UGANDA: Virunga Volcanoes

The Virungas are a chain of eight volcanoes which dot the borders of Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda.

Most of these volcanoes are dormant, except Mount Nyiragongo 3,462 metres (11,358 ft.) and Mount Nyamuragira 3,063 meters (10,049 ft.), both in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Recent eruptions occurred in 2006 and in January, 2010. Mount Karisimbi is the highest volcano at 4,507 meters (14,787 ft.).

The oldest mountain is Mount Sabyinyo, which rises 3,634 meters (11,923 ft.) above sea level.

Three of the conical peaks are in Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park i.e. Muhavura (4,127m) which is the highest of the peaks in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

The name means guide, and the Batwa used to look for its high peak to help orient them in the forest.

Muhavura volcano also called Volcan Muhabura is an extinct volcano at the easternmost end of the Virunga Mountains in east central Africa.

It lies northeast of Lake Kivu on the border between Uganda and Rwanda.

It is more than 13,500 ft. high, and its crater contains a lake.

The volcano forms part of the Virunga National Park that rises to 4127 m at the NE end of the Virunga Range.

It is a relatively youthful stratovolcano with a small 40-m-wide lake in its summit crater.

The 3474-m-high Gahinga (Mgahinga) volcano is joined to Muhavura on the west by a broad saddle.

The two volcanoes have produced basanitic-to-trachyandesitic lavas.

A small parasitic crater has been recently active, but the age of the latest eruption of Muhavura is not known.

It has a crystal clear crater lake about 36m wide at its summit.

The top commands panoramic views far into Uganda, Rwanda and along the length of the Virunga chain.

Mount Gahinga (3,474m) is the smallest of the Virunga volcanoes.

It is named after the local practice of tidying the volcanic debris that clutters local farmland into neat cairns – or Gahinga. Its swamp-filled crater is around 180m wide.

Sabinyo also called Volcan Sabinyo, or Volcan Sabyinyo, extinct volcano (11,500 feet [3,505 m]) in the Virunga Mountains of east-central Africa.

It lies northeast of Lake Kivu and south-southeast of Rutshuru, Congo (Kinshasa).

Its summit marks the junction of the Congo (Kinshasa)–Rwanda–Uganda borders. It forms part of the Virunga National Park, which is the home of the mountain gorilla.

Sabinyo which also means old man’s teeth is a reference to its jagged summit which is dissected by deep gorges and ravines.

The countries that share the Virungas – Uganda, Rwanda and the DR Congo – meet on the highest of Sabinyo’s stumpy peaks.

This volcano offers 3 challenging peaks to climb. A climb up the mountain takes one up a ridge along the eastern side of the climb peak 1.

If you are to continue, the climb peak 11 involves walking as ridge with breath- taking drops into gorges of Rwanda and Uganda.

Finally, the hike up to the peak 11 is steep with several ladders and mush scrambling.

You are guaranteed to get your hands dirty en-route to peak 111.

Once on top, you will be in Rwanda, DRC and Uganda at the same time. The journey takes about 8hrs round to cover the 14km stretch.



Tourism Observer

RWANDA: Rwanda’s Wilderness In The Heart Of The City

While most cities battle with urban sprawl and the lack of truly wild spaces, the city of Kigali in Rwanda is planning a major greening project in the heart of the city.

A new €2.7 million plan is being developed to create a large eco-tourism park just a short drive from the city’s main international airport. The wetlands park will be around 130 hectares in size, and will be developed over the next three years, according to the local government.

City planners are hoping it will become a paradise for bird lovers, with Rwanda already considered one of the best locations for birding in the world. Despite the country’s comparatively small size (about the size of Belgium) – it is home to more than 700 different bird species in its dense forests, mountains, and wetlands. The new plan will also see walking and cycling trails developed alongside bird hides and leisure fishing ponds.

The Nyandungu Wetland park as it will be known, will also feature picnic areas, a café, and a spot specially designated for wedding photos.

The area had slowly been encroached on by development, with cattle grazing in the wetlands, and also the illegal development of garages and other light industry. Under the new plan, the site will be protected in an attempt to return it to its former glory as a vibrant wildlife habitat. Rwanda has emerged from its violent recent past with tourism playing a key role in getting the country’s economy back on its feet.

Many travellers are attracted by the opportunity to see rare mountain gorillas in their natural habitat in the famous Virunga Mountains.

With the opening of the eco-tourism park in Kigali however, visitors can still get a taste of Rwanda’s wilderness without even leaving the city. For those heading into the country, there are three different national parks to visit: Akagera, the location for a lion reintroduction programme; the Nyungwe rainforest, home to thirteen different primate species, and Volcanoes National Park.