Page 66 - Volcano and Geothermal Tourism

Africa’s Great Volcanoes of the Albertine Rift Valley 43

night, and very nice hotels and other touristic skies, the visitor can see the towering mountain
accommodations. Nights in Goma are spectacular, ranges in the far east (Ruwenzori) and in the
under the glaring lights from two active volcanoes south (Virunga).
nearby. A panoramic view of the city, the lake and
the Nyamulagira and Nyiragongo volcanoes can Beni-Ruwenzori
be the reward of climbing Mt Goma during the The visitor can reach Beni by plane or by road
daytime. from Goma via Rwindi, and then get to Mutwanga,
Driving to the volcanoes will first take just at the foot of the impressive Ruwenzori
visitors through terraced fields clinging to the mountain. Climbing this mountain is a very
hills, at 1800–2000m. Banana fields, orchards and gruelling endeavour, requiring the expertise of very
vegetable farms are all over, because of the rich well trained guides. Enjoying the rich and various
volcanic soils. Normally, Nyamulagira and mountain biomes, fauna and flora at different
Nyiragongo are the most visited among the altitudes, to end up in white glaciers and snow caps
volcanoes. Sometimes visitors are also interested is a reward that only very few dedicated visitors can
in going to snow-covered Karisimbi. aspire to, but this unique experience of touching
Environmentalists and naturalists take special natural snow just under the equator is more than
challenge in visiting the mountain gorillas on rewarding. From Beni, one can drive more to the
the slopes of the Sabinyo. The other volcanoes north and reach Lake Albert, after visiting the very
are almost left alone, with only some rare visits scenic Mt Hoyo (1450m) with its fantastic grottos
by especially interested people, mostly scientists. and terraced waterfalls called ‘Venus Stairs’.
Climbing Nyamulagira takes three days and
Nyiragongo two days. Trained guides should be Concluding remarks
used to take care of visitors for a safe journey to The least that can be said is that the touristic
the crater rim; however, catching a sight of the potential of VNP, comprising the volcanoes and
molten lava in the huge volcano crater is the other towering peaks of the Ruwenzori range,
overwhelming. Airplane charters are also available together with the exceptionally rich fauna, flora
for those who can afford it for a flight to the and ecosystems that can be found almost in
volcanoes and scenic Lake Makoto, 100km away pristine condition, are all under-developed and
from Goma. Elephants and hippopotami can be not used at their fullest capacity for tourism. Of
seen enjoying the lake water. course, very well trained rangers and tour guides
are available for those tourists that do come, and
this lessens the risk for travellers who take
Rwindi Park advantage of their services. However, the lack of
This has been the official entrance to VNP since tourism infrastructure, as well as the poor state of
1925, from where the visitor gains access to the repair of the communication networks (routes,
800,000ha of protected flora, fauna, ecosystems, telecommunications) isolate this area and make it
and the volcanoes. Many attractions are there to hard to visit and, therefore, difficult to enjoy.
fulfill visitors’ wishes: fishing along the Rwindi or The many kinds of hot springs and other
the Rutshuru rivers or along Lake Rutanzige’s geothermal resources found in the park could add
banks, enjoying hot springs (some of them more new value and make volcano tourism more
than 90°C as at the Mayamoto hot springs), bird attractive in this area, especially to those people
watching, spotting the herds of hippopotami from coutries with a long tradition of enjoying
wallowing on the Rutshuru riverbanks, and other hotsprings and spas (Korea and Japan). Other
mammals including herds of herbivores (elephants, development-oriented use of these geothermal
antelopes, buffaloes), as well as their natural resources could propel VNP into an era of
predators (lions, hyenas, leopards). All the animals renewable and environmentally friendly energy
found in continental Africa, except for the zebra, that could sustain even more the economic
the giraffe and the rhinoceros, can be seen here in growth of the people or institutions that own
the wilderness and in large numbers. Under clear these precious, but dilapidated natural assets.

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