Mount Nyiragongo Volcano Hiking Tips

Best time to go for hiking at Mt Nyiragongo in Congo-Virunga National Park

If your one of those who wonder when it is safe to go to Nyiragongo for the climbing adventure in Congo, you certainly don’t want to miss watching the active volcano in Congo on any holiday. If you are planning a holiday in Virunga national park, take time and research about when to go for the experience that you want in Congo. Generally, D.R. Congo is also warm and sunny all year round, but the different regions in this country may experience different types of climates. All you should know in case you are planning a safari to Congo is the difference between the dry and wet seasons. Nyiragongo volcanoes can possibly be visited throughout the year, all you need is to just keep in mind about the changes in weather like frequent rains during certain months of the year like from March to May and November, it tends to be a rainy season. Since Nyiragongo is in the middle of the equatorial rain forests. During the dry months are June to October and in December. During dry season, the rain forests are usually clear and this is a chance for you to enjoying taking the photos of the stunning land scape views of the greater Virunga mountains national park. Nyiragongo hike in Congo an annual activity, but it will be so much appreciated during the dry and cool months of January and February and also from June to September.

Hiking Mount Nyiragongo Volcano in Virunga Park DR.Congo

Mt. Nyiragongo is a stunning volcano enclosed with vegetation and sometimes is dusted with snow that features the world’s largest lava lake. Nyiragongo mountain is a home to a variety of animals, including chimpanzees, monkeys, and bushbuck.
Mountain hiking in Congo to the summit of Nyiragongo volcano usually begins at the Kibati patrol post. Park rangers are always available to lead the hiking and porters are usually available for hire. The fitness of each group determines on the average time required to reach the summit, hiking time is usually 4–6 hours. Mountain hiking begins at 1989m and ascends to 3470m in a short time.
Mt Nyiragongo (3,470m/11,380ft), is the hot most mountaineering destination in central Africa. It is an active volcano in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)-Virunga national Park. It last erupted in 2002 and may explode again any time!
Tourists who wish to do Nyiragongo mountain climbing should take note that the temperatures are usually below freezing, and they should therefore bring rain and cold weather gears.

Hiking Tips at Mount Nyiragongo Volcano in Virunga Park DR.Congo

The first section is just a walkover

welcoming you to the trek. The hike begins about 2000meters from the starting point. But it’s just a gradual trek, not a very serious hike except that there are some climbing spots that you will have to gain. At the end of the first section, you will have consumed about 30% of the whole trek to the top. Because it is one of the longest distances, but at this level, you will have actually covered very little of elevation. On each stop section, you will observe that there’s a bigger change in the geographical terrain from each of every section, each section has a distinctive terrain from the other. At this first section therefore, you will observe that the area is mostly woody and keep moving!

At the start of the second section

still the altitude gains seem to be gradual and steeps will officially open up at the end of the second trail. You will definitely observe at this section that the woody trails will vividly change into the slippery loose lava rock. At this level, you undoubtedly need good hiking shoes and a hiking stick for your safety assurance. The lava rocks at the second segment are in constant motion from the start of it to the start of the third section.

Even at the third segment

The terrain changes and the lava rock form will change from the loose rough rock particles to the smoother lava rock. However, there are still hard rocks mixed with smooth ones and so, many loose stones still exist even at this level. If you carry good hiking shoes, not necessarily hiking boots, they will give you grip and you won’t slip. As a reminder, go noticing that weather changes in a just a bling and you can experience torrential downpour and this makes your trekking experience a bit tougher, it is necessary that you go in the dry season when rains are not so much and you will surely enjoy!

The fourth segment is perhaps the most exhausting

The fourth segment is perhaps the most exhausting but the most rewarding! The steep altitude you gain with firm steps on the lava rock as you approach the summit and the weather at this level continues to tremendously become colder the more you hike. All you need is readiness; have rain coats, layers, walking stick, hiking shoes etc. Before making your final steep hiking to the top, it is better if you’re in wet clothes and it has stopped raining, change into dry clothes to prevent from hypothermia when you reach the top. This final segment is short but honestly steep, it needs composure, take your time and do it the way you prefer. Just know your already peeping at the top!
At the top are cabins in a few feet of the mountain and another set of cabins a few feet further down the mountain face. The cabins are close that you will find it easy whenever you want to glimpse the lava lake.
Making it at the top will automatically reward you with the world`s largest boiling and bubbling lava lake, it is worth trekking! Just know the pictures are unjust, the best way to prove is with your bare eyes. At night, the views of the lave lake are spectacular you can see it popping and bubbling.

What to see at Mount Nyiragongo Volcano DR.Congo- Virunga Park

Tour Mount Nyiragongo Active Volcano Virunga National Park, mount Nyiragongo the volcano rim in the pitch-black darkness, Lava Lake and world’s biggest active volcano called mount Nyiragongo located in Virunga National Park DR-Congo bordering with Uganda and Rwanda, all our tours and safaris in starts and ends in Rwanda or Uganda because it is the easiest way to access climbing mount Nyiragongo where you can track mountain gorillas and mount Nyiragongo hiking. On you first night to mount Nyiragongo trekking will explore the Goma Town, this town lies in the shadow of Nyiragongo it is just 30 mints drive to the starting point of Kibati village with park ranger station, you get a chance to see the recent eruptions had destroyed of 2002, Virunga is also Africa’s oldest national park with one of the largest active volcano the lava lake mount Nyiragongo. Apart from mount Nyiragongo volcano Virunga National Park have many other attractions like many different types of monkeys, hiking activities, chimpanzees trekking, mountain gorillas trekking and many bird species. Mount Nyiragongo summit sometime it can be in the clouds which makes it had for photographers and some of our film crew clients but being that you spend there a whole evening, nigh and even in the morning before climbing down you will defiantly get a chance to see the lava lake with clear sky also on when the clouds clears you get a good view of Goma town, lake Kivu and many parts of Rwanda.