This is an active strato – volcano which has an elevation of about 3470m with in Virunga Mountains and is greatly connected with Virunga Albertine rift valley. This volcano is located within the Democratic Republic of Congo inside Virunga National Park and on your 4 Day Congo Gorilla Trek & Nyiragongo Hike you can have full experience of these adventures. It’s also located 20km north of the town of Goma as well as Lake Kivu. Mount Nyiragongo Volcano It has a crater which is two kilometres wide and also contains a lave Lake.
This Lake which is located in the crater has got two different cooled lava benches in the crater walls. One of the lava benches is about 3,175m and another one is about 2,975m. The Nyiragongo Mountain and the Nyamuragira are responsible for about 40% of historical volcanic eruptions in Africa.
Trekkers must be at least 12 years of age and are required to bring full rain and cold weather gear (moisture-wicking base layer, sweater or fleece, jacket, rain resistant pants, long underwear, warm socks, hat, and a 0°C/32° – rated sleeping bag). Temperatures at the summit are routinely below freezing. Although most people arrive at the summit sweating from the steep climb, this sense of warmth quickly gives way to cold. A complete change of base layers is a must. Failure to bring proper gear will lead to hypothermia. Please do not endanger yourself and others by coming unprepared for these conditions.
Climbers typically descend the volcano at between 6:30 – 7:00 am the next morning and arrive back at Kibati station by 11:30 am. If one intends to fly out of Kigali on the same day, please make sure to schedule your departure flight after 6 pm.
Each of the twelve summit shelters contains two single beds on which visitors can put their sleeping bags. Although these shelters aren’t plush, they offer a welcome escape from the elements. The cost of staying in a summit shelter is included in the permit fee.
Porters can be hired at the base of the climb to carry loads for $24 round trip (gratuity not included). The maximum weight that porters are authorized to carry is 15 kg. Porters can be arranged by speaking with a Virunga National Park ranger at the Kibati station.
Meal and gear package ($100) includes meal plan plus a sleeping bag, jacket, fleece top, hat and rain poncho.
The volcano’s forested lower slopes are a home to a variety of animals such as the bush bucks, the blue monkeys, colobus monkeys and baboons including man’s closest ape the chimpanzees offers a thrilling opportunity to experience the far-reaching views of the western arm of the Albertine rift while emerging up to the ascent of a 1.2 km diameter summit teemed with devoid vegetation of heathers and ferns recovering from the remarkable violent volcanic eruptions that left thousands of people homeless in the nearby town of Goma in the year 2002.
The hike takes about 4 to 6 hours to climb the summit that begins at an altitude of about 1,989 meters to 3,470 meters above sea level. Guaranteed by experienced guides who will lead all your treks after checking your complete hiking and cold weather gear including packed meals, proper hydration and take preventive measures from your physician for those prone to Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) because of the change in altitude. Before you make the climb, make sure you have packed accordingly since there is no food service on top of Nyiragongo to be rewarding as it is demanding. Hired porters will help carry heavy bags not greater than the recommended15 kg which will make your trek more pleasurable than you expect.
Fortunately for fitter people it is possible to climb up and descend in one day. On one occasion you will reach the top of Nyiragongo after a walk through the lava rocks you are guaranteed to have extensive views of the Virunga mountains National Park. A fine early evening dinner and overnight stay at Nyiragongo Cabins built on the edge of the lava lake will introduce you to a new beginning in the late dark hours once again to view the dim brittle outside of lava, the merging and cracking lava rocks. Seeing rock plates separate and unbelievably create a spider-web like pattern typically makes Nyiragongo Lava Lake unique with attention-grabbing views you will ever wonder in a lifetime.
