Ngezi nature trail: Cheap Rwanda Safaris
Ngezi Nature Trail is a beautiful trail in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. Volcanoes National Park is famously known for its large population of mountain gorillas, various other natural attractions, and a beautiful landscape. Ngezi trail is a scenic trail on Mount Bisoke that leads you to Lake Ngezi which is found midway before the summit. Volcanoes National Park boasts of having five of the eight volcanoes that are shared by Uganda, Rwanda, and the democratic republic of Congo. These volcanoes include Gahinga, Sabinyo, Muhabura, Bisoke, and Karisimbi. All these volcanoes are available for hiking adventures except Mount Sabinyo which has many craters and has so far been declared dangerous for hikes.
Hiking experiences while using the Ngezi trail are proportionately easy as it takes 3-4 hours to summit Mount Bisoke. The trail is too scenic with high chances of seeing different wild animals like golden monkeys, forest elephants, and several endemic birds. You may luckily find mountain gorilla families, but no photography is allowed along the hike. At the summit of Mount Bisoke travelers easily catch sight of the nearby Mount Karisimbi in Rwanda and the sharp peak of Mount Mikeno in Congo. A hike using this trail is greatly rewarding as you go through the diverse ecosystems of the Volcanoes National Park from the lush green forest to the vast mountainous volcanic terrain as an addition to the gorilla trekking activity.
Hiking Mount Bisoke through Ngezi nature trail.
On the day of hiking, drive to the park headquarters at Kinigi for a briefing about the hiking activity, after which, you will drive to the starting point which is about 40 minutes from the briefing center. At the starting point, you will meet the park rangers, guides, and porters who will give you more knowledge about the park. on interaction feel free to ask any question about the park, the Virungas, and Rwanda as a whole. At this place, you will separate from your driver, be provided with hiking sticks, and join others for the hike. You can hire a porter to help you carry your luggage so that you hike freely.
As you hike, you will pass through farmlands that belong to the local communities. Bisoke hike is so interesting though a bit challenging. Move at your own pace as you hike through main vegetation zones where you will luckily spot diverse wild creatures like animals, plants, and birds. Before you summit you will find a pristine crater lake called Lake Ngezi and another crater lake is found at the top of the mountain. The hiking activity takes 8 hours that is 6 hours ascending and 2 hours descending, depending on the physical ability. The inexperienced hikers and those with advanced age can do a shorter hike up to Lake Ngezi. The time you spend at the summit largely depends on the weather. If it is a sunny day, you can even have a picnic on the beautiful lake that is surrounded by beautiful alpine vegetation
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Permits for hiking Mount Bisoke are obtained from the Rwanda Development Board privately or through a trusted tour company. A permit costs $75 for foreign non-foreign residents, $65 for foreign residents,$60 for East African citizens and $55 for Rwandese citizens. When you choose to hire a porter to help carry your luggage, you will pay $10 to $15 per porter.
Perfect time to hike along the Ngezi trail
Ngezi trail is on Mount Bisoke and can be visited at any time of the year. However, hiking is determined by the season of the year. The dry season comes from June to September and December to February when the trail is dry and less slippery. If you choose to hike in the wet season which comes from March to May and October to November, you should be well prepared to carry the best hiking boots and rain jackets, garden gloves, and gaiters.
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what to know before hiking Ngezi nature trail
Hiking starts with an early morning registration briefing and clearance at Kinigi Park headquarters, the actual starting point is after a 40-minute drive from the headquarters in Musanze. Trekking permits can be secured at $75 in advance or on the trekking day. If you need a porter, you need to hire one at $10 per day. Prepare the necessary hiking gear like comfortable trekking boots, garden gloves, waterproof jackets long stockings, bottled water, and snacks.
All hikers must be accompanied by park rangers for protection against poachers and dangerous animals. Though the trail is found on Mount Bisoke which is part of Volcanoes National Park, which is a renowned home for mountain gorillas, the chances of finding gorillas during the hike are minimal. You should not move with high anticipations of finding gorillas. If you bump into them then it’s good luck. The Bisoke hike along the Ngezi trail is manageable by both experienced and inexperienced hikers as less physical fitness is required. All in all Ngezi trail in the Volcanoes National Park is greatly important as it leads you to sight the Karisoke research center grave site of the famous primatologist Dian Fossey who with great efforts researched mountain gorillas.
