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 The Southern Part Of The Park Near Goma Lie The Active Volcanoes Of Nyiragongo And Nyamulagira, Which Do Not Re¬quire Technical Mountaineering Skills To Climb, If The Volcanoes Are Active At The Time Of Your Visit, You May Want To Spend A Night Near The Crater Rim To Enjoy The Remarkable Fireworks Display.
The Best Time To Climb Is December-January And June When The Weather Is Clearest. February, July And August Are Also Good.
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 dra¬matic 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.
Volcano National Park
Volcano National Park (Parc National Des Volcans) Volcano National Park is home to the mountain gorilla, discovered by Europeans in the early 1900s. The peaks of the Virunga Mountains, heavily forested extinct volcanoes, serve as a border with Zaire and Uganda and are part of the water¬shed between the Zaire and Nile river systems. This 46-square-mile (120 km2) park supports several vegetation zones from lowland forest to luxuriant mountain forest to Afro-alpine. From 8500-11,000 feet (2590-3350 m) primary forest is dominated by hagenia trees growing 30-60 feet (9-18 m) in height. Hagenia have twisted trunks with low branches covered with lichen out
Nyamulgira
Nyamulgira If You Would Like To See Wildlife, This Is The Better Of The Two Volcanoes To Climb. An Armed Guide Accompanies Each Group, And Porters May Be Hired. With Luck, You Will See Forest El¬ephant, Chimpanzees, Buffalo And Antelope. Nyamulagira (10,023 Ft./3055 M) Is Best Climbed In Three Days. On The First Day, Hike About Six Hours Through Dense Upland Jungle, Passing Numerous Lava Flows To A Basic Lodge At 8200 Feet (2500 Meters) Altitude. Water Is Available At The Lodge But Must Be Purified. On Day Two You Reach The Tree Line After About An Hour's Hike And The Crater Rim
Mountain Climbing
Mountain Climbing Hiking in the beautiful Virunga Mountains is in itself an adventure. Trails lead to the craters or peaks of the park's five volcanoes, upwards through the unique high-vegetation zones of bamboo, hagenia-hypericum forests, giant lobelia and sene-cio, and finally to alpine meadows. Views from the top, which overlook the lush Rwandan valleys and into Zaire and Uganda, are spectacular. Some travelers spend a day or two searching for gorillas interspaced with hikes to one or more of the volcanoes. Karisimbi (14,786 ft. /4507 m.), which is occasionally snowcapped, is Rwanda's highest mountain. It is the most arduous ascent, requiring two days
Virunga National Park (Parc National Des Virunga)
Virunga National Park (Parc National Des Virunga) Virunga National Park, Previously Called Albert Park, Is The Oldest Reserve In Africa. It Is The Best Game Park In Zaire And Is One Of The Finest And Least-Known Parks In All Of Africa. With Approximately 4600 Square Miles (11,900 Km2) In Area, It Is One Of The Largest On The Continent As Well. Altitudes Range From 3000 Feet (915 M) On The Grassy Savannah To 16,794 Feet (5120 M) In The Ruwenzori Mountains, Resulting In A Tremendous Variety Of Topography, Flora And Fauna. Virunga Is About 185 Miles (300 Km) Long And 25 Miles
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 Habitu¬ated 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 Nyamu¬lagira Volcanoes. Two Miles Before Reaching Rutshuru, Turn Right And