The Virunga Mountains form one of the most dramatic landscapes in Africa — a chain of eight volcanoes straddling the borders of Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, their peaks rising between 3,000 and 4,507 metres above the surrounding plateau. From Musanze and the approaches to Volcanoes National Park, the volcanoes are almost continuously visible: Karisimbi (4,507m, the highest), Bisoke with its perfect crater, Sabyinyo's jagged summit (the "old man's teeth"), and the gentler profiles of Gahinga and Muhabura.
The best views are from the road between Musanze and the park headquarters at Kinigi, especially in the early morning when the peaks are clear before the afternoon clouds build. Even visitors who are not trekking can drive or cycle this road for the views alone. On clear evenings, the volcanoes catch the last light and the profiles against the sunset sky are extraordinary. Mount Nyiragongo in the DRC — not part of the Rwandan park but visible from the higher vantage points — is an active volcano that emits a visible glow on dark nights.