Mount Sabyinyo

Mount Sabyinyo: East Africa’s Mount Sabyinyo is an extinct volcano located West of Lake Bunyonyi in Uganda and Northeast of Lake Kivu, one of the continent’s large lakes on the Western branch of the East African Rift.

The Kinyarwanda term “iryinyo,” which means “tooth,” is whence the name “Sabyinyo” originated. The mountain is known locally as “old man’s teeth” because, in contrast to the perfectly conical summits of the nearby mountains in this group, its serrated summit resembles spaced teeth in an old man’s gum line.

It is located 3,645 meters above sea level and denotes the point where the borders of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo converge. It crosses over into the neighboring national parks of Mgahinga in Uganda, Volcanoes in Rwanda, and Virunga in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The mountain gorillas, who are endangered, live on the slopes of Mount Sabyinyo.

Mount Sabyinyo looks inaccessible from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but the Uganda Wildlife Authority established a reliable trail that leaves from the Mgahinga national park headquarters, which is located right next to the Mgahinga lodges owned by Volcano Safaris. No ropes or specialized equipment is needed.

We advise fit climbers who are in good condition and have no fear of heights because the sheer drop-offs at the peak of the volcano can cause vertigo.

The trip begins at 8:00 am on the morning of your trek from the Mgahinga Park headquarters, where a Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) guide will advise you about the task ahead. The climbing permit costs $50 per person.

The majority of hikers can finish the trail in eight hours overall, which includes three hours to return from the top and five hours to ascend to it.