This is a chain of volcanos in East Africa where Rwanda, Democratic republic of Congo and Uganda meet. The mountain range are a branch of Albertine rift mountains which boarder the western branch of the rift valley.
T hey are located between lake Edward and Kivu. The word Virunga comes from Kinyarwanda and English version meaning “volcanoes”.
The mountain range consist of 8 major volcanoes and the majority are dormant accept Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira that has just had recent eruption in 2006, 2010 and 2021 respectively. both are found in Democratic republic of Congo.
The highest being Karisimbi standing at 4507m shared by Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. The oldest being mountain sabinyo at 3634m above sea level shared by RWANDA, UGANDA Democratic Republic of Congo popular for the golden monkey trekkers in Uganda.
| Name of mountain | Location | Elevation in metres | Elevation in feet |
| Mount Karisimbi | Rwanda / DRC | 4,507 | 14,790 |
| Mount Mikeno | DRC | 4,437 | 14,560 |
| Mount Muhabura | Rwanda / Uganda | 4,127 | 13,540 |
| Mount Bisoke | Rwanda / DRC | 3,711 | 12,180 |
| Mount Sabyinyo | Rwanda / Uganda / DRC | 3,674 | 12,050 |
| Mount Gahinga | Rwanda / Uganda | 3,474 | 11,400 |
| Mount Nyiragongo | DRC | 3,470 | 11,400 |
| Mount Nyamuragira | DRC | 3,058 | 10,031 |
MOUNTAIN KARISIMBI 4507M
This an inactive volcano (stratovolcano) shared between Rwanda and DR Congo. It is the highest peak in the Virunga mountains with over 4507m above sea level. Karisimbi comes from Kinyarwanda word meaning “white shell” meaning snow capped and it can be mostly observed in June, July and August on the top of the volcano. Karisimbi is boarded by Mikeno in the north, Bisoke in the east and Nyiragongo in the west. The slopes support tropical rain forest and bamboo. This supports a rich eco system including mountain gorillas, birds and other primates. In between Karisimbi and Bisoke is Karisoke research centre which was founded by Dian Fossey to observe the mountain gorillas in that area. Hiking up to the summit of mountain Karisimbi is challenging and mostly takes 2 days to the summit.
MOUNT MIKENO
Mount Mikeno is an extinct volcano located in the Democratic Republic of Congo section of the Virunga mountains along with mount Nyiragongo, mount Nyamuragira, mount Karisimbi, mount Bisoke and mount Sabyinyo At 4,437 metres (14,557 Ft.) Mount Mikeno is the second highest peak in the Virunga Mountains after Karisimbi, and the 13 th highest in Africa Mikeno means “poor” and is so named for its harsh slopes which preclude human habitation.
Mount Mikeno lies completely within Virunga National Park and is known for the critically endangered mountain gorillas that live on its slopes Expeditions to observe Mikeno’s gorillas typically leave from the nearby Bukima Patrol Post.
Mount Mikeno is the type locality of the yellow-crested helmet shrike.
It was featured in the movie Congo where the city of Solomon diamond mine is located.
MOUNT MUHABURA.
Muhabura also known as Muhavura is an in active volcano in the Virunga mountains on Rwanda and Uganda boarder at 4127m. Muhabura is the third highest of the eight major mountains of the mountain range, which is part of the Albertine Rift, the western branch of the East African Rift. Its summit contains a small crater lake. The limited evidence for this volcano suggests that it last erupted some time back. The name Muhabura means “The Guide” in the local language, Kinyarwanda. It can be seen in many parts of Uganda and Rwanda because of its height and slopes. Muhabura´s Northern side lies in the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, in Uganda and the Southern side in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda. Hiking the peak is possible from Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park headquarters in Kinigi, which is two hours drive from Kigali or from Musanze.
MOUNT BISOKE (3711m)
Mount Bisoke (also Visoke) is an active volcano in the Virunga Mountains of the Albertine Rift, the western branch of the East African Rift. It is found at border of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but the summit is located in Rwanda. It is located approximately 35 km northeast of the town of Goma and the adjacent Lake Kivu.
