When planning for a Nyiragongo hike and Congo gorilla safari, it is wise to do a bit of research on when to visit and the best time to go for the experience that you want to do in Congo. Democratic Republic of Congo is warm and sunny throughout most of the year and regions within the country experience a variety of climates. The key thing to remember, if you are planning a Congo safari trip is the difference between the dry and wet seasons.
You are wondering when it is safe to visit Nyiragongo Volcano, Nyiragongo can be visited all year round but keep in mind there is unpredictable weather changes such as regular rains during certain months of April, May, and November tend to be rainy seasons this is because Nyiragongo is in the middle of equatorial rain forests.
The fact that Nyiragongo hosts one of the world’s largest and rarest lava lakes makes it one of Africa’s most exciting and rewarding hiking experiences. Ascending up the Nyiragongo Volcano needs to be bodily fit and those that are fit can climb up with too much elasticity in just one day and the trails to start at Kibati patrol post takes 30 minutes only from the town of Goma and an hour from Mikeno Lodge in Rumangabo. The time required to reach the volcano depends on one’s bodily appropriateness and the trajectories are led by the park wardens with porters to help the visitors carry their luggage up the volcano at fair prices.
The hike can be done in one day, but it is not recommended. Firstly, the best time to see the lava lake at the summit is in the evening and at night. Secondly, the climb can be very demanding, especially the last hour near the summit, where one has to walk over volcanic rock that wobbles under one’s feet. Climbing can take from 4 to 7 hours depending on your fitness and the weather conditions. Climbing can take from 4 to 7 hours depending on your fitness and the weather conditions.
Within the Democratic Republic of Congo, the mountain gorillas are found in Virunga National Park which is also a UNESCO Heritage site. The mountain gorillas in Virunga national park can be visited anytime during the year. Congo gorilla trekking permits are reduced to ($400) per person. Other months are okay for gorilla trekking since it’s a dry season. Mountain gorillas can also be found in Uganda where a gorilla permit is $600 in high season and $450 in low season. For Rwanda, the gorilla permit is sold at $ 1500 for both high season and Low season.
Many tourists choose to travel from May to September and December to February since in these months, the amount of rain has reduced and it’s sunny in most of the destinations. The dry months are the busiest months of the year in most national parks and it’s advisable to book the accommodation in time to avoid disappointments.
