Hiking Bisoke Mountain

Bisoke Mountain is an extinct volcano located in the northern part of Rwanda, in Musanze. It has a height of 3,711 meters and features a crater lake at its summit.

How the Bisoke hiking journey went

We left Kigali at 4:30 a.m. and arrived in Musanze at 7:10 a.m. We started at the reception, where we filled out the necessary forms to get permission to hike Bisoke. After completing the paperwork, we were assigned a guide to lead us. The journey began at 8:00 a.m., and we reached the summit at 12:30 p.m.

Our guide accompanied us, explaining key features of the volcano along the way. For example, he told us about a significant tree called “Kumunyakenya,” located in the middle of the volcano. He shared a story about a Kenyan tourist who, upon reaching the tree, became too exhausted to continue and decided to turn back. Similarly, he mentioned “Miss Gisabo,” one of the contestants in the Miss Rwanda competition, who also reached the same tree, ran out of energy, and had to return.

At the beginning, the hike felt manageable, but as we went higher and used more energy, it became increasingly challenging. By the time we reached the summit, we were exhausted.

Our group consisted of 15 people, but some couldn’t make it to the top due to fatigue and the fast pace we maintained. However, those of us who made it were lucky to arrive on time. At the summit, we encountered intense cold and a breathtaking view of the crater lake. It was extremely chilly.

We didn’t stay long at the top because of the cold and the rain that started falling. Clouds soon covered the lake, and the guide suggested we descend quickly to avoid getting drenched by the rain.

The descent was easier and much faster. However, some of us slipped and fell along the way, especially those who hadn’t brought proper hiking gear. If you don’t have extra clothes, you risk getting soaked by the rain and mud.

We eventually reached the starting point, where we enjoyed some tea, and others took a shower to freshen up, marking the end of our adventure.

Bisoke is a beautiful mountain, a delight to see and to climb.