Exploring the hidden gems of Mount Nyiragongo: Mount Nyiragongo is an active volcano located in the Virunga Mountains of the Albertine Rift in the eastern province of the democratic republic of Congo, mount Nyiragongo is one of the Congo’s famous top tourist attractions adding to the beauty of the Virunga National Park. Nyiragongo volcano is one of the 8 volcanoes in the Virunga conservation region. The other volcanoes include Mount Bisoke, mount Karisimbi, mount Gahinga, mount Muhabura, mount Sabyinyo, and Mount Nyamuragira.

Exploring the hidden gems of Mount Nyiragongo

Mount Nyiragongo reaches a striking altitude of 3, 470 meters over sea level which offers an intermediate hike to the top of the volcano with approximately 5-6 hours. Mount Nyiragongo is one of the lagers world’s active volcanos, the mountain is home to the most fascinating Lava Lake in the world. Mount Nyiragongo hiking safaris were recently opened for tourists to Virunga National Park in 2014 by the park authorities. One of Mount Nyiragongo’s distinguishing features is its fascinating Lave Lake. This stunning nature wonder lies within the top of the volcano and adds beauty to the mountain. The hike to the summit presents enthralling panoramic views of the surrounding lush tropical rainforest, undulating hills and the neighboring volcanic summits.  Visitors on Congo hiking tours to mount Nyiragongo always join fascinating mountain gorilla trekking safaris or chimpanzee trekking tours with the hiking volcano Nyiragongo. For adventure seekers and nature lovers, mount Nyiragongo offers you unique and remarkable mountain gorillas, mount Nyiragongo in the democratic republic of Congo answers you all, Nyiragongo mountain is the only place in Africa where tourists are allowed to hike up to the summit to have a closed view of the lava lake as well as an opportunity to witness the raw beauty of Congo’s landscape and the bordering countries like Uganda and Rwanda, immerse oneself in its rich biodiversity, and embark on an unforgettable journey of exploration and discovery.

Exploring the hidden gems of Mount Nyiragongo
Mount Nyiragongo

Hiking Mount Nyiragongo starts at 9: 00 am with the briefing at Kibati village. You will be briefed on what to expect before starting your Mount Nyiragongo volcano hike. The briefing covers all important aspects of hiking the Nyiragongo Volcano and includes what to expect, the stopping points and what to pack. Hikers will need to move as a group for most of the activity except for the final part of the hike.

Hiking Mount Nyiragongo consists of five hiking segments, tourists will have to hike the first segment which involves hiking through a lower altitude, most of the flabby hikers stop in this point. After the main stop, the hiking becomes challenging with an increasing rises of altitude. Hikers begin to move with small lose lava rocks but will recommended strong hiking shoes or boats through the other segments. After the small lava rock, in the fourth section the Nyiragongo Mountain slopes become steeper with the greater cold due to the higher altitudes and the final section becomes the steepest nut in a short distance.

 While hiking, you will get chances to encounter with some of the wild animals such as chimpanzees, mountain gorillas, duikers, bushbucks, warthogs, olive baboons, red-tailed monkeys, waterbucks, Kobs, topis, okapi, aardvark, buffaloes, leopards, elephants, birds such as cardinal woodpecker, White-throated Bee-eater, Olive Bee-eater, Croaking Cisticola, Short-winged Cisticola, Sitting Cisticola, Wing-snapping Cisticola, Black-faced Rufous Warbler, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Banded Prinia, banded prinia, grey-headed negrofinch, hadeda ibis, mountain green bull among others.

What to pack for the Mount Nyiragongo hike

There are so many essentials needed for Nyiragongo volcano hiking that every hiker must move with such as Waterproof hiking shoes, long-sleeved pants, long-sleeved shirts, rain jacket, gardening gloves, a sleeping bag, cotton stocks, a backpack, a pair of gaiters, insect repellents, drinking water bottle, energy-giving snacks, a camera, a pair of binoculars, face mask, sanitizer, and first aid kit.

Exploring the hidden gems of Mount Nyiragongo: Getting to Mount Nyiragongo

Mount Nyiragongo can be reached from several destinations but for security reasons, it is safer through Gisenyi town in Rwanda. From Gisenyi, visitors will be driven for 20 km to the border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo before crossing to Goma town in the east. From Goma town, a great black cloud can be seen as a reminder of the volcanoes last eruption in 2002. The lava that once sprang at great temperatures has now cooled to leave a black rock

Exploring the hidden gems of Mount Nyiragongo: Cost of hiking Mount Nyiragongo

The price of the Mount Nyiragongo hiking permit $300  per person per trek, which is exclusive of the porter services, meals, guide rangers and accommodation at the summit. The inclusive permit with all the safari services on Mount Nyiragongo hike may cost an average of US$1500, a wooden stick can be purchased at the Kibati village. The hike begins at 9:00 a.m. from the park’s Kibati ranger porter, where tourists are breast about the hiking arrangements

Best time to go for hiking on Mount Nyiragongo

Mount Nyiragongo can be hiked throughout the year however the best time for hiking safaris is during the dry season which spans from December to mid-March and from mid-June to September. During this period, the temperatures are manageable compared to wet season. More so, on top of the volcano, there is less mist during the dry season, providing astonishing views of the lava crater.

Accommodation during the Mount Nyiragongo hike

There is a range of accommodation facilities for hikers to stay over while at Mount Nyiragongo hiking safaris at Virunga National Park such as Lulimbi Tented Camp, Bukima Tented Camp, Mikeno Lodge, Tchegera Island, Kibumba Tented Camp, and much more.

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