Hiking Mount Sabinyo in Uganda (From the Mgahinga Park Side)
Hiking Mount Sabinyo is possible from either the Ugandan or Rwandan side, but choosing Uganda means you reach the summit, the point where Rwanda, Uganda, and the DRC meet.
“Sabinyo” means “old man’s teeth” in the local language, referring to the jagged peaks that resemble an old man’s spaced teeth.
I think Sabinyo is the most beautiful of the volcanoes. But after struggling up Mount Bisoke in Rwanda, I knew I was not going to make it to the top of this one. So, I stayed back at the hotel and Wilhelm is taking over writing this post as I didn’t hike it. Say hi to our friends Tina and Filip, who hiked this with Wilhelm. (And thank you for sending me your pictures to complement the post!)
The views are just incredible throughout the hike.
The Basics of Hiking Mount Sabinyo
- Location: Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Uganda
- Height: 3,645 meters
- 8 hour hike
- Permit cost: $80 per person
- Advance booking not required
- Distance from Imbogo Safari Lodge: About 40 minutes by car on a bumpy gravel road
Attiya note: If you are visiting, I recommend staying at Imbogo Safari Lodge. The standard rooms are around $100 per night, and it is one of the closest mid-range options to the park entrance. You can read my review here. I LOVED it.
How long does it take to climb Mount Sabinyo?
Mount Sabinyo is a full-day hike. The round trek takes about 8 hours total, around 4 hours to the summit and 4 hours back down, depending on your pace and the weather. In January, it was sunny on the way up, but we encountered some rain on the descent.
You’ll also need at least 40 minutes to drive to the park entrance from your accommodation. Add on 15 minutes from whatever people tell you the distance is because the road was rougher than we expected though our RAV4 made it (begrudgingly… and I took it to a mechanic after to get the underside checked).
What to Bring
- Rain jacket (just in case)
- Packed lunch
- Sunscreen
- Gloves, especially for the ladders and steep sections
- Jacket for the top (it gets cold!)
- Credit card for payment
Hiking Mount Sabinyo
Arriving at the Park
You should arrive at Mgahinga National Park Visitor Centre between 7:00 – 7:30 AM to begin the hike.
Payment is done on site at the park and is $80 per person. Only card payment was accepted during our visit. We were told there is no need to book hiking slots in advance.
After paying, there is a short briefing with your assigned park ranger before setting off.
We arrived just after 7:30 AM, and because there was a line for payment (for those doing gorilla trekking and other activities), we didn’t start hiking until 8:00 AM. The ranger seemed a bit annoyed and soon started saying that our group was moving slowly, even though we reached the summit well before the 1:00 PM cut off time. Two of our fellow hikers had to turn around as they were at risk of not reaching the summit before 1 pm. What we think happened is that the ranger might have thought he wasn’t going to be hiking that day so when we showed up at 7:30, he was annoyed – or he had important evening plans he didn’t want to be late for. The guides on the Rwandan side have definitely been more friendly.
The Beginning of the Hike
The first section of the hike is quite flat and beautiful.
You walk through lush forest and dense vegetation, much of it on wooden planks which helps avoid the mud.
Then you’ll start to climb and notice the environment changing.
To give up or not give up… That is the question.
The Ascent to the Peak
The climb to the summit is tough.
If you have a fear of heights, this is where things become challenging (but the views get more incredible). The final sections involves steep ladders and narrow ridges. Gloves are very helpful here.
Reaching the top is unforgettable, though. You stand on the rugged volcanic peaks with views stretching across three countries.
There are three peaks and you’ll climb the ladders up and down each one of them.
At the final peak which is the highest summit on your hike, you are at the meeting point of Uganda, Rwanda, and the DRC.
We had about 20 minutes at the top to eat lunch before beginning the descent. It was a cool experience to each sit in a different country and eat our lunches. The park ranger seemed quite eager to start the descend but we could have spent a little longer.
Hiking Back Down Mount Sabinyo
Descending Sabinyo can be almost as challenging as climbing up, especially navigating down the ladders. After passing the steepest sections, the pace picked up.
There was some rain on our hike back, but overall the conditions were manageable (and nothing like hiking Bisoke) and we had great views overlooking the taller Muhabura and smaller Gahinga volcanoes to the east.
Done!
At the end of the hike, we all received a certificate for summiting Mount Sabinyo, which was a nice touch after a long day.
Final Thoughts on Hiking Sabinyo from Uganda
If you want to reach the summit and stand at the meeting point of three countries, hiking Mount Sabinyo from the Ugandan side is the way to do it. We were a group of three friends and there were two other hikers in our group as well.
It is steep and physically demanding, and not for the faint of heart. But it is one of the most unique volcano hikes in East Africa!
Check out how to hike Mount Bisoke in Rwanda for a less challenging (but still intense) adventure.