Mount Bisoke Hike Requirements, Restrictions & Permit

Note: Hiking Mount Bisoke is not a beginners hike

If you ever find yourself in Rwanda, make it a point to climb Mount Bisoke. Among the many volcanoes in the Virungas, Mount Bisoke is one of the most active. Mount Bisoke is a 12,175-foot mountain that straddles the boundary between Rwanda (Volcanoes National Park) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. (Virunga National Park). Rwanda is home to the peak and the bulk of the mountain. Mount Bisoke was created by the rift that is slowly splitting East Africa apart. It features two lakes, one in the middle (Lake Ngezi) and one at the highest top. The last major eruption occurred in 1957, leaving behind one of the greatest Crater Lakes in the Virungas.

mount bisoke hike

Mountain gorillas call Mount Bisoke their home. These apes are the main draw for visitors to Rwanda. Mountain gorillas thrive in the area because of the abundance of bamboo forests and other plants. However Many tourists to Volcanoes National Park also like climbing Mount Bisoke. Most visitors to Volcanoes National Park do not visit the park without also climbing Mount Bisoke.

Ascending Bisoke Mountain

Mount Bisoke is an interesting and thrilling trip that even inexperienced hikers may enjoy. Six hours are required to reach the peak, while two or more are required to return, depending on how often the hiking group pauses to rest. It takes experienced mountaineers just three hours to reach the peak. Hikers should be in decent shape and ready to cope with prickly plants, stinging insects, and muddy pathways, particularly during the rainy season, in order to tackle the less strenuous Mount Bisoke. Hikers need to be ready to cope with the temperature and oxygen levels. Low temperatures may make hiking difficult, leading to the need for frequent rest breaks.

Visitors to Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park often choose to hike Bisoke for the unique opportunity to see crater lakes, breathtaking vistas, and alpine flora seen nowhere else on Earth. Forest elephants, buffalo, mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, and many bird species all call the volcano their home. Meeting a gorilla family or a group of golden monkeys along the way would be an incredible bonus to the trek. Hikers are only permitted ten minutes of distant viewing of any gorillas they meet. During the trek, visitors are not allowed to photograph the gorillas. Only guests who have paid for the official gorilla tracking experience are allowed to go close enough to the gorillas to snap photographs and spend more time with them. It’s possible that the golden monkeys and mountain gorillas you see along the route aren’t habituated, so it’s best to give them space.

The typical day for a walk up Mount Bisoke begins with a briefing from a Ranger at the park headquarters. Tourists congregate at the office first thing in the morning before going on excursions like gorilla tracking, golden monkey tracking and the Dian Fossey burial Hike, so the office is generally bustling then. During the briefing, bring your hiking permission, passport, and any other necessary paperwork. Before returning from the peak, this will be your only opportunity to use a real bathroom and have a snack. Hikers are taken from the park offices to the trailhead by their corporate guide or a cab if they are independently travelling.

It’s a 40-minute drive over difficult road to the path’s beginning and the head of the trail. The park rangers will now provide you with walking sticks. You may hire porters to assist carry your gear, and armed Rangers will meet you and accompany you to the peak. When wild creatures pose a danger, the armed Rangers will keep them at bay. Hikers often rely on porters to assist them ascend or descend steep terrain. The porters have extensive mountain experience and live in close proximity to the park. Since they were young, several locals have been lending a hand to trekkers. The going rate for a porter is $15 per hour.

When asked, “What does Bisoke mean?”

Hikers should be in decent shape and ready to cope with prickly plants, stinging insects, and muddy pathways, particularly during the rainy season, in order to tackle the less strenuous Mount Bisoke. Hikers need to be ready to cope with the temperature and oxygen levels. Low temperatures may make hiking difficult, leading to the need for frequent rest breaks.

Only guests who have paid for the official gorilla tracking experience are allowed to go close enough to the gorillas to snap photographs and spend more time with them. It’s possible that the golden monkeys and mountain gorillas you see along the route aren’t habituated, so it’s best to give them space.

mount bisoke hike

Trekking Up Bisoke

The trail begins near the base of the volcano, where the terrain is flat but rocky and harsh. Before you approach the park’s entrance, you’ll go past a number of local gardens and plantations. Stone walls surround several areas of the park, preventing trespassers and farmland-raiding animals alike. From the peak, you’ll get a fantastic view of the Virunga area, including the Mount Visoke Crater Lake, the Mount Karisimbi volcano, and the Mount Mikeno in Congo. You shouldn’t go swimming in the lake up there.

How long hikers spend at the peak depends on the weather. On a warm day, you may have a picnic on top of the mountain. Backtracking to the parking lot is a breeze, barring another encounter with the muddy paths. Your driver or tour guide will be waiting for you when you arrive.

Tipping the Porters and Rangers is optional but appreciated. In this manner, the park can give back to the neighbourhood that surrounds it. Our 2 Day Gorilla Trekking and Mount Bisoke Hiking Package may be just what you need if you’re interested in tracking Mountain Gorillas and ascending Bisoke. Consider the 3 day gorilla tour and mount Bisoke hiking package for a more leisurely vacation.

What to bring and what you need to bring for a walk up Bisoke

The best way to be ready for a walk up Mount Bisoke is to make sure you’re physically capable of doing so. Many would-be mountaineers have given up at the beginning of the trek due to the mud. You need to prepare psychologically with the purpose of finishing the trek regardless of the hurdles you meet. Get ready to lug around these things:

Proper attire: bring long pants, a jumper, a long-sleeved shirt and a hat. Long sleeves will shield you from beetles and other stinging insects, and a thick hat will keep the chill off your head.

When handling sharp tree branches, it’s important to wear gloves to protect your hands.

Light hiking shoes (water-proof boots) and stockings: they should be strong and able to enable you comfortably and successfully travel over the mud filled paths, particularly during the rainy season. If you want to avoid getting your hiking socks dirty or stung by an insect, tuck them inside your pants.

The park rangers will lend you a walking stick to help you climb steep inclines and maintain your balance on uneven ground.

It’s a good idea to bring some food and water with you in case you become hungry or thirsty while travelling. To relieve thirst, drink a glass of water.

The expense of climbing Bisoke

Hiking permits for Mount Bisoke may be purchased at the park’s visitor centre on the day of the trek. Per person fees for Mount Bisoke total $75. The cost of hiring a car to go to the park and the trailhead is not included. If you need assistance planning any aspect of your trip, including securing the required Bisoke permissions, booking transportation, or reserving lodging