Mount Nyiragongo is an active stratovolcano that lies at an elevation of 3,470 meters in the Virunga Mountains within the Albertine Rift. Mount Nyiragongo is located in Virunga national park of the Democratic Republic of Congo, approximately 12 kilometers from the north of Goma town, and borders Rwanda in the west. Click here to see mountain trekking safaris 

Virunga national park offers a number of splendid tourism activities that tourists can participate in, such as mountain gorilla trekking, Mount Nyiragongo, chimpanzee tracking, and nature walks. Click here to view our recommended gorilla trekking tour

In history, Mount Nyiragongo has been erupting ever since 1882, and here comes an unexpected eruption that took place abruptly on Saturday, May 22, 2021. Where coincidence started at 6 p.m., the lava flew outside with high pressure, which forced it to pour out into different villages and the surrounding area, which they never expected.

Mount Nyiragongo lava flowed in different directions east and west to Saka, 20 kilometers from Goma, and towards Rwanda's east Kisenyi side. This unexpected incident has forced millions of people to be displaced.

Mount Nyiragongo lava   was estimated to have flown for 1 kilometer per hour which gave millions of people an escape time although many people lost their properties and some people died

Visit Virunga National Park, which was Formerly known as Albert National Park, Virunga covers an area of 7,800 sq. km. This park was established in 1925 and is among the oldest national parks in the Congo and Africa at large. Virunga National Park is home to several mountains, such as Mount Mikeno, Mount Nyiragongo, Mount Nyamuringa, and the Rwenzori Ranges, along its boundaries.

Virunga National Park protects mountain gorillas, Okapi,and Bongo. Virunga National Park also shares its borders with the Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda, Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda, Rwenzori Mountains National Park, and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda.

Hiking Mount Nyiragongo, which stands 3470 meters above sea level and is situated inside the Virunga National Park, Mount Nyiragongo's main crater is 2 kilometers wide, with a lava lake at its center. Hiking Mount Nyiragongo, the most famous volcano and best tourist attraction in Goma, erupted on May 16, 2023, and lava flowed up to Goma town property.

Hiking the Nyiragongo Volcano is regarded as one of the most adventurous tourists’ activities while visiting Congo. It is the only active mountain with a boiling lava lake that is open to tourists.

Gorilla Trekking in Virunga National Park: The mountain gorilla trekking experience can only be tracked in three countries, such as Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, mountain gorillas are only found in Virunga National Park.

Gorilla tracking in the Congo is popular due to the lower prices of gorilla permits. Mountain gorilla permits in the Congo cost $400, $1500 in Rwanda, and $800 in Uganda. Mountain gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park can easily be combined with hiking Mount Nyiragongo to make Africa’s most memorable experiences.

Visit the Senkwekwe Mountain Gorilla Orphanage, which is the only mountain gorilla orphanage in the world. One advantage of mountain gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park is that it allows tourists to visit this center for free; just make sure that you choose to stay at the luxury Mikeno Lodge. This center was named after a great silverback gorilla named Senkwekwe. That was killed in 2007 by militias.

Visit Kahuzi Biega National Park is located in the town of Bukavu, just next to nightclubs in Goma city. Kahuzi Biega National Park was established in 1970 and derives its name from two dormant volcanoes, Biega and Kahuzi. This park remains relatively pristine and undiscovered. Kahuzi-Biega National Park protects chimpanzees, several primates, buffloes, bush elephants, giant forest hogs, and countless antelope species. Kuhazi-Biega National Park's key attraction is the Eastern Lowland gorillas (also known as Grauer’s gorillas).

The best time to tour the Congo is in the long, dry season that lasts from May to August; however, planning a Congo safari is mostly dependent on the weather. The Democratic Republic of the Congo experiences an equatorial climate, meaning that humidity levels are always high all year round.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s annual weather forecast can be subdivided into four seasons: a long rainy season from October to December; a short dry season starts from January to February; a short rainy season starts from March to April; and a long dry season from May to August.