Hiking happens in both Virunga national park is home to several volcanoes with the most famous hikes being Nyiragongo and Mikeno volcanoes. The park is mostly known for gorilla trekking safaris but is home to some of the best hiking experiences and beautiful scenery.
Nyiragongo which is an active volcano is by the far the most famous hiked mountain in Congo. It is also helped by the fact that it is a one night hike to the top where you are able to view the red hot crater with boiling lava and magma. You spend the first day hiking up the top with your porters, cook and ranger guides. Once you arrive, you set up for the night and proceed to view the crater in the dark which gives you an amazing view. After enjoying the view, you descent to your tent for overnight. Part of hiking Nyiragongo is challenging because of the loose lava rocks, slippery stones and the steep nature of the volcano which comes with coldness because of the high altitude.
Mikeno volcano is also located in Virunga national park just but unlike Nyiragongo, Mikeno is a dormant volcano. You will need to purchase hiking permits from the park before you embark on this trip.. You will then be advised on the time and be allocated rangers and porters to walk with on your trip. The rangers are paid by the park but you will need to pay the porters directly. They will help in carrying some of your luggage and cooking while at the mountain.
Kahuzi-Biega national park is home to Mt Kahuzi and Mt Biega and each has hiking trails. Hiking to Mt Kahuzi is a day trip, the ascent takes about 4 hours depending on experience and 3 hours to descend. Enjoy the different vegetation types and on a good day a number of primates can be seen as you hike. Mt Biega is a shorter trail compared to Mt Kahuzi equally offering you great experience and views of Congo. Home
Congo Mountains, Congo Climbing & Hiking tours
When planning for a hiking or climbing tour to Congo’s mountains that are open for tourists, find the hiking fees, porter fees, how to secure a hiking permit, where to start from as congo is known as the lovely destination that still has active Volcanoes like Nyiragongo mountain, virunga mountains, Itombwe mountains, Mount Kahuzi, Mount Biega all in Eastern part of Congo. Find the list of top 10 Hiking trips and destinations to visit in Congo.
National parks of Congo have compiled a list of the top Mountains to be climbed when on a hiking tour to Congo with extra congo safari.
Climbing mount Nyiragongo Volcano in Virunga
Nyiragongo is located in democratic republic of Congo (DRC) about 15kms from Goma Town and Lake Kivu, bordering with Rwanda, the main crater of Mt Nyiragongo is about two kilometers wide and contains active lava lake in it.Mount Nyiragongo Volcano is found within the Virunga national park and is one of the Virunga Mountains that is open for Hiking and climbing by tourists. Climbing Nyiragongo Mountain is a dream for every traveler that is planning Congo safari and it’s the top extra safari activity done after gorilla trekking in kahuzi biega national park or Virunga national park.
Mt Nyiragongo crater has two distinct cooled lava benches within the crater walls and one is about 3,175 metres (10,417 ft), the lower one is about 2,975 m (9,760 ft) Mount Nyiragongo lava lake is the most voluminous lava lake in the history today. The depth of the lava lake varies; its maximum elevation of the lava lake is recorded 3,250 m (10,660 ft) prior to the January 1977 eruption, this lava lake is 600mts depth of about (2,000 ft).
Mt Nyiragongo is found in the eastern part of Congo (DRC) at the altitude of 3470m in the mountains of Virunga National Park, climbing/hiking up Mount Nyiragongo is not difficult and reaching the top doesn’t take more than 5 hours.