The 4-day DR Congo Nyiragongo Hike Tour involves a hike to the Nyiragongo Active Volcano, the most active volcano in the world, located in the eastern part of Congo. Visitors will spend a night at the campsite on the top of the volcano and observe the sunset, sunrise, and the nocturnal spectacle of the lava lake. The tour also includes a visit to the Kigali Genocide Site and a short city tour before departure.
Kigali
7:00am
Below are key highlights of the tour:
Arrive at Kigali airport, where you will be welcomed by our English/French speaking representative, greetings – short briefing and immediate transfer to GOMA in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Goma is the capital of North Kivu province in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is located on the northern shore of Lake Kivu, next to the Rwandan city of Gisenyi. The lake and the two cities are in the Albertine Rift, the western branch of the East African Rift system.
You will driver through to Gisenyi town on Lake Kivu and it will generally take around 4 hours from Kigali.
Overnight: IHUSI Hotel – www.ihusihotel.com
Meal Plan: Dinner
After an early morning breakfast, leave your Hotel at 08.00 am to head to Kibati, the main base for the hike to the Mount Nyiragogo one of the active volcanoes. You will drive around 30 Minutes through the town of Goma. Arriving at Kibati ranger station, time to arrange porters, briefing and by 9:00 am you will start hiking.
Nyiragongo Volcano is located in the east of Congo, at around 19kms from Goma town. It is the most active volcano in the world. In 1997 and 2002, flows of lava broke out from cracks in the slopes. They covered 17kms to Goma in just a few minutes, killed dozens of people, and left hundreds of thousands homeless. The eruption temporarily drained the lava lake in the summit crater; volcanic gas suffocated heather forest on the upper slopes. Now the forest is recovering, and the wildlife is coming back. The climb takes 4 to 5 hours; there are a lot of rare birds and small mammals along the trail.
Located in Virunga National Park, it is accessible to visitors from whole the world. The visit can take one to three days with a campsite located at 3470ms on the volcano. Spending one night on the top allows you to observe the sunset and sunrise, but especially to admire the nocturnal spectacle of the lava lake.
Arriving to the top you will start admiring the Lava Lake on the crater Rim. Don’t expect to take a shower, though there is a field pit latrine for nature’s call. At night, you will be able to see the boiling magma.
Overnight: On the Cabanas on the Top crater Lim
Meals Plan: Breakfast and picnic Lunch
Early morning, you retrace your steps down the volcano. Arriving at the base you will be transferred to Kigali. The drive from Kibati to Kigali will generally around 5 hours.
You will have lunch in Goma Town, the old colonial mineral town in Eastern DR Congo, visit the Congolese crafts market and later transfer to Kigali which is around 3 Hours drive from the Boarder.
Upon arrival to your Hotel in Kigali, check in and overnight.
Overnight: ONOMO Hotel – www.onomohotel.com
Meals Plan: Breakfast
Today is your day for packing your staff, shopping and get ready to be transferred to Kigali airport, and if time allows do a short city tour of Kigali and after all visit the Kigali Genocide Site; a grim reminder of a senseless massacre of innocent’s lives in 1994. Learn about Rwanda’s history from pre-colonial times to 1994 genocide and how Rwanda has dealt with that past. We continue with our tour and see the new developments in Rwanda; the recovery has been incredible, a testament to humankind’s resilience. After the city tour we proceed to the Kigali airport for your out bound flight.
End of the Tour – Welcome back.
