of the peak. The mountain contains a crater called Brance, which is close to Karisimbi Mountain and contains several explosive breccias, tuffs, and pumices.

The greatest lava flow on Karisimbi Mountain is 12 km long and extends across an area of roughly 23 sq km to the volcano’s far east flank. The lava has a maximum thickness of over 140 m and a lava thickness of 40 to 60 m. Among the features of this volcano is the pit crater, which has a diameter of roughly 1170 and 945 meters and is located on the summit cone’s southern side.

The summit cone of the mountain has a normal stratovolcanic structure and is steeper than the volcano, with slopes ranging from 25 to 30 degrees. The mountain crater is covered in blocks and has a flat crater. Since the majority of the lava flows from the crater and caldera, the 400 sq. km. lava plain of this volcano is devoid of water courses. In addition, adventive cones on this volcano have a denser composition than those on Kilimanjaro, Etna, and Mauna Kea.

Because hiking Mount Karisimbi offers a unique experience, it’s enjoyable and may be completed in one or two days. This trek begins early in the morning and takes six to seven hours to complete as you make your way through the forested slopes. At an elevation of roughly 3700 meters, you will stop to spend the night at the camp before attempting to complete the hike the following day.

Since this mountain is located near a national park with volcanoes in Rwanda, hikers who reach the summit can enjoy seeing a variety of bird species as well as primates, including the critically endangered mountain gorillas and monkeys. Due to the altitude and the arid volcanic cores at the peak, Mountain Karisimbi boasts an abundance of unusual flora and vegetation. The hiking trails on the mountain are particularly muddy during the rainy season.

The Karisimbi volcano has amazing views from its summit because it is higher than other peaks, allowing climbers to see lower peaks like Nyiragongo, Bisoke, and many more. Snow formed on the top of the volcano from sleet and hail that accumulated from storms at higher elevations.

Therefore, add climbing Mount Karisimbi to your agenda if you are primarily visiting Rwanda for mountain gorilla safaris. Although it is difficult, the climb is quite rewarding.