North of Goma
On the drive from Goma northward one passes over the dramatic Kabasha Escarpment to Butembo. The route from the Kabasha Escarpment to Beni is one of the most beautiful in Africa and is properly named the “Beauty Route.” The road passes through many picturesque villages, coffee, tea and banana plantaŽtions the Africa that many of us have pictured in our minds.
Related Information
Goma
Goma Goma is the tourist center for eastern Zaire and the administrative center for Virunga National Park and Ny-iragongo and Nyamulagira Volcanoes. Fortunately tourism has done little to change this typical African town. Goma is situated on the northern shores of Lake Kivu, one of the most beautiful lakes in Africa, with Mt. Nyiragongo (volcano) forming a draŽmatic backdrop to the north. Three boats per week depart Goma for Bukavu across Lake Kivu. Le Nyira is a good restaurant in town. Goma has an international airport. Air charters are available.
Bukavu
Bukavu Bukavu, The Region's Capital, Is Situated On The Southern Shores Of Lake Kivu Near The Rwanda Border. Bukavu Is The Nearest City To Kahuzi-Biega National Park.Boats For Goma Depart Bukavu And Cross Beautiful Lake Kivu To Goma Three Times Per Week.
Tongo
Tongo Located North Of Goma About Nine Miles (15 Km) West Of The Main Goma/Rutshuru Road Is Tongo, Presently The Best Place In Zaire To See Chimpanzees. A Chimpanzee Trek From Tongo Lodge Can Be Arduous, Often Lasting Five To Eight Hours. The Land Has Been Covered By Lava Flows (Probably Centuries Old) From Mt. Nyamulagira, Leaving The Surface Very Rough And Resulting In A Lot Of Up-And-Down Hiking. Highland Forest Grew Over The Lava Flows, CamouŽflaging The Rugged Surface Underneath, And Requiring Trekkers To Watch Nearly Every Stop To Prevent Falling Or Twisting An Ankle. Chimps Are Often Found, However, They Often
Nyirangongo
Nyirangongo Nyiragongo (11,384 Ft./3470 M) Erupted In 1977, Spewing Out Miles Of Molten Lava Which Destroyed Villages Within Its Path. I Visited The Area Three Months Later And Could Still Feel The Heat Radiating From The Newly Hardened Lava. Nyiragongo Can Be Climbed In One Day If You Begin ClimbŽing Early In The Morning. The Guide And Porter Station Is Located At Kibati (6400 Ft./1950 M), Eight Miles North Of Goma On The Rutshuru Road. Hike Four To Five Hours Through Forest And Afro-Alpine Vegetation And Past Lava Flows To The Summit. Have Lunch On The Crater Rim While Watching Sulfurous Gases
Butembo
Butembo This Busy Village With A Population Of Over 100,000 Is Situated In The Highlands Along The "Beauty Route" Just North Of The Equator, About Halfway Between Goma And Bunia. Many Banana, Coffee And Tea Plantations Are In The Area. Travelers Driving From Rwindi Often Spend The Night Here Before ContinuŽing On T° Mt. Hoyo Or The Ruwenzori Mountains.
Rwindi
Rwindi Continuing North Towards Rwindi Are The Rutshuru Waterfalls And Maji Ya Moto Hot-Water Springs, Both Near Rutshuru. Rwindi Is The Chief Game-Viewing Region Of Virunga NaŽtional Park. Predominantly Composed Of Savannah Plains And Swamps, Rwindi Has The Greatest Concentrations Of Hippo In The World (About 23,000). Lion In Rwindi Are Known For Their Unusual Ability To Kill Hippo. The Kabasha Escarpment Rises Up To 6000 Feet (1830 M) Above The Plains Below And Provides A Dramatic Backdrop For Wildlife Which Includes Elephant, Buffalo, Hippo, Lion, Hyena, Jackal, Waterbuck, Reedbuck, Bushbuck, Topi, Thomas Kob, Defassa Kob, Crocodiles And Numerous Aquatic Birds. The Fishing Village
Djomba (Jomba) Gorilla Sanctuary
Djomba (Jomba) Gorilla Sanctuary The Djomba Gorilla Sanctuary Covers Much Of The Zaire Side Of The Virunga Mountains, Which Are Shared With Rwanda And Uganda. Here, Two Groups Of Mountain Gorillas Have Been HabituŽated To Man's Presence. Both Groups Are Named After Their Leader (A Silverback) And May Be Visited By Up To Six Persons Each At A Time. National Parks Guides Must Accompany Each Group. Djomba Camp Is The Base From Which Gorilla Trekking Begins. To Reach Djomba (Also Spelled Jomba), Drive About 40 Miles (65 Km) North From Goma Past Nyiragongo And NyamuŽlagira Volcanoes. Two Miles Before Reaching Rutshuru, Turn Right And
Volcanoes
Volcanoes The Region Around Goma Is A Highly Volcanic Area Of Constant Activity. On My First Visit Here, I Discovered That A New Volcano Had Been Born Recently, And We Hiked Ten Miles Into The Bush To See It. In The Event Of An Eruption, We Camped Uphill From The Volcano, Which Was Scarcely 300 Feet (915 M) High And Watched The Fabulous Fireworks All Night. For Some Unknown Reason, A New Volcano Usually Pops Up In This Active Region About Every Other Year. I Just Missed Visiting Another Lava-Filled Caldera In 1984, Which Cooled A Few Weeks Before My Arrival. In
Bukima (Rumangabo Station)
Bukima (Rumangabo Station) Bukima Is The Most Accessible Reserve In Zaire For Visiting Mountain Gorillas {Gorilla Gorilla Beringei). As Of This Writing, The Zunguruka Group Was The Only Group Being Visited. Another Group Was Recently Taken Over By A New Silverback And Will Require Some Time To Be Habituated. To Reach Bukima, Go North On The Goma/Rutshuru Road And Turn Off At The Park Headquarters At Rumangabo Station. You Then Hike Uphill For About 40 Minutes To Bukima Lodge White Porters Carry Your Luggage, Trekkers Usually Spend The Night, And The Following Day Hike For About 11/2 Hours Through Cultivated Land And
Around The Peaks
Around The Peaks From Mackinder's Camp, Hike Two To Three Hours To Two Tarn Hut (14,731 Ft./4490 M.). Stop For The Night Or Continue For Another Three Or Four Hours Over Two Passes Exceeding 15,000 Feet To Kami Hut (14,564 Ft./4439 M.), Located On The North Side Of The Peaks. From Kami Hut, It Is A Five-To-Six-Hour Hike Up The North Ridge Of Point Lenana Or Directly To Austrian Hut. Return Via The Naro Moru Route Described Above.