Rwanda positions itself as the epitome of adventure with a mountainous terrain. This is no doubt that Rwanda was named the land of a thousand hills. The Virunga massif is a set of volcanic mountain ranges that stretch across this region of East Africa. These mountain ranges begin their journey from the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo through southern Uganda and finally to Rwanda’s northern region. There are over 8 Virunga volcanoes that make up the entire Virunga massif.

Among these 8 Virunga volcanic mountain ranges, Rwanda is privileged to harbor 5 of these 8 mountains. All 5 Virunga volcanoes are located in the same region in the northern side of the country. The Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, where these Virunga volcanoes are found, was named after them. These Virunga volcanoes in Rwanda are mostly dormant, with some still active. The last volcanic eruption in the Virunga Mountains in Rwanda was recorded to be at least 50 years ago.

The Virunga volcanoes in Rwanda were formed over millions of years ago by the process of vulcanicity. Volcanism or vulcanicity is a process that sees molten magma and extremely hot gases forced out onto the Earth’s crust through the fault lines in the Earth’s surface called vents. This process is sometimes violent and ends up bowling off the tip or peak of the mountain, leading to the formation of a crater. This explains why there are some Virunga volcanoes in Rwanda with craters.

Although Rwanda shares some of the Virunga volcanoes with other neighboring countries like Uganda, it remains a dominant force in the line of hosts of the Virunga volcanoes. The following are the Virunga volcanoes in Rwanda.

Mountain Karisimbi

At are elevation of over 4,507 meters above sea level, Mountain Karisimbi is the highest mountain in the Virunga volcanoes. It is located on the borderline of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo in the Volcanoes National Park. Rwanda claims the biggest part of the mountain. In the whole continent, this Karisimbi Mountain is a powerhouse, ranking as the 11th-highest mountain.

This mountain gets its name, Karisimbi, from a Kinyarwanda word, amasimbi, meaning snow. Patches of snow can be formed at the mountain’s peak during the dry season, and hikers can have an opportunity to spot this snow. Karisimbi Mountain remains rooted in the history of Rwanda, as it is a popular spot where the great Dian Fossey set up her work area. She named it Karisoke Research Center, as it was between the mountains Karisimbi and Bisoke.

Mount Bisoke

Mount Bisoke, also popularly mentioned in history, rose near the Karisoke Research Center, which was the permanent work area of Dian Fossey. Mount Bisoke ranks third in height after Mount Karisimbi, which measures about 3,711 meters above sea level. This mountain is situated on the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. Among the volcanoes in Rwanda, Mount Bisoke is one of the most active, as it has the latest eruption recorded in 1957.

Mountain Sabyinyo

Mount Sabyinyo is the oldest volcano in the Virunga volcanoes in Rwanda. It is an extinct volcano that has not shown any signs of volcanic activity in a while. This mountain stands at a height of 3,674, making it the fourth-highest volcano in Rwanda’s Virunga ranges. The summit or peak of Mount Sabyinyo is unique as it forms an intersection of three East African countries of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This mountain gets its name from a Kinyarwanda word, Iryinyo, meaning teeth. The summit of Mount Sabyinyo is shaped more like the worn-out teeth of an old man, thus the name.

Mount Muhavura

Muhavura means the guide from the Kinyarwanda dialect, from which this mountain was named. Second in height ranking among the Virunga volcanoes in Rwanda, Mount Muhavura is situated at the border with Uganda. With an elevation of 4,127 meters above sea level, this mountain is hard to miss while in Rwanda. Mount Muhavura, or Muhabura as some may call it, is an inactive volcano. This means that it has not shown any signs of eruption in the recent past, but can be active in the near future.

Mount Gahinga

Among the 5 volcanoes of the Virunga chain of mountains in Rwanda, Mount Gahinga is the smallest. It stands tall at an elevation of approximately 3,474 meters above sea level. It gets its name from the Kinyarwanda local word Gahinga, which means a pile of stones or rocks. This name suits its uneven terrain close to the summit. It is located close to Mount Muhavura and Mount Sabyinyo. The summit of Mount Gahinga forms a large caldera stretching for about 180 meters.

In conclusion, Rwanda is indeed a land of a thousand hills, and this is evident in its capacity to host five of the eight Virunga volcanoes. These volcanoes combine to form a perfect habitat for the numerous wildlife species in this area. The notable species are the primates, the endangered mountain gorillas, and the rare golden monkeys, which are trekked in this area of the country.