The most deadly volcano in the world is Mount Nyiragongo.

With its 1.2-kilometer-diameter crater peak and steep-sided walls, the Nyiragongo is one of the world’s biggest and most stunning active volcanoes. It is also the world’s largest active lava lake. The volcano, which is now 3,470 meters high, has seen many volcanic eruptions that have caused lava to flow downhill to the nearby Goma towns, which are located in the foothills. These days, Nyiragongo is regarded as one of the world’s deadliest and most deadly volcanoes.

What is the location of Mount Nyiragongo?

One of the most active volcanoes in the world today is Nyiragongo Volcano, which is situated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Virunga National Park, some 20 kilometers north of the town of Goma on the Congo-Rwanda border. Its caldera summit, also known as the magma chamber, is about a mile wide and contains a deep lake of lava. It is more than 11,000 feet high. Due to political volatility in the surrounding region, experts have not conducted a thorough study of the peak.

Is going to Mount Nyiragongo safe?

Given the many Mount Nyiragongo eruptions throughout the years, including the most recent one in 2022, one might argue that, with the world’s biggest flowing lava lake, this is one of the few sites on Earth where human activity is not a hindrance.

Surprisingly, there are many people living in village settlements on Mount Nyiragongo’s lower slopes, while the heavily forested lower slopes serve as habitat for a variety of animals, including chimpanzees, bushbucks, monkeys, birds, and the unusual three-horned chameleon.

According to Mount Nyiragongo’s geology, the mountain emits very heavy fumes that fill the air above its summit. The smoke is made up of fluid lave, which is made up of several chemicals including melilite and nephilinite, which combine to make an alkaline rock type. In addition to Lake Kivu, the Nyiragongo volcanic field is surrounded by seven additional volcanic fields, including Mikeno and Karisumbi.

Lava levels periodically rise over the ring that now encloses the Volcanic Lake and flow down to the caldera bottom. It is very difficult for nearby residents and wildlife to escape from the lava during overflow through the crater walls because of the steep-sided slopes of Mount Nyiragongo Volcano. The fluid lava typically flows downhill at a high speed of over sixty meters per hour (60 mph).

What is Nyiragongo Crater Lake’s depth?

Although the exact depth of the crater is uncertain since it varies according on the volume of magma released from below, it is thought to be 600 meters deep. There are many platforms within the crater that were created by the previous lava levels.

The first platform, which is closest to the rim and is thought to be 20 meters from the top chamber, was created by the lava levels in 1973. Another platform, approximately 40 meters below that, was created in 1995 by the lava lake that flowed to the nearby region after its eruption in 2002. The current caldera lava flow is thought to be between 430 and 410 meters below the volcano’s ring.

When did the Nyiragongo Volcano in Congo start to erupt?

Although the first eruption was documented in 1882, the precise moment this volcano became active is uncertain, but for many years there have been sporadic bubbling, fire discharges, smoke clouds, and even the cracking of the crater walls to allow the lava to flow downwards.

How often does Nyiragongo erupt?

The Nyiragongo Volcano is still active today and is thought to have erupted over 34 times since 1882. The most recent eruption, which killed 147 people, took place in 2002. Even though it is contained inside the crater and the lava level is gradually rising within the area, volcanic activity is still occurring today.

reached the neighboring settlements at a velocity of around 60 miles per hour. Although the official death toll was seventy (70), there are claims that the actual number was far higher.

Why does the Nyiragongo lava flow so quickly, one could wonder?

In contrast to the typical lava flow, the alkaline and melilite-nephelinite-rich volcanic rock on this mountain has an unusually fluid quality that causes the lava to flow so quickly that anything in its path cannot readily stop it.

The 1977 eruption occurred when the crater lake was 10,700 feet deep, the deepest recorded depth; however, as was previously indicated, the depth of the lake is dependent on the quantity of lava present.

How is Mount Nyiragongo accessible?

It takes around half an hour to drive over the border into Goma town in Congo, which is the closest settlement to Mount Nyiragongo, from Gisenyi town in Rwanda. The volcano is around nine miles from Goma, and all of the trekking experiences on Mount Nyiragongo start here.

You may either use your own private car or hire a cab from Virunga National Park, which costs about $20, to go to the mountain.

