Mountain Muhabura is situated at the border of Rwanda and Uganda northeast of lake Kivu. It an extinct volcano elevated at 4,127m. It is the third highest mountain with steep slopes making it a hard mountain to climb. One part of the volcano is found in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and another in Uganda’s Mgahinga National Park. Mt Muhabura is the steepest of the Virunga Mountains. Muhabura means guide in the local community as it was used as a guide or land mark in the old times. Tourists that summit to its peak are rewarded with views of the Bulera and Ruhondo twin lakes, the rest of the volcanoes and the wildlife of the area like the gorillas.
Mountain Muhabura can be accessed on the Rwanda side in Volcanoes National Park and in Uganda at Mgahinga gorilla national park. Mt Muhavura features a cone-like shape with volcanic ash and other related materials on the slopes and at the foot. This Volcanic ash supports the group of shrubs and thickets on the sides of the mountains. The Kabiranyuma river/swamp is another feature that separates Mt Muhabura from Mt Gahinga. Mt Muhabura gives opportunities to spot rare species of birds and mammals like buffaloes, elephants and Mountain gorillas most especially from the Uganda side.
Hiking Mount Muhabura is arranged from both Rwanda and Uganda side. Mount Muhabura is the most difficult mountain to hike among the eight volcanoes in the Virunga Ranges. It may not be the tallest but it is very steep and one is required to complete the hike in one day before the sun sets. To reach the summit and descend on time, one needs to be mentally and physically prepared. If you are climbing Mt Muhabura from the Uganda side, you will be met by guides from the Uganda Wildlife Authority and led to the Ntebeko visitors Centre. If hiking from the Rwanda side, you need to report to the Kinigi visitor’s center. You will be assigned a ranger and a guide to lead you to the mountains. Climbing Mountain Muhabura starts at around 7 am and takes between 5 to 7 hours to complete. Before heading off to the head trail, the Rangers will organize a briefing for all hikers. This briefing covers all important aspects of the hike and includes the history and formation of the mountain. The Rangers will advise hikers on how to prepare mentally for the activity and deal with any injuries or symptoms of altitude illness. During the briefing, the Rangers and Guides will also check to see if all hikers have the necessary gear hiking boots, walking sticks, packed lunch, the right clothing, packed lunch, drinking water and a walking stick. All supplies and equipment have to be sorted out before proceeding to the head trail. After the briefing, hikers are driven or taken to the starting point of the hike by the park authorities, their personal driver or a Guide from their tour company.
Porters are available for hire at the foot of the mountain. In case the group is large, hikers are usually split into two – the slow hikers and seasoned/experienced hikers. In case it gets too late and you haven’t reached close to the summit, you are simply advised to give up and descend along with others who completed in time. Climbing Mountain Muhabura costs $75 per person in Uganda. Permits can be purchased on the day of the climb, no advance booking is necessary.
