Hiking Mount Bisoke to its crater lake
30 October 2026 · 4 min read
Photo: SIBOMANA Constantin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Mount Bisoke (also spelled Visoke) is one of the Virunga volcanoes in Volcanoes National Park. It rises to 3,711 metres on the border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with its summit on the Rwandan side.
At the top is the reward: a lake filling the volcano's crater, ringed by steep green walls. Bisoke last erupted in 1957, and unlike its taller neighbour Karisimbi, you can climb it and get back down in a single day.
How the day works
Like the gorilla treks, the hike starts at the park headquarters in Kinigi, where you need to report at 7am. After a briefing, your group and guide drive to the parking area at the trailhead. It's best to come in a 4x4 for this stretch.
Groups are capped at 16 people. The Rwanda Development Board, which runs the park, says the round trip takes six to seven hours for most people, including about two hours to come back down. Fit, experienced hikers can do it in under four.
The climb
The trail is steep but non-technical: no ropes or climbing, just a lot of uphill walking. It can be very muddy and slippery, especially on the steeper sections, and stinging nettles grow along the path.
On the way up you pass through bamboo, Hagenia forest and alpine meadows. These are the same slopes the mountain gorillas live on, so keep your eyes open. Dian Fossey's Karisoke Research Center was set up in the valley just west of Bisoke, and her story was told in the film Gorillas in the Mist.
Photo: Adygrafix250, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
At the summit
The crater rim is the place to stop for lunch and catch your breath. Swimming in the lake isn't allowed, but just seeing it after the climb is worth the effort.
The summit is often wrapped in fog, which can come and go within minutes. On a clear day, you can see across to the other Virunga volcanoes and down over the farmland below. How long you can stay at the top depends on the weather and the time.
Photo: SIBOMANA Constantin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Permits
Permits are sold by the Rwanda Development Board and cover park entry and your guide. At the time of writing, a permit costs US$75 for international visitors, US$60 for foreign residents of Rwanda, US$55 for East African citizens and RWF 4,000 for Rwandans. Hikers must be at least 15 years old.
Bisoke permits are far easier to get than gorilla permits, so it's a good option if the gorilla treks are sold out, or for an extra day in the park after seeing them.
Good to know
- At the time of writing (October 2026), the US government advises against all travel within 10 km of the Congo border in Musanze District, which covers Bisoke, and Australia warns of a risk of rebel attack in Volcanoes National Park and says to visit only with an organised tour group. Check your own government's latest travel advice before you book.
- Kinigi is about 2.5 hours' drive from Kigali and you need to be there by 7am, so sleep in Musanze or near the park the night before.
- Wear long trousers for the nettles and waterproof boots. Gumboots, raincoats and gloves can be hired at the park headquarters.
- Bring a warm layer and a rain jacket: it's cold and wet near the top, even in the dry seasons (roughly June to September and December to February).
- Pack lunch, snacks and plenty of water. Hiring a local porter makes the climb easier and supports families living around the park.
We can book your permit, a 4x4 with driver to Kinigi and the trailhead, and a night in Musanze, on its own or alongside a gorilla trek.
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