Hiking The Virunga Volcanoes

Located right in the southwestern corner of Uganda lies the small Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, which covers the northern slopes of the three northernmost Virunga Volcanoes: Mount Muhavura (4 127 m), Mount Gahinga (3 474 m)  and Mount Sabinyo (3 645 m).

Different hikes set-off from the Mgahinga National Park visitor’s centre and depend on fitness levels and time available. A day hike for a moderately fit hiker might be the Gahinga trail, but for a more demanding hike try either of the following two trails: Mount Sabyinyo and Mount Muhavura, which require more than a day covering 14 km and 12 km, respectively. They are also much steeper than the day hikes as you climb to the tops of each of these volcanoes. The views are unbeatable. And interestingly, if you do go on the Sabinyo hike, you get to stand in Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda at the same time. A guide always accompanies hikers and, at times, it would be impossible to find the trail without them.