- Mountain gorilla trekking: The reason most people come. You join a group of up to eight visitors for one hour with a habituated family, usually after a walk of one to several hours through farmland and bamboo. Silverbacks, infants and the sound of chewing stay in the memory more than any photo.
- Golden monkey tracking: A cheaper permit and an easier walk, with troops of golden monkeys moving through the bamboo on the lower slopes. They are fast, restless and fun to watch.
- Dian Fossey’s tomb and Karisoke: A hike up the slopes of Mount Karisimbi and Bisoke leads to the ruins of the research camp where Fossey worked, and her grave beside those of gorillas killed by poachers. Allow a half day, and expect mud.
- Mount Bisoke crater lake: A steep day hike to the summit at roughly 3,700 meters, where a
- Mountain gorilla trekking: The reason most people come. You join a group of up to eight visitors for one hour with a habituated family, usually after a walk of one to several hours through farmland and bamboo. Silverbacks, infants and the sound of chewing stay in the memory more than any photo.
- Golden monkey tracking: A cheaper permit and an easier walk, with troops of golden monkeys moving through the bamboo on the lower slopes. They are fast, restless and fun to watch.
- Dian Fossey’s tomb and Karisoke: A hike up the slopes of Mount Karisimbi and Bisoke leads to the ruins of the research camp where Fossey worked, and her grave beside those of gorillas killed by poachers. Allow a half day, and expect mud.
- Mount Bisoke crater lake: A steep day hike to the summit at roughly 3,700 meters, where a green lake fills the crater. Cloud often closes in, so start early for a clearer view.
- Mount Karisimbi: The highest of the Virunga volcanoes, climbed over two days with a camp at about 3,700 meters. Cold nights and thin air make it the hardest option here, and the views over the chain are wide.
- Musanze Caves: Lava tubes outside the park near Musanze town, formed by volcanic activity. A guided walk of about two kilometers takes you through caverns with bats and rock formations.
- Twin Lakes Burera and Ruhondo: Two lakes beneath the volcanoes, best seen by canoe or from a lakeside walk. Hills terraced with crops frame the water.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.