Nyiragongo hiking tours
Nyiragongo hiking tours- Mount Nyiragongo is one of the most outstanding and active volcanoes in the whole world with a caldera summit that is 1.2km wide making it the largest active lava lake in the world. Mountain Nyiragongo is located in Virunga national park birth in the easter part of DR Congo. The volcano is the most active in the world with its eruption having taken place in May 2022. It’s 3,470 meters high and can be hiked in 5-6 hours.
Nyiragongo hiking tours are done at all times of the year and they are normally combined with some of the park activities such as mountain gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking, and birding. Hikers looking for some challenging but once in a lifetime active volcano hiking should try out mountain Nyiragongo. Nyiragongo hiking tours will give you an opportunity to hike the most active volcano in the world and also the largest lava lake at the summit.
Nyiragongo hiking trek
Nyiragongo hiking trek is a challenging experience that requires one to be physically fit because of the steep slopes and rugged terrain. The hiking activity starts with a briefing at the park offices and this is where hikers get to learn about the rules and regulations of the hiking activity. After the briefing, hikers are led by the armed rangers to the starting point of the hike and it’s from here that those with heavy luggage can hire porters.
Hiking mountain Nyiragongo takes 5-6 hours of passing through different altitudes meeting different park animals such as lions, leopards, buffaloes, okapis, topis, duikers, elephants, bongo, mongoose, birds, and different vegetation types. There are different points where you will be around to rest, catch a beath, take water and have some food. The more you climb the more the activity keeps on challenging since the slopes become steeper.
When you are about to reach the summit of this volcano, it becomes so cold and this is where you need your rain jacket, and a scarf to keep you warm. There are certain stages during the hike where you need more energy to get to the next levels because it’s always challenging. The last segment of the hike is steep and very cold with raindrops sometimes but when you make it to the last level you will be able to see the summit cabins and the lava lake.
At the summit of Nyiragongo, you can set your cameras to take photos and record videos of the lava lake and surrounding areas. You can check in your accommodation at the summit and return to the summit in the evening to have great views of the boiling lava lake in the night, surrounding places like Virunga mountains, Rwenzori mountains, Lake Kivu, Virunga national park, and plantation. The night is spent at the summit shelters and descending is the next day after breakfast.
How much are mountain Nyiragongo hiking permits?
Mountain Nyiragongo permits do cost $300 per person per hike. These hiking permits can be got from a trusted local tour operator or from Virunga national park offices. To get trekking permits for Nyiragongo volcano, you can send your local tour operator an email containing the days you want to travel, and using these dates they will check for availability of the permits with park authorities. Once the permits are available, you will send money and once they have received it they will book the permits for you.
When to have Nyiragongo hiking tours?
Nyiragongo hiking tours can be done at any time of the year but there are certain months that are better than the rest. The drier months are the best for Nyiragongo hiking tours and these happen from June to September and December to February. They are characterized by little or no rainfall that makes the hiking trails muddy and slippery, the vegetation is always short with clear views of animals, skies are bright with clear views of the surrounding places and the roads leading to the mountain are passable.
Hiking tours for Nyiragongo can still be done in the rainy season of March to May and October to November to enjoy huge discounts on accommodation facilities. Hikers however must know that during the rainy season there is plenty of rainfall that makes the hiking trails muddy and slippery, vegetation is tall with unclear views of animals, and the roads leading to the mountain are impassable.
What to pack for Nyiragongo hiking tours?
The packing list for Nyiragongo hiking tours includes waterproof hiking shoes, a rain jacket, long-sleeved pants, long-sleeved shirts, cotton stocks, a pair of gaiters, a rain jacket, a pair of binoculars, scarf, headlamp, a hat, sunscreen, drinking water bottle, energy-giving snacks, facemask, sanitizer, sleeping bag, first aid kit, insect repellents, backpack, flashlight, and portable charger among others.
Accommodation during Nyiragongo hiking tours.
Hiking mountain Nyiragongo is a 2 days activity where hikers have a night at the summit of this volcano. Hikers will spend a night at Nyiragongo Volcano Summit Shelters during the hike however before or after the hiking activity, there are several accommodation facilities that can be used depending on your budget. These are Lulimbi Tented Camp, Bukima Tented Camp, Mikeno Lodge, Tchegera Island, Kibumba Tented Camp, and much more.
How to access mountain Nyiragongo?
Nyiragongo volcano can be accessed using road transport or air transport in just a single day. Those using air transport can fly from Jomo Kenyatta international airport using Jambo jet to Goma international airport or from Kigali international airport to Gisenyi airstrip where they can easily cross to the border then to Virunga national park.
Those using road transport can access Virunga national park from Kisoro where they will use the Congo Uganda birder at Bunagana to cross to Goma town. From Goma, they can drive to Virunga national park in just 1 hour. Those in Rwanda will have to drive to Gisenyi town in the western part of Rwanda and cross to DR Congo using the Le Grand Barrier border.
