Mount Sabinyo is a spectacular mountain that straddles the borders with both Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It's part of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and harbours a healthy population of the endangered mountain gorilla. The third summit of Sabinyo is where the three countries meet at an altitude of 3669m.
The 1-day hike starts at the Ntebeko Gate at an altitude of 2300m. It starts quite gently, hiking through the African Montane Forest that is the ancestral home of the Batwa Pygmees. As you hit the bamboo zone at roughly 2800m the trail steepens and the going gets rougher. The higher you climb, the steeper it gets and there are ladders installed to overcome the steepest parts. But, the trail goes through a fairytale landscape with deep gorges and lichen draped forests which make you forget about the hardship. Let’s be honest, where in Africa can you peer into three different countries from the summit of a major mountain?
Private car
From Entebbe and Kampala it is roughly 9 hours driving to Kisoro, the main town close to the Ugandan Virunga Volcanoes. The quickest route is via Mbarara and Kabale. From Kisoro you drive on the unpaved road (that is usually in good condition) in about half an hour to the UWA Ntebeko Gate.
Public transport/taxi
There are several bus companies that have direct services from Kampala to Kisoro. These are Jaguar, Trinity, Bismarkan, Horizon and Post. It costs $15-$20 (50k-75k UGX) one-way and takes approximately 10-11 hours. From Kisoro there are two ways to get to the Ntebeko Gate. The cheapest option is a boda (moto-taxi) for around $5 (20k UGX). You could also take a taxi for $10-$15 (37k-50k UGX). Prices for both depend on your negatiation skills.
Note that the hikes on Mount Sabinyo start early and you may have to spend the night in the area to make it on time. Kisoro has plenty of (budget) places to stay. At the gate entrance there is a budget option for accommodation, Amajambere Iwacu Community Camp. Or you can stay at one of the most luxurious lodges in Uganda, Mount Gahinga Lodge.
Normally you don't need to book the hiking tour for Sabinyo. Arrangements can be organised quickly on the spot. You do need to show up at the Ntebeko Gate on time, so the Uganda Wildlife Authority can round up the ranger guides to take you to the top. For more information see here for the UWA website. Hiking Uganda can organise this tour for you with one of our partners, see our inquiry form below.
Mount Sabinyo is definitely not a walk in the park. First of all, you need to be fit. It's a 12km hike with a vertical ascent (and descent) of nearly 1200 metres, and it is also very steep in places. This is not a hike for people with vertigo, as some sections of the trail have quite some exposure. For safety reasons, UWA installed a number of ladders in the steepest places. The hike is therefore as safe as it can get and there are always UWA rangers with you to assist.
You can climb Mount Sabinyo year-round. It's tropical and temperatures are overall mild. However, higher up the mountain it can get chilly, especially when there's a lot of wind. There are two dry seasons and two wet seasons. The dry seasons are June-September and January-February. This doesn't mean there is no rainfall during this time. The chances of fair weather is higher, but (especially on the mountain) it can still rain substantially. During wet months it rains more, but you can still have nice days. April and May are the wettest month of the year. All this said, weather patterns have become unpredictable in recent years.
Although this is a day-hike there is a big difference in altitude and terrain. The weather is changeable. Rain and wind can have a big influence on how cold it feels on higher grounds. This is a comprehensive list of what to wear and what to put in your daypack.
- Quick drying (not cotton) t-shirt
- Long sleeve thermal shirt
- Hiking boots
- Pair of long trouwers
- Breathable rain jacket (like Gore-Tex)
- Waterproof trousers (optional)
- Hiking socks
- Walking poles
- Day pack (20-30 litres)
- Small first aid kit
- Smartphone / photo camera
- Lunch and snacks
- Water bottle (2 litres minimum)
- Sunscreen/hat/sunglasses
- Light gloves (optional)
- Wooly hat for the summit ridge (optional)