Mountain Nyiragongo is one of the active Volcanoes in the World and it has erupted for several times in different years to some extent of destroying people’s property near this Volcano. This popularly known active Volcano is located in the Democratic Republic of Congo a popular destination to visit which is located in the Central part of the African Continent bordering South Sudan and Central African Republic in the North, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi in the East, Zambia in the South and Congo Brazzaville in the West.
Since Democratic Republic of Congo is characterized with poor air transport means you can better reach it when you land in Rwanda at Kigali airport and transfer to Goma border with Eco Tours Rwanda but you have to be with a Congo Tourist Visa which is provided by Virunga Foundation.
But Virunga Foundation in association with Eco Tours Rwanda all clients are booking for their Congo Tourist Visa through Eco Tours Congo and you are required to book for this Visa in two weeks before your travel dates since it is processed in a period of one week.
When you arrive in at Kigali in the morning or afternoon it’s very possible to transfer from Kigali up to Goma border but if you arrive in the evening, you will have overnight stay in Kigali and transfer in the morning up to Goma border by the driver from Eco Tours Rwanda, clear up with officials at the custom with a Congo tourist visa, Passport and valid yellow fever vaccination card being a must have requirement such that you are issued entry. Our driver will remain at Goma border waiting for you and Virunga foundation will transfer you from Goma border using their stable Safari Jeeps up to your hotel of residence.
Hiking Mountain Nyiragongo
This is a popular activity every visitor to Democratic Republic of Congo Would wish to engage in and it’s usually done in two consecutive days, the starting point for this journey is called Kibati where you start from on day one usually in the morning at 10:00am and by 4:00pm in the evening you will be at the top, on this Journey you are assigned a guide to lead you through the Journey from Kibati plus armed officers to protect you in case of any problem.
This hiking Journey is not somehow easy so it requires you to be physically feet plus bringing yourself strong hiking shoes, insect repellents, long sleeved shirts and trousers. Porters are available to carry for you your luggage from the Starting point up to the top then back at a cost $24 USD per porter.
What’s required for hiking? First of all, hiking costs $300 USD per person plus the Mikeno package which costs $80 USD and this include Wearing gears like Waterproof jackets put on while at the top since this place is very cold, food cooked while at the top, sleeping gears and more, a walking stick costs $5 USD also provided by Virunga foundation.
When you reach at the top reserved shelters are there for accommodation since a night is spent there to sight the night view of this burning Lava, food for dinner is cooked at the top while waiting for the night view and you are free to take a lot of photos but advised not to go near unaccessed edges of this Volcano and take care when moving around because any slight mistake may lead you to sudden rolling down the slopes which may cause serious injuries to your body.
After your experience at the top day two is for descending back to the starting point for other activities like Gorilla trekking in Democratic Republic of Congo’s Virunga National Park or cross back to Rwanda or Uganda depending on your itinerary.
