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 Climb¬ing 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 Escape From The Crater Below. Allow Two To Three Hours To Return To Kibati Before Dark.
It Is Better To Take Two Days For The Climb, Overnighting At A Hut (In Poor Condition) About A 30-Minute Walk Below The Summit. At Dawn The Next Morning, Hike To The Crater Rim And Enjoy Breathtaking Views Of Lake Kivu, Goma And The Sur¬rounding Countryside.