Mount Karisimbi

Mount Karisimbi is a dormant volcano in the Virunga Mountains on the border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. At 4507 m (14,787 ft), Karisimbi is the highest of the eight major mountains of the mountain range, which is a part of the East African Rift Valley. 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.

The name Karisimbi probably comes a word in the local language, Kinyarwanda, which means Little white shell. This is an allusion to the white snow cap that can sometimes be found on 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.