Montage Monday: A Photo Essay of Nyiragongo Volcano

Trekking the Nyiragongo Volcano was one of the most challenging accomplishments to date in my adventure-ridden journey. I’m glad that I did it, and even though I’m bummed that I didn’t get to see much of the lava lake, maybe I’ll give it another go when I forget how painful it was! Enjoy the trek!

View of Mt. Nyiragongo from Gisenyi

Park sign & name during coloial rule. It's seen better days. But I love it!

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Porters at the start of the trek

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Armed guard taking a rest

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View of valley just 90 minutes in to trek

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Soldiers maxin' & relaxin' as I huffed and puffed

Looking straight up the mountain about 2 hours in.

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View of valley from further up

View of Lake Kivu

Reaching the summit with my guide Peechin of Hakuna Matata Tours

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A look down at the other smaller crater and the lake

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Guard looking into the foggy crater

Setting up our tent- on the edge

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These porters are tough! It was soooo cold!

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I froze. As soon as I could, I was bundled up in the tent.

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The cross memorial for a tourist who fell into the crater.
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Conditions were worse the next morning- my face is red from the wind.
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Packing up gear

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Starting the descent

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All I saw of the lava- just a red haze

****On our way back to Gisenyi, we took a detour through the town of Goma. Here are a couple of pictures taken from the car.****

goma congo
Using volcanic rock from the 2002 eruption to build

goma congo
Catholic Church- a neat piece of architecture ruined by the eruption

A summary of Goma

****Thanks to my new friend Mary who was coming down Nyiragongo Volcano the day I began my trek, here are photos that she took from her time at the summit (i.e. what I should have seen!).****

nyiragongo crater

nyiragongo crater

nyiragongo crater

Read about my trip in the Congo here:
Heart of Darkness: Contemplating a Trip into the Democratic Republic of Congo
Heart of Darkness: Trekking the Nyiragongo Volcano

2 thoughts on “Montage Monday: A Photo Essay of Nyiragongo Volcano

  • Incredible Laura! Love the photos! Are you using a DSLR on your trip? I thought some of the signs I had seen before were bullet-ridden, but I think that one may take the cake.

    • I am. I bought a DSLR the first time I went to Africa, and I would never travel without it now! It was well worth it. And yes, the national park sign threw me for a loop. I wanted to cart it home with me as a cool travel souvenir but I thought stealing a bullet-ridden sign that dates back to when DRC was under colonial rule (I know this b/c the park changed names once DRC gained its independence) would be a bad idea. Not to mention that I’d be stealing from a country like Congo- where I may never get out of jail for it!

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