Mount Karisimbi is an inactive volcano in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda bordering the Democratic Republish of Congo. The mountain is part of the Virunga mountain ranges that stretch from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Karisimbi Mountain at 4,507 meters above sea level is the highest mountain of the 8 volcanoes of the Virunga ranges. Karisimbi is a Kinyarwanda word that means snow. The local Rwandans named the mountain Karisimbi because the top summits of this mountain are snow-capped.
Karisimbi Mountain is shared by the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda since it is on the border of the two countries. Due to its gigantic height, the mountain can also be spotted from the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda. The Karisimbi Mountain bears a mixed type of climate which includes shrubs with mixed tropical rainforest and bamboo. The mountain neighbors other volcanoes of the Virunga range such as Mikeno, Nyiragongo, and Bisoke.
The Karisimbi Mountain is without a doubt a natural sanctuary for wildlife both flora and fauna species. The mountain harbors all sorts of wildlife from the primates to mammals and birds. There are many fauna species to find by the highlight and the most sought after is the mountain gorilla primates. These harbor the slopes and base of Mountain Karisimbi and can be encountered on a gorilla trekking adventure experience in Volcanoes National Park.
Things to see in Mount Karisimbi
There are several tourist attractions in Karisimbi Mountain and embarking on a safari experience to the mountain opens the door to adventure. The following are some of the things to expect and see on a visit to Mountain Karisimbi.
Mountain Gorillas
The endangered mountain gorillas are the main attraction of tourists to the Karisimbi Mountain. These gentle giants the mountain gorillas inhabit the slopes of the Karisimbi and also the base of the mountain. The endangered mountain gorillas are on the verge of extinction and that is why they are labeled as endangered. The mountain gorillas can only be found in the Virunga conservation area. Mount Karisimbi in Volcanoes National Park falls under this conservation area. These gorillas live in highland areas like mountains hence the name mountain gorillas.
Birds
Mountain Karisimbi is a birding sanctuary because it hosts over 180 bird species. The mountain’s rich ecosystems not only harbor these birds but also have food for these birds. Among the birds in the mountain Karisimbi, 16 of these species are of the Albertine endemics. These birds are rare and are only present in the Albertine regions. The birds in Mountain Karisimbi include Rwenzori Turaco, Rwenzori Double-collared Sunbird, Grauer’s Swamp Warbler, Handsome Francolin, Archer’s Robin-Chat, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Scarlet-tufted Malachite Sunbird, Dusky Crimsonwing, Rwenzori batis, Pied Kingfisher, African greenbul, Tropical boubou, and brown necked parrot to mention but a few.
Golden Monkeys
Just like their gigantic cousins and highlanders the mountain gorillas, golden mountains are also part and pulse of the Virunga region. These monkeys have a golden-like fur on their cheeks hence their name golden monkeys. Golden monkeys are however much smaller primates that prefer to hang out on the bamboo trees on the base of the mountain. The bamboo shoots are the favorite meal for these monkeys. Mountain Karisimbi has about 80-100 individuals and can be tracked on a daily with the purchase of a tracking permit.
Dian Fossey grave
Mountain Karisimbi is a primate hub that harbors the endangered mountain gorillas. It is on this account that after conflicting civil wars in the Virunga National Park, Dian Fossey fled to the nearby Volcanoes National Park. She set up her headquarters at Karisoke Research Center on the foothills of Karisimbi Mountain. Dian Fossey was a renowned gorilla conservationist who dedicated her life to preserving the endangered mountain gorillas. Unfortunately, after 20 years of working in Volcanoes National Park on 21st December 1985, she was killed. She was buried at the foothills of Karisimbi Mountain and her legacy lives on. Many visitors come to the mountain for gorilla trekking and then pay their respects to the legend.
Things to do in Mount Karisimbi
Just like the tourist attractions, Mountain Karisimbi has a lot of tourist activities for visitors to engage in. The following are some of them.
Gorilla trekking
The major tourist activity in Mountain Karisimbi is gorilla trekking. This involves visitors walking through the thick vegetation on this mountain and the steep terrain in search of mountain gorillas. This safari adventure takes only an hour after locating these mountain gorillas. However, the trekking process depends on how far the family is being trekked and the physique of the trekker.
Golden monkey tracking
Golden monkey tracking is also a main tourist activity in Mountain Karisimbi. Just like the mountain gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking also takes an hour. Visitors go through the bamboo forest in search of the golden monkeys. Golden monkey tracking is not as tiresome as mountain gorilla trekking. This is because the golden monkeys harbor the lower slopes of mountain Karisimbi. This makes tracking them a bit easier since the terrain is not as steep.
Bird watching
Mountain Karisimbi is a birder’s paradise harboring over 180 bird species. These birds have made this mountain their home. They are scattered across the different ecosystems on the mountain from the foothills through the steep slopes and on higher altitudes. Visitors can encounter several birds including the Albertine endemics.
The best time to visit Mount Karisimbi
Mountain Karismibi is located in the Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda. This park lies in the tropics and receives a tropical type of climate. It is on this account that the Karisimbi mountain receives 2 seasons of dry and wet annually. The dry season runs from June to September and December to February. The wet season happens from March to May and October to November.
The best time to visit Mountain Karisimbi is in the dry season. This is because the dry season receives humid temperatures with little or no rain. This leaves the trails in the mountain dry and the vegetation sparse.
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