6 Days Karisimbi Hiking and Nyungwe Forest
A 6 days Karisimbi Hiking and Nyungwe Forest is a better way to explore Rwanda in an adventure and relax from the challenging and difficult hike. Mount Karisimbi is the highest mountain of all eight of the Virunga Mountains, with a height of over 4,507 meters above sea level, where fitness is a key, good health and stamina to reach the summit.
It takes approximately 2 days of ascending and descending the volcano with great scenic views of the scenery, including different bird species and vegetation types like the montane forest and bamboo forests.
At the top of the mountain, visitors are rewarded with a Branc Caldera and some crater lakes with great views of other mountains like Nyamurangira, Nyiragongo and Muhabura Mountain. A break at Lake Kivu is for mind and body relaxing with amazing memories of the hike. Nyungwe forest rewards visitors with views of the chimpanzees and other wild primates. The forest also has the best canopy experience in East Africa.
Highlight of the itinerary
- Day 1: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
- Day 2: Hike Mount Karisimbi
- Day 3: Descend from the top and transfer to Lake Kivu
- Day 4: Boat trip and transfer to Nyungwe national park
- Day 5: Chimpanzee and Canopy Walk
- Day 6: Transfer to Kigali
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park – Community tour
Depending on your location in Kigali City or upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be met by your safari guide and transferred to Ruhengeri, where we find the Volcanoes National Park. It is a 2- to 3-hour drive from the capital, Kigali, to the park with beautiful views of the rolling hills of Rwanda.
On arrival, you will proceed to your booked accommodation for check-in for lunch. Later afternoon, drive to Ibya’cuwa community village for a cultural experience of the Banyarwanda people, where you will learn and be entertained by the local people. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation and meals;
- Hotel Muhabura for budget
- Le Bamboo Gorilla lodge for mid-range
- 5 Volcanoes, Gorilla Lodge for Luxury
Day 2: Karisimbi Hiking
Wake up early, have breakfast at your lodge, and then connect to the park headquarters for a briefing about the activity at 7 am before you drive to the starting point where you will begin the hike with your ranger guides. You start the hike through Bisoke and navigate your way up to Karisimbi volcano.
The hike is quite challenging and steep, taking about 7 to 8 hours to reach a height of about 3,700 meters above sea level, where you will camp for an overnight.
What to carry? A sleeping bag, warm clothes, gloves, waterproof pants, and coats, Waterproof hiking shoes, a walking stick, Heavy jackets, sweaters, and hats
Day 3: Descend from the summit and transfer to Lake Kivu.
Enjoy your cup of tea, then proceed to the top of Mount Karisimbi at 4,705 meters and enjoy the incredible views of the caldera and sights of Nyiragongo, Nyamulagira and Muhabura mountains.
After taking pictures and enjoying the top of the mountain, you will start to descend from the top and return to the starting point, where you will meet your guide. It’s a 6-hour hike with great views of the mountain with a chance of spotting the different birds and primates if you are lucky.
Meet your guide, have lunch, and then drive to Gisenyi, where we find the largest freshwater lake in Rwanda—Lake Kivu.
On arrival at the site, you will drop to your lodge, check in at your lodge and relax for the rest of the day at the lake shores enjoying the breeze and quietness of the lake. Later evening, you will enjoy dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation and Dinner;
- Paradise Malahide for budget accommodation option
- Palm Garden Hotel for mid-range accommodation option
- Lake Kivu Serena Hotel for luxury accommodation options
Day 4: Boat trip and transfer to Nyungwe National Park
After enjoying breakfast at your hotel, your safari guide will be waiting to drive you on a tour in Gisenyi town, where you will also connect for a 2-hour boat experience on Lake Kivu and visit the islands on the lake and fishing sites for leisure.
After the boat trip, transfer to Nyungwe Forest, which is a 5-6 hour drive from Gisenyi with en-route views of the scenic Rwanda rolling hills and lunch in Kibuye. Proceed to the park and connect to your lodge to check in and relax as you wait for dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation and meals;
- Gisakura Visitors Centre for budget accommodation options
- Nyungwe Top Hill hotel for a mid-range accommodation option
- One and Only Nyungwe Hotel for luxury accommodation options
Day 5: Chimpanzee and Canopy Walk
Wake up to a delicious breakfast at your hotel, then transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing about the Nyungwe primates, especially the chimpanzees. These primates are still wild and it is not guaranteed to spot them because they are not habituated. It takes 2-5 hours to find them and 1 hour is allowed to view them before you return to the starting point where you will meet your safari guide.
Have lunch at your lodge, then connect back at the park offices for a canopy walk experience of the largest rainforest in East Africa. The canopy walk trail has great views of a number of primates and bird species found in the park. It takes about 1 to 2 hours to return from the canopy walk. Return for dinner and an overnight stay at the lodge as above.
Day 6: Transfer to Kigali
After breakfast, start your journey back to Kigali. It is approximately a 5-6 hour drive; however, you will have a stopover in Butare and Huye and visit the genocide memorial and the Rwanda National Museum. Have lunch, then proceed to Kigali City, where your safari guide will either drop you off at your own booked accommodation or at Kigali Airport for your onward flight back home.
End of 6 Days Karisimbi Hiking Rwanda and Nyungwe Forest
