Ultimate guide to hiking Mount Nyamuragira : Mount Nyamuragira is one of the word’s active volcanic mountain located in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mount Nyamuragira is part of the Virunga Mountains and located in the Virunga national park, a UNESCO World’s heritage site. Mount Nyamuragira is a shield volcano, which means it has a broad, gently sloping cone formed by following lava flows. It is one of the Africans active volcano and has been erupting frequently over the past century.

 Nyamuragira has a long history of eruptions, originally the mount has had over 40 eruption since 1865 to 2020. These eruptions often involve the effusion of fluid lava and the creation of extensive lava flows. The eruptions of Mount Nyamuragira produce fast-moving lava flows that can cover vast areas, sometimes extending 10 kilometers. The lava emitted by the volcano is typically low in viscosity, allowing it to travel long distances before solidifying.

The Virunga National Park, which encompasses Mount Nyamuragira, is renowned for its rich biodiversity and is home to numerous endangered species including the mountain gorillas. The park houses one of the oldest and largest tropical forest in Africa and it’s also one of the oldest nation park in the continent.

Hiking to the summit of mount Nyamuragira can be joined with mountain gorilla trekking or even chimpanzee tracking tours. hiking mount Nyamuragira is quite  different from other volcanoes where you can only hike for 2-6 hours to reach to the summit of the volcanos, mount Nyamuragira hike can take one  8 to 12 hours even more depending on various factors such as weather, hiking experiences, starting point, trail conditions as well as fitness levels. The trek to mount Nyamuragira takes about 3058 meters high which requires body fitness and energetic travelers. This begins early in the morning and lasts for about 12 or even more hours. This means you require at least 2 days to trek through Nyamuragira volcano. The hike begins early in the morning after briefing and on the first day, you cover an altitude of 3058 meters above the sea level. The trail to the summits mount Nyamuragira of is rewarding, it gets you exposed to a number of features including the thick forest, vegetation and wildlife species and many more.

However volcanic activity of Nyamuragira poses potential hazards to nearby communities and wildlife. The lava flows can destroy vegetation, infrastructure, and farmland, although the region surrounding the volcano is sparsely populated.

Activities to do on mount Nyamuragira hike

Wildlife Viewing

While on a hike to the summit of mount Nyamuragira , you will also have chance to spot some of the wildlife species who live in the mountain forest such bas forest giraffes, buffaloes , topis, mount gorillas , chimpanzees , impalas, and more. However wildlife can be done with a guidance of experienced park ranger who will be explaining to you about all the behaviors of the wildlife species in the wild.

Gorilla trekking

Mountain gorilla trekking in Congo is the process which involves waking in through the jungles of the tropical rainforest in search for the habitats mountain gorillas in their natural environment. Mountain gorillas can only be found in four destination in the planet such as in Mgahinga national park and Bwindi impenetrable national park in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga national park in the democratic republic of Congo itself. Trekking this fascinating and exciting mountain gorillas is one of the adventurous experience that you should not miss while in any Congo safari. Trekking this exciting mountain gorilla in Congo requires one to have a Congo gorilla permit, this permit is a legal document that allows person above 15 age to trek or see the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. The Congo gorilla permits cost US$400 per person.

Bird watching

Birding on mount Nyamuragira hike is one of the most rewarding experience due to variety of birds, mount Nyamuragira offers a variety of habitant including montane forest, grassland d and volcanic slops each attracting a lot of bird species such as Ruwenzori Turaco, Ruwenzori batis, Ruwenzori nightjar, francolins, barbets ,Bronzy Sunbird, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Rwenzori Turaco, Francolins nobilis, Musaphaga, skimmers, shoebills storks, egrets, grey herons, ibises, grey-throated barbet, Grauer’s swamp warbler, alpine swift, African olive pigeon, white-headed woophoopoes, Angolan swallow, Rwenzori batis, tropical boubou, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Spot-flanked Barbet, Double-toothed Barbet, Yellow-billed Barbet among others.

Ultimate guide to hiking Mount Nyamuragira
Grauer’s swamp warbler

What to carry on mount Nyamuragira hike

Well! There a lot of essentials to consider on your hiking adventure at mount Nyamugira which is situated within the Virunga National Park in the eastern part of the democratic republic of Congo includes good hiking boots or shoes, waterproof heavy jackets, sleeping bags, snacks, safari hat, walking stick, camera, warm clothing or sweater, tents, garden gloves, bottled water, stockings, rain jacket, trousers, insect repellent, first aid kit or box, sunglasses, enough snacks among others.

Best time for visiting Mount Nyamuragira

The best time to visit Mount Nyamuragira depends on your need and preferences and the activities you plan to engage in. The weather in the region surrounding Mount Nyamuragira is generally tropical, with two distinct rainy seasons. The long rainy season typically occurs from March to May, and the short rainy season from October to November. If you prefer drier conditions, it’s best to plan your visit during the dry seasons, which are December to February and June to September. Dry seasons offers a clear skies and good visibility are crucial for enjoying panoramic views of the volcano and its surroundings.

How to access Mount Nyamuragira

Accessing Mount Nyamuragira can be done both by road and by air transport, depending on your starting point.

By Road

Goma is a city in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and serves as a common starting point for hiking tours to Mount Nyamuragira. From Goma, you can hire a private vehicle or take a taxi to drive to the volcano. The journey takes about 3-4 hours, depending on road conditions and the specific route taken.

By Air

The most convenient way to reach Mount Nyamuragira is by flying to Goma International Airport. There are several airlines operate flights to Goma from various African cities, including Nairobi, Addis Ababa, and Kigali. From the airport, you can arrange for ground transportation to the volcano.

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