Nyamulagira Volcano

Nyamulagira is a broad shield volcano about fifteen kilometres north of Nyiragongo, lower but far more active: it has erupted dozens of times since the late nineteenth century, more often than any other volcano in Africa, usually through flank vents that send lava across the surrounding forest. A lava lake has appeared and disappeared in its summit crater in recent years. The trek in takes several days through forest and old flows, and it is far less visited than its neighbour.

History

The name comes from the Mashi language of the Bashi people: oral tradition tells that during eruptions people cried out Rwamalagiriza, misfortune has befallen me, and the word became Nyamulagira, the one who causes suffering. Described as Africa's most active volcano, it has erupted more than 40 times since 1885, often from its flanks, where short-lived cones such as Murara of 1976-1977 formed, and recent eruptions began on 2 January 2010, 6 November 2011 and 23 May 2021 (Wikipedia, Nyamuragira).

What's there

• The summit crater - a broad caldera that has held an intermittent lava lake.
• The flank vents - cones and fissures across the shield where most eruptions break out.
• The lava fields - flows of different ages, from bare black rock to forest recolonising.
• The forest approach - several days of walking through Virunga forest to reach the mountain.

When to go

The drier periods from June to September and December to February are the practical trekking seasons. Cloud on the summit is common at any time. Nights at altitude are cold.

Good to know

This is a multi-day expedition rather than an overnight climb, with camping and long days. Access depends on the park authority and the route is opened and closed at their discretion. The volcano is genuinely active and eruptions have closed the area at short notice.

Nearby

Nyiragongo is south along the same range, and Goma is beyond it on the lake.

Key facts