Mountain Nyiragongo
Mountain Nyiragongo
Mountain Nyiragongo : The Mount Nyiragongo is one of Africa’s most active volcanoes up to date today with the last eruption happening in May 2021. The Mount Nyiragongo is located in the Nord Kivu province of the Eastern part of the Democratic republic of Congo and is just outside the Virunga national park. The Mount Nyiragongo is one of the 8 Virunga volcanic ranges that are aligned on the border of the DR Congo, Rwanda and Uganda. The Virunga ranges are located in the Virunga conservation area famous for the existence of the mountain gorilla species.
The Virunga conservation area is located on the western arm of the Albertine rift valley and the other volcanic mountains in this area include the Mount Karisimbi which has the highest peak, the Mount Bisoke, the Mount Muhabura, the Mount Sabinyo, Mount Mikeno, Mount Gahinga and the Mount Nyamulagira another one of the most active volcanoes in the area. The Mount Nyiragongo and the Mount Nyamulagira are said to be responsible for up to 40% of the eruptions of the Africa.
The Mount Nyiragongo stands at an elevation of 3,470 meters and is the second lowest of all the eight ranges. A hike up the mount Nyiragongo will take the hikers an estimated 5 to 6 hours to complete with 2 stops to grab a breath and a snack and you will arrive at the summit in the early evening hours to appreciate the view from the top.
The Mount Nyiragongo is an active volcano unlike the other Virunga Mountains and this mountain has the world’s largest lava lake that you would get to spot on your hike up the Mount Nyiragongo. The lava lake is a 2 kilometer wide crater and the view from the summit shelters is breathtaking and one you should look up to. On a visit to the Mount Nyiragongo, one is able to spot the boiling magma and on a clear night, the cloud will stand out red. The Mount Nyiragongo lava lake has had the most volume of lake in history and the depth of the lake varies depending on the last activity.
The hike to the Mount Nyiragongo is offered by the Virunga national park just like the mountain gorilla trekking experience in the DR Congo. There are a number of Congo safari packages one can take for both experiences like the Mikeno mist package, the Virunga classic package or even the great Ape with Nyiragongo package that adds a visit to the Chimpanzee family of the Virunga national park. Tours to this park have been successfully been happening since the year of 2014 and a number of guests have been fortunate to experience the Congo for these experiences.
The Mount Nyiragongo first ever recorded eruption was in 1977 and has since erupted over 30 times. Eruptions have occurred in the years of 1982 to 1983 along with 1994 and another major eruption that was experienced in 2002. The May 2021 Mount Nyiragongo eruption caught the people living in Goma by surprise and claimed about 32 deaths as people rushed to flee from the lava. The eruption was an abrupt one majorly because the Goma Volcano Observatory was not as effective after a funds cut off.
The 2021 Mount Nyiragongo eruption has left this mountain with an empty crater that is taking a while to refill and is feared to be nearing it dormancy but this has not been confirmed. Some smoke has been seen coming from the cracks however there is no lava as of September 2021. Visits to the Mount Nyiragongo are still happening and you can book yourself an overnight hike up the Mount Nyiragongo at 300 USD.
A mount Nyiragongo hike will set off from the Bukima ranger post which doubles as the briefing point too. You will receive a briefing ahead of the activity on what to expect and also to prepare you for this hike mentally. You will need to hire a Nyiragongo backpack ahead of the hike which is inclusive of a sleeping bag and a chef to prepare meals for you on the hike. This briefing will also let you know the equipment or clothing you will need uphill to avoid surprises yet you will be spending the night at the top in the Nyiragongo summit shelters.
How to get to Mount Nyiragongo
Mount Nyiragongo is located 15 kilometers away from the Goma town where the Virunga national park is located. You may connect via the Goma Gisenyi land border and check in at the Grande Barrier border building for your visit to the Virunga national park. From the Grande barrier border building, you will join the security convoy headed to the Kibati ranger post.
The mount Nyiragongo hike
The mount Nyiragongo hike can be challenging physically so you are advised to get in shape and exercise ahead of this visit. The briefing will happen at 9 am and by 10 am guests will be headed up hill to the summit. There are five points on this hike and the first, guests will climb on the low altitude, the other points, the guests will keep changing altitude so if one has phobia for heights, be sure to get your altitude pills on you.
The second point will have loose stones as well as slippery stones and by the time the hikers reach the fourth segment, the weather will be getting colder and at the fifth segment you will be able to spot the summit shelters at that point. There are 12 summit shelters for guests to spend the night and complete the hike the following day at around midday.
Ensure to pack a rain jacket in case it rains on the hike, good hiking boots that you have used before to avoid disappointment and also warm clothes as it can get very cold in the night at the top. Do not forget to have a change of batteries for your camera and a torch. It is more like a camping experience so do not expect any luxury at the top. Get in touch with us and let us plan your visit to the Mount Nyiragongo.
Mount Nyiragongo’s lava lake is found at a maximum elevation of 3250m (pre-disaster), inside a 3465m tall stratovolcano; the lake is about 600m deep and has one of the most fluid lava in the world. The lava from an erupting volcano is not usually so dangerous as it travel at a slow sped of about 1 to 10km/hr. When an eruption occurs, residents have a chance to out compete the speed of the lava and escape. The lava in Mount Nyiragongo is completely different because it is highly fluid and flows at about 97km/hr.
Mount Nyiragongo, thrills in the Virunga Mountains of east-central Africa. It lies in the volcano region of Virunga National Park, Congo (Kinshasa), near the border with Rwanda, 12 miles (19 km) north of Goma. … Nyiragongo is known for its devastating eruptions.
There are signs of an open vent again that faces the city of Goma and there is worry that there could be another eruption in the near future.
This volcanoes more like the ones in Hawaii. it has a lot of fluid lava that flow out very fast and its too hot.
The reason why Goma faces this threat is that it hold massive methane and carbon dioxide due to its distance from the volcanic vents.
Its also on the shores of Lake Kivu. This lake has about 2 million people with a lot of infrastructure with history of use of weapons of massive destruction during the civil wars.
The next time this mountain erupts it likely that the people around lake Kivu will survive. In 2002 the lave was flowing up to the lake but it didn’t explode but this time around chances are minimal that the same thing will happen.
Hiking the Mountain
A question is what if the eruption happens while you’re on the hike. The nature of the eruption, people are likely safer on top of the volcano than everyone else living at the bottom.
You can never tell when the volcano will erupt. The hike will take you about 5-6 hours.
