DanielW

Many thanks, offerendum.

Thank you, theshaun, yes only a relatively short trip, but got to pack in some amazing experiences.

Cheers, goteed1, was great fun compiling this report too and reliving all the great memories.

Many thanks, cheesedawg, yes, definitely recommend doing this trip if you're visiting that part of the world.

1. I took my 70-200 f2.8 & 300 f2.8 lenses, and a 1.4x extender too. I swapped between the two lenses while we were there (although a second camera body would have been more ideal).

2. The gorilla's in Rwanda being 'less wild' than compared to DRC was in an article I read: http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/c4489...44feabdc0.html

3. I had no problems with Amahoro. I booked a 'default' tour though, so I was a easy client for them.

Cheers, SAtraveller, yes, the genocide memorials were quite sombreing, hard to imagine a genocide of that scale (~800,000 deaths) could happen in our lifetime.

Thanks for the great compliment, HighlandExpress.

Thanks, LivelyFL, yes, an unforgettable trip to do!

Thank you, shefgab. Yes, the DRC visa can be expensive! Luckily the visa deal ($70) through Virunga park makes it a bit more reasonable.

Many thanks, Thunderroad. We were 4-6 metres from the gorilla’s, and probably closer at times. We were in really dense jungle, so was hard to keep the mandatory 7 metres distance.

Thank you, mike&co. Yes, don't think there were too many luxury hotels in Goma. Apparently there's a lodge in the park you can stay at though, although would have cost me an extra ~$1000.

Thanks, zanskar. I'd seen a few pics of the lava lake on the internet, but nothing prepared me for the surreal beauty of seeing it for real!

Thank you, MileTex.

Cheers, chelsea2. When they said we were camping on the side of a volcano, I thought it would be down in the jungle, not mere metres from the crater edge! Was such a awesome experience.

Thanks, themapelligroup. Yes, the views and sights from the top of the volcano definitely made the 5 hour trek up worth it!

Thank you, jacobac00.

Many thanks, cmd320. Yes, the views at 2am when the clouds had cleared were worth crawling out of a warm sleeping bag and venturing out into the cold night.

Thank you, PitaPan. Yes, hope you're successful with convincing your SO.

Cheers, Fredrik74.

Thank you, flying_blue_white_red. Yes, Ruhengeri seemed like a happening place. Was tempted in my initial planning to see the Rwandan gorilla's there too, but I think I would have been too exhausted for a fourth day of trekking. Probably was peanut sauce, tasted good anyway. Such a shame about the oil exploration plans, I hope the oil company comes to its senses and stays well clear. I think I was too excited seeing the gorilla's to listen to what the guides were saying about what family we were seeing.

Thanks, benjahman.

Many thanks, shogunate03. Yes, I always wanted to see the gorilla’s and I tacked on the volcano trek as an afterthought. Hard to decide which was more amazing afterwards now!

My main lens was a 300mm f2.8. I put a 1.4x extender for some shots though (so it effectively became a 420mm f4 lens).

I just put my camera on a small table and did a long exposure for the stars shot. Not much electricity in Goma so the city lights didn't over power the light from the stars.

Thank you, cardinalkid1891.

schreibsman

Spectacular all around. Good on you for pushing limits and exploring this world!

hauteboy

Awesome pictures and report as usual.... I agree the Rwanda memorial was quite moving. I really wanted to visit Goma/Virunga but the M23 rebels were still active when I was there a few years ago (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...land-more.html). And then my 2nd try to visit DRC was thwarted by a coup attempt when I was about to land in Kinshasa! ironmanjt and I did finally manage to get over to DRC but only for a daytrip (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...go-angola.html).

DanielW

Thank you, schreibsman. Experiencing these new and exciting places certainly is addictive, makes you want to seek out the next adventure!

Many thanks, hauteboy / Jordan . Yes, Goma reminded me of your trip to Kinshasa, going from clean and orderly Rwanda to the potholed roads, chaos and corruption of DRC!

I asked my DRC guide David if he had ever been to Kinshasa and he said he had been three times. I asked if it was by bus and he just laughed at me and said that it was almost impossible to travel by road that far across the country. The return flight was $1000, not cheap for a domestic flight!

Calchas

Fantastic report as usual

Great photos

Where next?

Bretteee

Fantastic.

Is it safe now to go to Congo instead of to Rwanda for gorilla spotting?

Was it very hot?

Was the walk difficult?

I am older than you.

For the Permit I assume you had to pay cash?

I don't recall. What Travel Agency in Kigali did you prepay your trip with?

It worries me if I have no clue who to book with.

farbster

Excellent TR as usual. Thanks for taking the time to visit and share with the rest of us

JenGal

I always enjoy your wonderful reports! I'll echo others that those volcano pics are stunning!

I lived in the Congo when it was Zaire for a couple years (1989-1991) - w/ US Peace Corps if you are familiar with them. We were the last volunteers ever in zaire and were pulled out, never to return, when things began to be too unstable. I hope to return someday to where I worked (fish farming) but am unsure what I would find. ... I was at a remote village quite a ways southeast of Kikwit.

Anyway, i love reading about folks who do venture there and the pics show life goes on as always! I also visited the mountain gorillas in late 1989 when I was doing language training in Bukavu. It was pure joy. I'm not sure how much we paid, or if our group received a discount, but I was a poor kid just out of college and sure didn't have much $ laying around.

Thanks for sharing.

angeloedades

DanielW,

You have the best trip reports. I particularly love the second picture of the lava pool. Its deadly but the colours draw you in. I wonder what it felt like watching the pool in person.

^

/AE

deovrat

I had literally countless "Oh My God" moments while watching your pictures.
I probably said it in one of your earlier reports and I will say it again - You sir, are a legend.

And those pictures of lava...I was mesmerized and spent like half an hour re-reading your report again. Truly living vicariously through you. Can't thank you enough

DanielW

Thanks, Calchas, next trip is to Lebanon, got a cheap $180 fare with flydubai.

Thank you, Bretteee. Depends on your safety threshold I guess but I felt fine in DRC. Probably not as safe as Rwanda though.

It wasn't too hot, maximum was ~30C anyway. Night time was cooler. The trekking wasn't too bad. The rangers set a slow, steady pace and we had plenty of stops so was never really totally knackered.

I paid a lump sum for my trip, which included the permits etc. This is the company: http://amahoro-tours.com/

Many thanks, farbster. Just got another TR in the works now so will share it soon.

Thank you, JenGal. Zaire/DRC must have been an adventurous place to volunteer, must have been very rewarding too. I'm guessing the gorilla trekking wasn't quite as expensive as it is now too.

Thanks, angeloedades. Yes, the crater & lava pool were very mesmorising. I have only ever seen lava/magma on tv before, so was very enchanting to watch. The scale and size of the crater too (~1 kilometre or 3000ft across) made it all the more magnificent.

Many thanks, deovrat. I had mediocre expectations before the volcano trek, but was literally awed and amazed when we reached the summit and peered over the crater edge and got a peak of what hell looks like up close!

stevie

Brilliant report and photography, without doubt the best TR writer on this forum. What a refreshing change away from caviar and champagne. A true adventure.

smit0847

Incredible photos, fantastic TR.

DanielW

Many thanks for this accolade, stevie. Another TR is in the works, an adventure with another intrepid FT'er, hauteboy.

Thank you, smit0847.

Spymon

Another excellent report. Great balance between text and photos as always. Can't wait to read about your next adventure.