Hiking in Rwanda

Hiking in Rwanda, Rwanda’s epic scenery, pleasant climate and magnificent wildlife make the land a remarkable place to explore on foot. Hiking in Rwanda gives you a great opportunity to walk through the country’s natural beauty and welcoming villages on unique trails for every experience level, from novices who choose easy walks, to experienced trekkers who prefer physical challenge and expansive views from atop some of the country’s highest peaks, all the way from Volcanoes National Park in the north, through the Congo Nile Trail along the fringes of Lake Kivu in the west and down to Nyungwe National Park in the south. More hiking trails have been developed including the certified Nyanza Cultural Trails in the south of Rwanda and the Liberation History Tourism Trails in the east and north of the country as well as in Kigali. Hiking in Rwanda can be combined with different adventures like kayaking, canoeing, boat riding, biking, bird watching, camping, visiting landmarks and historical places as well as with community-based activities. Depending on one’s choice, main trails in Rwanda can be connected. Rwanda is the first country in Africa with trails certified by the German Hiking Institute (Deutsches Wanderinstitut). This green country known for its cleanliness and safety, was ranked as the 9th safest country for tourists in the world and the 1st in Africa by the World Economic Forum report of 2017. All of this increasingly makes the country a destination of choice for international travelers.

Best time for hiking in Rwanda

Rwanda is the cleanest and safest country to visit and is well recognized internationally. This country is visited anytime of the year because of its pleasant weather, but the best time for hiking in Rwanda is from June to august and December to February when the trails are dry.

What to pack during hiking in Rwanda

When planning a hike in volcanoes national park, whether first time hikers or experienced hikers, essential packing of hiking gear is key. Some of the items to pack is water proof hiking shoes, rain gear, bag pack, water bladder for hydration, walking poles, camera, a pair of binoculars, hiking pants, sun hat, first aid kit and snacks.

Volcanoes national park 

Mount Bisoke, Mount Gahinga, mount Karisimbi, Karisoke research centre, Mount Muhabura.

The Volcanoes National Park comprises of a range of six extinct and three active volcanoes form the Virunga Massif, spanning altitudes from 2,400m to 4,507m. The Volcanoes National Park protects the Rwandan sector, with the other slopes falling within Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The park is best known for tracking gorillas but there is plenty more to see and do and hiking is one of the astounding activities to be done. Hiking in the volcanoes national Park Classification: Volcanoes National Park hikes are in a protected area. Animals live in their natural habitat. Guide and permit are needed.

 Find your perfect trail!

 Mount Bisoke

 Starting point: Bisoke Parking Duration: 5 hours, Length: 6.5 km for those keen to summit Mount Bisoke, a crater lake awaits at the top, which lies at 3,700m. This trail takes anything from five hours to a whole day.

Mount Gahinga

Starting point: Gatabi Parking Duration: 5 hours, Length: 5 km on top of the famous mountain gorillas, Gahinga is also home to several other species of animals and birds that form part of the Mount Gahinga ecosystem. The equally endangered golden monkeys are an example of that ecosystem.

 Mount Muhabura

 Starting point: Nyagahinga Duration: 8 hours, Length: 9 km Mount Muhabura is the second highest of the Rwandan Virunga Volcanoes, bordering Rwanda and Uganda, and the steepest of all. The Mount Muhabura hike is the most demanding hike up to 4,127m and especially since hikers are required to complete the hike in a day. For those who make it all the way up to the top, a breathtaking scenery will reward their challenging climb.

Mount Karisimbi

Starting point: Bisoke Parking Duration: 2 days Length: 12 km  ‘Karisimbi’, which translates as white shell, refers to the frequently white-capped cloud cover at the summit. At 4,507m it is a strenuous yet rewarding hike, which takes two days, camping along the way. As this is the territory of gorillas, other primates and many bird species, hikers could be blessed with a chance of meeting them along the way.

Karisoke Research Center

 Starting point: Bisoke Parking Duration: 3 hours, In the saddle area between Mount Karisimbi and Mount Bisoke is the Karisoke Research Centre, founded by Dian Fossey in 1967, as well as the site of her grave. The walk up takes about an hour to an hour and a half, starting with a drive from the park headquarters 30 minutes away.

Karisoke Research center founded by Dian Fosssey in September 24^th 1967 started with only two tents, she created the name Karisoke using the names of nearby mount Karisimbi and mount Bisoke. The center was created by Dian Fossey out of love for mountain gorilla conservation in volcanoes national park in Rwanda. Today, it is the world’s centerpiece for gorilla conservation and science as well as one of the largest databases on any wild animal with more than 100 expert gorilla trackers protecting about half of Rwanda’s mountain gorillas.

Accomodations in volcanoes national park

Volcanoes national park offers a variety of accommodations from budget to luxury options. These includes kinigi guest house, Gorilla’s nest lodge, Gorillas volcanoes hotel, Ruzizi tented camp, sabinyo silverback lodge, Garden palace hotel, mountain gorilla view, Virunga gorilla lodge and many others.