Mount Nyiragongo Hiking

Hikers are advised to be at the starting location by 9 a.m. since Mount Nyiragongo Climbs often start early in the morning. Because of this, it is strongly recommended that you stay the night in Goma town so that you have enough time to be ready for your trek. Before or after a Congo gorilla trekking safari, you may climb Nyiragongo.

A certificate of yellow fever vaccination, which serves as verification of obtaining the shot, is one of the requirements for hiking the mountain. Another is a climbing permit, which costs around $300 per hiker. You may reserve this directly at the National Park or via a tour operator, who could quote you a total price of around $1,000 that covers your meals, the permit, and porter services.

Is physical fitness a prerequisite for climbing Mount Nyiragongo?

You do not need to be athletic to climb the mountain since the most popular route only takes three days; nonetheless, you must be in excellent health in order to reach the peak. Additionally, remember that the mountain surface is often uneven due to the presence of volcanic rocks, and that the elevation is typically high. As a result, symptoms like lightheadedness, fatigue, and a loss of bravery are likely to occur.

It is always important to remember that the top is 11,400 feet high, so you may choose to trek quickly or leisurely. The success rate on Mount Nyiragongo is quite high when the porter helps you with your baggage.

What Should I Bring on a Hike to Mount Nyiragongo?

Warm Clothes: Like every mountain in the globe, Mount Nyiragongo experiences a range of temperatures, from warm on the lower slopes to extremely cold on the top. Because of this, you are strongly encouraged to bring enough of warm clothes, and you should not be misled by the presence of a volcano on the summit into thinking that the weather is pleasant there. The chances of freezing are quite great if you don’t have adequate warm clothes.

Change of clothing: Because the mountain experiences heavy rainfall during the rainy season, which typically lasts from March to May and again in November, it is strongly recommended that you bring an extra set of clothes.

Another highly recommended item is a sleeping bag, which is particularly useful for sleeping on the thin, poorly insulated mattresses that are given at the cabins up the mountain.

Another need is good hiking footwear, which should provide sufficient ankle support given the mountain’s rough and varied terrain.

Altitude sickness medication: The best way to treat altitude sickness is to receive a prescription for Diamox.

A reusable water bottle is highly recommended. Please remember to bring extra drinking water up the mountain since you need to keep your body well hydrated.

Accommodations on Mount Nyiragongo: A trek on this active volcano entails spending the night on the summit. The lodging options available atop the mountain are simple shelters made of unique materials that keep the occupants warm and dry.

These amenities are less sophisticated than those in the mountain’s foothills. Among the lodging options available at the foothill are the Kivu Serena Hotel, which costs around $210, the Paradis Malahide Hotel, which costs $90, and the Tiloreza Volcanoes Ecodge, which costs $130.

Gisenyi to Goma, Congo on Day 1 of a 3-Day Nyiragongo Mountain Hike

Day 2: Hike in Nyiragongo

Day 3: Departure and descent

At a height of 6,510 feet, the true climb starts, meaning you will hike up the mountain for around 10 kilometers. The speed you follow will be decided by the group’s slowest climber, and there will be brief break periods of about 20 minutes as you rise.

All Mount Nyiragongo mountain climbs are guided by highly qualified park guides, who are joined by a chef, two armed rangers (one at the front and one at the rear), and porters who will help you carry your belongings. The hikers will always go together, and the ascent is often gradual, allowing you plenty time to acclimate your body.

Up the mountain, the weather will undoubtedly change over time, going from bright to misty in a matter of seconds. It’s also important to note that there’s a potential you may not see the lava in the crater since the volcano’s peak is sometimes obscured in mist.

How much does it cost to trek Mount Nyiragongo?

Those who are interested in hiking Mount Nyiragongo may make reservations directly with the national park or arrange their excursions via a travel operator. Compared to doing it yourself, the services provided by a tour operator are somewhat more expensive.

Thankfully, there are many porters that you can hire to assist you carry all of your luggage, hiking equipment, and other personal belongings; these services typically cost about $24.

The ideal season to climb Mount Nyiragongo

The dry season, which spans from mid-June to mid-September and from December to mid-March, is the ideal time of year to explore Mount Nyiragongo Congo. You can see the lava crater more clearly at this time of year since there is less mist on the peak and the temperatures are more tolerable than during the rainy season.

Up the mountain, the average temperature ranges from 10°C to 30°C, with the lowest recorded at 8°C and the highest at 31°C.