Mountain Mikeno

Mountain Mikeno

Mountain Mikeno : Its a dormant volcano among the Virungas found in DRC. Its the 13th tallest mountain in Africa. Mikeno means “poor” and is so named for its harsh slopes which preclude human habitation.

Mount Mikeno is amount in standing on an elevation of 4,437 meters above sea level; it’s locate sin the Democratic republic of Congo alongside the other seven virunga ranges. It’s a dormant Volcano and the highest peak of the virunga mountains after Mountain Karisimbi.

Mount Mikeno is in the southern sector of the virunga Mastiffin Virunga national park, mount Mikeno is hit by winds which rise leading to the formation of relief rainfall hence making it’s soils fertile unlike other surrounding volcanoes.

There was a nature photographer and conservationists known as Carl Akeley who died of fever in 1926 while climbing mount Mikeno he was buried at the first campsite now known as Kabara it takes about 4 hours to reach this place. The sad thing about his grave is that it’s in pieces it’s not known whether its Rwandese or Congolese who consecrated his grave in search of gold they believe to have been buried with this conservationist. After Kabara campsite, tourists will take another four hours to reach h the summit of mount Mikeno.

Mount Mikeno is renowned for harboring the world’s famous mountain gorillas, the word Mikeno is derived from a local word to mean “poor* this is because of it’s difficult slopes. Mount Mikeno summit has been considered as the hardest to climb from the all virunga volcanoes however, getting to the destination is worth the hustle as you can view the east African rift that is still forming from 30 million years, the views are very breathtaking.

Mount Mikeno summit was first reached by W.J. Ganshoff Van der Meesch in 1932, for the first time after 28 yearsit was climbed by Lewis Mudge, Pierre Peron and TjeenkWillink the mountain requires technical and experienced mountain climbers to climb.

Location

Mikeno is found in DRC and stands at a height of 4,437 m and is neighbored by Mt Bisoke, Mt Nyiragongo, Mt Nyamulagira, and Mt Karisimbi.

Mount Mikeno is found within Virunga National Park and is known for the critically endangered mountain gorillas that live on its slopes.

Getting there

Mikeno, Nyiragongo and Nyamulagira, although entirely within the Democratic Republic of the Congo, are also best reached from Kigali.

Its about 3 hours drive from Kigali to this area and it take about USD 100 for a taxi from Kigali to the border. You can fly using the local airlines into Goma.

A Visa and Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is required to enter Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Climate

The best months of the year are January and July and August . With some luck, June and September are fine as well. Short afternoon showers are frequent even in the dry season, so be sure to start early and bring rain gear. The temperatures at the base are ideal all year round, thanks to the altitude.