Bisoke, like all the peaks in the Virunga Mountain Range, is a volcano created by rift action on the forming divergent boundary of the East African Rift which is slowly bisecting the African Plate. Bisoke has two recorded eruptions which happened in 1891 and 1957. The most recent eruption happened 11 km north of the summit, and it formed two small cones on the volcano’s north flank. There is evidence that the area where this eruption occurred is still geologically active, suggesting the likelihood of future activity at Bisoke. The volcano has two crater lakes, one being the largest of the range.
MOUNT SABINYO (3,669)
Mount Sabyinyo (“Sabyinyo” is derived from the Kinyarwanda word “Iryinyo”, meaning “tooth”; also “Sabyinyo, Sabyinio”) is an extinct volcano in eastern Africa in the Virunga Mountains. Mount Sabyinyo is the oldest volcano of the range. It is north-east of Lake Kivu, one of the African Great Lakes, and west of Lake Bunyonyi in Uganda. The summit of the mountain, at 3,669 metres, marks the intersection of the borders of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Rwanda, and Uganda, and holds religious significance for local tribes. It also is within the adjoining national parks established by these countries: Virunga National Park in the DRC, the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda.
The slopes of Mount Sabyinyo are a habitat for the critically endangered mountain gorilla. The mountain carries the local nickname “Old Man’s Teeth,” because its serrated summit resembles worn teeth in a gum line (in contrast to the perfect conical summits of the adjacent mountains in this range).
The peaks of Mount Sabyinyo can be easily done and accessed and trekked along the foothills from the side of Mgahinga National Park in Uganda.
MOUNT GAHINGA (3474)
This is a dormant/ extinct volcano in the Virunga mountains on Uganda and Rwanda boarder. It was formed between Muhabura and Sabinyo but is the smallest among those three. Gahinga comes from RUfumbira word meaning “pile of small stones. It formed a swampy caldera on top of it which is about 180m, it is where Mgahinga gorilla national park derived its name. The vegetation on this mountain is referred to as Afro montane with bamboo dominating the area. Like Muhabura and sabinyo, the bamboo forests on Gahinga are a habitat for the endangered mountain gorillas.
MOUNT NYIRAGONGO
Nyiragongo is an active /stratovolcano with an elevation of 3,470 m (11,385 ft) in the Virunga Mountains associated with the Albertine Rift. It is located inside Virunga National Park, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, about 12 km (7.5 mi) north of the town of Goma and Lake Kivu and just west of the border with Rwanda. The main crater is about two kilometres (1 mi) wide and usually contains a lava lake. The crater presently has two distinct cooled lava benches within the crater walls – one at about 3,175 m and a lower one at about 2,975 m. Nyiragongo lava lake has at times been the most voluminous known lava lake in recent history. The depth of the lava lake varies considerably. About 245 people died in the eruption from asphyxiation by carbon dioxide and buildings collapsing due to the lava and earthquakes. Lava covered 13 percent of Goma, about 1.8 square miles (4.7 km2), and nearly 120,000 people were left homeless.
Immediately after the eruption stopped, a large number of earthquakes were felt around Goma and Gisenyi. This swarm activity continued for about three months and caused the collapse of more buildings.
Six months after the start of the 2002 eruption, Nyiragongo volcano erupted again.
MOUNT NYAMURAGIRA.
Nyamuragira, is an active shield volcano in the Virunga Mountains of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, situated about 25 kilometres ( north of Lake Kivu. The name is derived from Bantu languages in the region, Kuragira Nyamu, meaning to herd animals; Nyamu means animal or cows.
It has been described as Africa’s most active volcano and has erupted over 40 times since 1885. As well as eruptions from the summit, there have been numerous eruptions from the flanks of the volcano, creating new smaller volcanoes that have lasted only for a short time (e.g. Murara from late 1976 to 1977).
Recent eruptions occurred on 2 January 2010, 8 November 2011 and 23 May 2021