Muhavura Volcano — Local services in Kisoro

(Rwandan side) The hike is really steep, 7km to reach the summit and 1700m of élévation, it's not something easy 🥵 The path starts in the jungle and continue with the classical altitude vegetation. If you are lucky, you'll have a really good view at the top but usually it is foggy. Now I want to share with you some logistical tips. Don't fall in the transport trap please. You can easily save your 90$, so don't rent the first car that is proposed, do it on your own. You just have to keep a place for the guide. Few options to cover the 40km of tarmac between the Headquarter and the starting point in Kidaho. deal with a motocar guy find a car with a guy in Musanze or Knigi (not by a renting company) Ask the contact of the others hikers who will go with you and share the cost

I really don't like to be taken for "une vache à lait" so if I can help some people to understand the process it is my pleasure. I'm not the usual Muzungu, so if you also share this vision of tourism you know what to do ! 🤠

PS: The starting point is in Kidaho, next to the petrol station 😉 -then direction on the path: left/right/left (through portal)/left (next to a little house) if you are enough determined you can cover the distance by foot (~10km), it 'll more...

I like hiking a lot but i wouldn’t say that I am the most experienced. Since I am from austria there’s a lot of possibility’s but none that stand at that hight. Since my group and I had very different paces I was held back a little so I spend the first few hours waiting a lot. As the rangers realized they were so kind to get another ranger up to the first hut, so I could continue alone with Francis. So in the end I managed to summit in 5h, I could have easily made it earlier but as I said I had to wait a lot. Francis the ranger was really great. On the hike itself we didn’t converse much but he always made sure if I am still good to go. Up on the summit we waited on my aunt who was still fighting her way up with Joshua the guide. So Francis and I waited and ended up chilling up there for 2 hours. It was amazing. We were lucky that the sun was out almost all through the hike and for all my 2 hours on the summit. The guys were amazing and great company as well.

Now to the hike. I did indeed underestimated the mountain. From afar it look’s easily manageable. Though it was manageable it surely wasn’t easy. But it was amazing. The views and the vegetation are just great. Can...

Rainforest, grasslands and naked rocks at the top. Sometimes wet, sometimes dry. Sometimes you can see only few meters, sometimes for dozens of kilometers, changing within minutes. For me, who lived in Rwanda on 1700 meters for 3 months but almost no sport, though average fitness, it was very tough. In the rainforest, you can sweat a lot. Then within a few meters, the forest ends and you are blown away by cold wind. The last 300 meters were specially tough for me, due to low air pressure. Highest mountain I climbed was 2800m or so, years ago. So if you are averagely fit and have a strong will, you can make it. I highly recommend good hiking shoes because of the descent. Try to convince the guide of using motos from Cyanika. It is cheaper then the car, that they want you to hire. Payed 80$ for the permit as a foreign resident, for usual foreigners it should be 100$. You need to bring your passport. Payment with visa and Mastercard possible.

tl;dr Not many animals, but the most rewarding...