Mount Nyiragongo, an active volcano in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), must be one of the most spectacular sights in the world. Yet, almost no one knows it even exists because it is located in the DRC. Hiking Mount Nyiragongo and the chance to go mountain gorilla trekking inside the stunning Virunga National Park alone are reasons you should go to the Congo.
If you want to be dumbfounded by the power of nature, Virunga National Park must be number one on your bucket list. Virunga National Park has been one of the best places I’ve ever visited.
Going to see the gorillas in Virunga is the best thing I’ve ever done, and I’m sure nothing will ever change that. Throw in a challenging hike to the world’s largest lava lake, and you’ll get to understand why I have a soft spot for Virunga.
Mount Nyiragongo is an active volcano and after hiking to an elevation of 3,470 m, you’ll be rewarded by the sight of the largest lava lake on the planet. If this is the dark continent, then staring down into bubbling lava in the Congo must be like peeking into the heart of darkness.
How To Organize The Nyiragongo Volcano Hike
Organising your trip to Virunga National Park is easy with the Visit Virunga website. You can mix and match your activities and choose the services and accommodation that you prefer. There is absolutely no reason to take an expensive organised tour when hiking Mount Nyiragongo.
All the tourist activities inside Virunga National Park are conducted by the park itself. If you are on a tour, you are just paying the middleman. Much better is to support the national park directly by booking with them.
You can’t climb Nyiragongo independently. All visitors must join a group led by Virunga rangers. The safety of visitors to Virunga is of utmost importance to the park. The rangers will not only guide you up the volcano but look after your security and safety.
Hiking Mount Nyiragongo could be the perfect adventure weekend getaway if you’re based in Kigali or somewhere else in Rwanda.
How Difficult is Hiking Mount Nyiragongo?
The Nyiragongo hike is pretty tough, to be honest. The incline is quite steep, and you’ll be heading straight up the volcano. You will not be gently making your ascend, following the contours of the land.
No.
Instead, you will start walking and head straight up the volcano. However, the scenery, special vegetation and camaraderie amongst the group and porters will make it a little easier as you make your way to the summit.
Your dedicated Virunga guides and scouts will pace the trek, and a regular stop for 20 minutes or so is something to look forward to.
Definitely get a porter for your climb. Trust me, you do not want to carry any extra weight with you. Also, getting a porter (which can also be booked on the Visit Virunga website) directly supports the local community and the park’s conservation efforts. Your porter can also carry fuel and food for you to the summit.
The total length of the Nyiragongo trek is about 7 km in each direction and should take about 6-7 hours.
In the morning you’ll start from the Kibati ranger post and start walking through the forest. Once you leave the forest you’ll start seeing the Afro-Alpine vegetation. The views down towards Lake Kivu and the Ishasha plains toward Uganda are spectacular.
The last stretch of the hike towards the summit is pure hell. After walking for hours, the final push towards the crater rim almost feels like a vertical climb.
GOOD LUCK!
But keep pushing on. Once you stand on the lip of the crater rim it will all be forgotten.
Sleeping on the Rim of an Active Volcano
The little cabins on the summit sit right on the edge of the crater. They are simple and come with 2 single foam mattresses only. On one side of the cabins, you have the volcano boiling and bubbling away, while on the other side there is a rope that you can use to abseil down to the long drop toilet. The toilet is a definite contender for the bathroom with the best view in the world.
When we arrived at the summit, the belly of the volcano was covered in fog and smoke and we couldn’t see a thing. We sat waiting patiently staring into the fog. When it got too cold and boring I tried to keep warm in my shelter.
I planned to set my alarm every 2 hours to go and see the lava lake. Throughout the night, every two hours, I stumbled out of the shelter and walked to the crater mouth in the red glow of the lava. Every time I returned disappointed as the fog did not move.
My luck turned and I got a glimpse of the fabled Nyiragongo lava lake for a few minutes just after sunrise the next morning. Be prepared that you might not see the lava lake at all!
It gets extremely cold on the summit. The night on top of Nyiragongo was one of the coldest I’ve ever had. I was wearing a North Face down jacket and wrapped up in my sleeping bag, yet my clattering teeth still kept me awake most of the night.
I suggest you prepay for some coal that your porter can carry up for you. The porters shared their fire and some hot tea with our fools who came unprepared.
How Much Does it Cost to Hike Mount Nyiragongo?
A trekking permit to hike Mount Nyiragongo costs $300. This includes accommodation in one of the basic shelters on the summit.
The price excludes the cost of transportation from Goma or the Rwanda border to the trailhead. You can also choose to pay for extras such as a porter (definitely get one), coal, food or warm sleeping bags when making your booking. The cost of the DRC visa is also excluded.
Tips for Hiking Mount Nyiragongo
- Don’t book an expensive tour. Book directly with Visit Virunga.
- Buy water and food like baguette, cheese and ham in Goma.
- Definitely get a porter.
- Take warm clothes and a warm sleeping bag.
- Tip your rangers and porter. These guys are doing an incredible job.
Mount Nyiragongo will blow you away. This incredible experience and the chance to see the mountain gorillas on the same trip makes the DRC one of the best places to travel in Africa for me. Visiting Virunga National Park is something that you will never forget.
Enjoy Your Adventure When Hiking Mount Nyiragongo!
Let us know in the comments below if you still have any questions. As always we’ll try our best to help.
Hello
March 31 or April 1 I will arrive in Gisenyi Rwanda Friday .
I am Then very interested in a two day trek to Nyiragongo in the week of saturday 1 till sunday April 9
My questions are:
1) is there a possibillity That you can safely organise this ?
and
2) what should i do to participate?
Already many thanks for your quick response
Greetings Nederland cyclist Henk horstink
Hallo Henk and bicycle 😂
The best and cheapest way to organize this is with Virunga National Park directly. They will help to arrange everything according to your needs, and can even come and pick you up and drop you off at the border.
https://visit.virunga.org/treks/nyiragongo-volcano-trek/
As for safety, you’ll be escorted by park rangers. Hikes and other activities in the park will not operate if there are any safety concerns in the area. Once again, best to talk to Virunga Park directly and get the most up to date information.
Have a good trip , Henk (and bicycle). Virunga is a FANTASTIC place and we’ll worth the effort.
Hello! I’m super interested in doing this trek. However I heard that since 2021 eruption the lava lake is no longer visible. Do you know is this information is true? Thanks in advance!
Hi Nacho, YES!! You should really do this trek. It’s amazing. I’m not too sure about the lake not being visible anymore. I visited before 2021. However I’ve read that the lava lake at Erta Ale Volcano in Ethiopia might not be visited anymore. Maybe you’re thinking of that one.