Mount Bisoke, also known as Visoke in DR Congo, rises to 3,711 meters above sea level as a dormant volcano…
The Virunga Mountains, also known as the Virunga Massif or Virunga Ranges, are a chain of volcanoes spanning three countries in East-Central Africa: northwestern Rwanda, southwestern Uganda, and eastern DR Congo. The name comes from the Kinyarwanda word “ibirunga,” meaning mountain range, and the area is best known as one of only two places on earth where mountain gorillas live in the wild.
The Eight Volcanoes of the Virunga Mountains
The Virunga Massif is made up of eight major volcanoes, only two of which are still active. Mount Karisimbi, the tallest at 14,790 feet, sits on the Rwanda-DRC border and takes about two days to summit, with the dry season from June to August offering the best hiking conditions and clear views of Mount Nyiragongo. Mount Mikeno, a dormant 14,560-foot volcano in DRC, is considered the toughest climb in the range due to its steep, forested slopes, which also serve as habitat for mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park.
Mount Muhabura, the third highest peak, straddles the Uganda-Rwanda border and rewards hikers with views of Rwanda’s twin lakes, Bulera and Ruhondo, along with five other Virunga volcanoes. Mount Bisoke, sometimes called Visoke, is known for the crater lake at its summit and can be climbed and descended in a single day through its bamboo forest and alpine vegetation.
Mount Sabyinyo sits at the meeting point of Uganda, Rwanda, and DRC, and its rugged slopes, said to resemble an old man’s teeth, are home to the Sabyinyo gorilla group, one of the easier families to trek in Rwanda. Reaching its summit means standing in three countries at once. Mount Gahinga, the smallest of the eight and located in Uganda, is a dormant volcano with a swampy crater floor and volcanic caves worth exploring, and can be climbed in a day.
Mount Nyiragongo, in eastern DRC, holds a lava lake and is the most frequently hiked volcano in the range, taking two days with an overnight stay in mountain huts at the summit. Mount Nyamuragira is currently Africa’s most active volcano, having recently formed a new lava lake for the first time in over 50 years.
National Parks of the Virunga Conservation Area
The Virunga Mountains fall within the Virunga Conservation Area, made up of three national parks. Virunga National Park in eastern DRC covers 7,800 square kilometers, making it Africa’s oldest and largest protected area. It was gazetted in 1925 and named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, and is home to mountain gorillas, elephants, and African buffaloes, among other threatened species.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda covers about 33.7 square kilometers, making it Uganda’s smallest national park. Established in 1991, it hosts both mountain gorillas and golden monkeys, and contains three of the range’s eight volcanoes, including the shared summit of Mount Sabyinyo.
Volcanoes National Park in northern Rwanda covers 160 square kilometers and borders five of the range’s volcanoes, protecting mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, and other endangered wildlife.
Things to Do in the Virunga Mountains
Activities across the three parks include gorilla trekking, golden monkey trekking, volcano hiking, cultural encounters, nature walks, and lake and cave tours. Along with Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda, the Virunga Conservation Area is one of only two places in the world where mountain gorillas can be found.
Plan Your Virunga Mountains Adventure
Whether you’re drawn to gorilla trekking, a volcano summit, or both, the Virunga Mountains offer some of the most varied trekking in East Africa. Book your Virunga Mountains adventure with our team today, and we’ll help you plan a trip around the volcanoes and wildlife that interest you most.
