Tourists are advised against making erroneous, incomplete, or false applications. Such cases may include, among others, applying for the wrong product, uploading a false ID or visa, and uploading an expired ID or visa. Please be advised that verification of tourist documents is done at park entry gates. Tourists who submitted incorrect, incomplete, or false applications WILL BE REFUSED ENTRY TO THE PARK, regardless of whether they paid for and received a system-generated permit. Click here to view mountain gorilla trekking safaris.

 In case of any doubt regarding your application and supporting documents, please send your inquiry to Devine African Safaris Reservation Office at info@gorillasafariscompany.com. Click here to see our recommended mountain gorilla trekking tour.

 Rwanda Development Board accepts no liability for erroneous, incomplete or fraudulent applications

Requirements

Reporting times at the visitor information and registration centers at the park entrance are 07h00.

To qualify for Rwandan or East African Foreign Resident status, foreign residents in Rwanda and East African countries must have a minimum of four consecutive months of residency status or work permit in their passport or diplomatic card.

A diplomat who has a residence visa can be allowed to use the applicable resident rates for his spouse and legally accepted children even if the spouse and legally accepted children do not have resident visas (reside outside of Rwanda).

Reporting East African residents need to provide EAC ID cards or passports.

A tourist with one Rwandan parent and a tourist with a Rwandan spouse will be considered Rwandan as long as the Immigration and Emigration Director General confirms it.

Restrictions

The minimum age for hiking Karisimbi is 15 years.

A maximum of twelve (12) Karisimbi hikers are permitted in one group.

Processing Time

A tourist permit will be automatically issued by this system upon completion of the application process.

Application Process

The application process is as simple as picking an available slot in the product of your choice, filling out mandatory forms, uploading the requisite support documents, and paying the applicable fees.

Applications are made with full details of the client (names, passport number, email, and phone number) at the time of payment.

Bookings and reservations are done on a "first come, first served" basis.

Rwandan nationals are expected to pay the full amount at the time of booking.

Mount Karisimbi is an inactive volcano in the Virunga Mountains on the border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. At 4,507 metres (14,787 ft), Karisimbi is the highest of the eight major mountains of the mountain range, which is a part of Albertine Rift, the western branch of the East African Rift. Karisimbi is flanked by Mikeno to the north, Bisoke to the east and Nyiragongo to the west, on the other side of the Rift Valley. Karisimbi is the 11th highest mountain in Africa.

 The name Karisimbi comes from the word 'amasimbi' in the local language, Kinyarwanda, which means snow. Snow can mostly be found during the dry season in June, July, and August on the top of the volcano.

Between Karisimbi and Bisoke is the Karisoke Research Center, which was founded by Dian Fossey in order to observe the mountain gorillas living in this area.

 On February 27, 1908 an expedition led by Egon Von Kirschstein was coming down the Branca Crater when a hailstorm and snowstorm caused twenty of the expedition's porters to perish.