Mount Bisoke is situated in Volcanoes national park in Rwanda, this mountain is part of the Virunga volcanoes covering an elevation of 3,711 meters above sea level the mountain is characterized with a series of vegetation types starting from bamboo forests, Hypercom forests, through senecio and lobelia bush.
Mount Bisoke peak can be reached within two to four hours time of hiking depending on the hiker’s fitness and descending takes about two hours hence making a one day safari. Mount Bisoke is also sometimes known as Visoke Mountain.
The name Bisoke is derived its name from a Swahili word to mean “soaked water” the last eruption occurred in 1957 and it’s endowed with two magnificent crater lakes one which is just about 11 kilometers from the summit while the other is found at the summit.
Mount Bisoke like other Virunga mountains was formed our of a rift action it also boasts with the largest crater lake in the Virunga ranges, the mountain has also got alpine Meadows and equatorial forests.
Mount Bisoke is just two kilometers from the famous American zoologist Dian Fossey tomb who greatly contributed to the observation of gorillas in central Africa, the Bisoke Crater Lake is also k own as Lake Ngezi.
The best time for climbing mount Virunga is in the dry season when hiking can be easy unlike from mid September to June its rainy season and very muddy however, the safari is worth as you can come along the famous mountain gorillas, many species of monkeys, butterflies, crocodiles and many more plant species to be seen.
Tourists hiking mount Bisoke are supposed to come with hiking gears as it gets very cold sometimes and also protect your skin from biting insects not forgetting good hiking shoes. As tourists slope down the views of the mighty volcanoes national park are glorious with scents of flowers and whispers of the wilderness.
Tourists on arrival should always checking with volcanoes national park reception for clearance, at Kanigi there is provision of Porter’s, the mountains summit doesn’t actually contain snow but always filled with fog. The park has got farming, mining and logging industries the one can visit apart from the famous gorilla trekking in the region.
The Virunga mountains have greatly recovered from poaching and deforestation that resulted from Burundian civil war, Rwandan civil war, first Congo war, second Congo war and the Rwandan genocide this occurred from the early 90s to 2005 ending with the Burundian war, this deteriorated tourism industry during that time however, the countries are now on peaceful state and very safe to visit.
The mountains Crater Lake lies 400 meters in diameter; Bisoke Mountain is also home to Golden monkeys that are endangered only to the Virunga area plus other animals such as buffalos, orchids, forest elephants and duikers. There are also lots of bird species some of which are endemic to Virunga volcanoes others are migratory birds.
Mount Bisoke can be accessed from. Goma town which is just about 35 kilometers, another nearest city is Ruhengeri the whole hiking safari to and fro takes up to 8-10 hours therefore it can be done in one day. The rangers and guides are very experienced and knowledgeable therefore they will give you most of the information required and also answer every question you may have for them.
For tourists who would love to spend a night at Volcanoes national park they can always choose from a wide range of accommodation units found within the park some of the hotels and lodges here are; Le Bamboo gorilla lodge, Sabinyo silverback lodge, mountains gorillas nest lodge, hotel Muhabira, red rocks Rwanda and Home in among the rest.
Mount Bisoke is easy to climb other than the rest of the virunga volcanoes making it the most visited, the two different trails lead to different destinations one to the lake at the summit while the others leads to Lake Ngezi.
