Mount Nyiragongo rises to 3,470 metres about twenty kilometres north of Goma, inside Virunga National Park. Its summit crater holds an active lava lake — sometimes the largest on the planet — and on clear nights its glow can be seen from the city below. The classic visit is a two-day climb up the steep volcanic slopes, sleeping in basic shelters on the crater rim and watching the lava churn and burst through the dark. It is one of the great mountain experiences in Africa when conditions allow.
Activity at the volcano has interrupted access several times. The eruption of May 2021 sent lava toward Goma and the climb was closed for years; ongoing security incidents in eastern DRC have suspended Virunga tourism more than once. Check the Virunga National Park website directly — and current local advice — before planning anything. When the climb is open, permits, guides, porters, and armed rangers are arranged through the park; budget accordingly and do not attempt the ascent independently.