Hiking Mount Sabinyo in Kisoro
Mount Sabinyo is located in Mgahinga gorilla national park in Kisoro District bordering Rwanda and DR-Congo, Mgahinga gorilla national park is within the Virunga mountain ranges which are shared by three countries namely Uganda, Rwanda, and DR-Congo.
Mount Sabinyo is an extinct found in Kisoro-Mgahinga gorilla national park, with other volcano mountains within the Virunga ranges that include Mt Gahinga, Mt Muhabura, Mt Nyamuragira, Mt Nyiragongo, Mt Karisimbi, Mt Bisoke, and Mt Mikeno. Among the 7 volcanoes that make the Virunga mountain range, Mount Sabinyo is shared by three countries which means when you hike Sabinyo from Uganda you get the opportunity to stand in three countries on one visa. In the local language of Kisoro Sabinyo means “Old man’s tooth” just because its summit has three peaks that look like an old man’s teeth.
Mount Sabyinyo is 3,669 m with a summit that has a border point for three countries – Uganda, Rwanda, and DR-Congo, on the slopes of Mount Sabinyo is also a home for both mountain gorillas and golden monkeys and other big animals like elephants, buffaloes, hiking Mount Sabinyo in Kisoro is very challenging hikes among the 7 volcanoes of Virunga mountain Ranges, Mt Sabinyo is difficult to hike because it has rugged slopes of up and down which makes it really hard for hikers. Mount Sabinyo climbing can only be done on Uganda’s side because at the moment Rwanda and DR-Congo haven’t created a trail.
Why Hiking Mount Sabinyo in Kisoro
Hiking Mount Sabyinyo is one of the most exciting and best volcanic mountain hiking experiences in Uganda. A day of hiking Mt Sabinyo starts with registration at Mgahinga national park headquarters, after registration, all hikers meet for a briefing about the hike from the park/rangers guides who will brief you on what to expect during the hike and also get to know the history of the park, get to know what with to carry with you.
All people hiking are given a free walking stick from the park rangers to help as you hike up and down, it is also recommended to hire a porter who will carry all your heavy equipment like water, packed lunch, and cameras among other things you will be carrying on that day.
On this hike, you will be escorted by about 3 park rangers led by a ranger/guide, and two other armed rangers, as soon as the briefing ends you will immediately start the Mt Sabinyo hike which takes you through different vegetation which includes the flat area with swamps, another vegetation zones consists bamboo vegetation which is also the favorite habitat of golden monkeys and other different species of monkeys and even mountain gorillas so when you reach this zone watch out you may see something that you did not expect including elephants and buffaloes.
