Volcano sights in Africa
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Parc National des Volcans
This is the definitive location in Africa to track the rare mountain gorilla and also a great place to track golden monkeys. The national park, which runs along the border between DR Congo and Uganda, is one of the most stunning sights in the region and is home to a chain of seven volcanoes, the highest, Karisimbi, maxes out at more than 4500m (14,764ft)
On the bamboo-and rainforest-covered slopes of the volcanoes are some of the last remaining sanctuaries of the mountain gorilla, which was studied in depth first by George Schaller and, more recently, by Dian Fossey. An encounter with these beautiful creatures, which despite their size are remarkably nonaggressive, is a…
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Roque Cinchado
A few kilometres south of the peak, across from the parador, lies this geological freak show of twisted lava pinnacles with names like the Finger of God and the Cathedral. Known as the Roques de García, they are the result of erosion of old volcanic dykes, or vertical streams of magma. The hard rock of the dykes has been bared while surrounding earth and rock has been gradually swept away.
The weirdest of the rocks, the Roque Cinchado, is wearing away faster at the base than above, and one of these days is destined to topple over (so maybe you shouldn't get too close). Spreading out to the west are the otherworldly bald plains of the Llano de Ucanca. This is the most…
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Caldera de Taburiente
The heart of the park is the Caldera de Taburiente itself; literally, the Taburiente 'Stewpot' or 'Cauldron'. A massive depression 8km wide and surrounded by soaring rock walls (it doesn't take much imagination to see where the name came from), it was first given the moniker in 1825 by German geologist Leopold von Buch, who took it to be a massive volcanic crater. The word 'caldera' stuck, and was used as a standard term for such volcanic craters the world over.
This caldera, however, is no crater, although volcanic activity was key in its creation. Scientists now agree that this was a majestically tall volcanic mountain, and that it collapsed on itself. Through the…
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Mt Fogo
Cape Verde's highest peak (2829m/9382ft), the conical, cinder-clad Mt Fogo, rises dramatically out of the floor of an ancient crater known as Chã das Caldeiras. A scenic, cobbled road, punctuated by hamlets with lava block houses, encircles the island.
It's still an active volcano and last erupted in 1995, yet intrepid farmers raise coffee and wine grapes on its black slopes. The volcano's cone remains intact and can still be climbed. However, you'll need a good pair of boots and a guide as the slopes are covered in slippery cinders. The taxing ascent takes three to four hours, but the view from the top is magnificent. Afterwards, it's a gentle trot to get back down.
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Crater Lake Game Sanctuary
Surrounding a beautiful volcanic crater lake, on the western side of Lake Naivasha and north of the village of Kongoni, is the small Crater Lake Game Sanctuary, with many trails including one for hikers along the steep but diminutive crater rim. Besides the impressive 150 bird species recorded here, giraffes, zebras and other plains wildlife are also regular residents. While walking, remember that buffaloes lurk in the woods.
The tiny jade-green crater lake is held in high regard by the local Maasai, who even believe its water helps soothe ailing cattle.
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Volcán San Antonio
Don't miss the short but breathtaking walk along the rim of Volcán San Antonio. It takes just 20 minutes to walk the gravel path halfway around the yawning chasm of this great black cone, which last blew in 1949 and is now being repopulated by hardy Canary pines. Afterwards, take a look at the small visitor centre, where a seismograph constantly measures volcanic movement in the area shows a boring but comforting straight line. You can also take a camel ride around the volcano.
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Pico Viejo
With a name meaning 'old peak', Pico Viejo is the last of Tenerife's volcanoes to have erupted on a grand scale. In 1798, its southwestern flank tore open, leaving a 700m gash. Today you can clearly see where fragments of magma shot over 1km into the air and fell pell-mell. Torrents of lava gushed from a secondary, lower wound to congeal on the slopes. To this day, not a blade of grass or a stain of lichen has returned to the arid slope.
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Montaña Amarilla
Wind and water have carved the dramatic rock formations of Montaña Amarilla, a volcanic mound on the coast outside town. To get here, take Avenida Jose Antonio Tavio (beside the Ten Bel complex) down to Calle Chasna. At the end of the street is a small car park and a path leading you down to the water. You can ramble across the rocks, enjoying a building-free view of the coast, or hike around the montaña.
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Crescent Island Wildlife Sanctuary
The protruding rim of a collapsed volcanic crater forms this island on the eastern side of Lake Naivasha. It's now the private Crescent Island Wildlife Sanctuary, where you can walk beneath yellow barked acacias (known as yellow fever trees) in search of giraffes, Thomson's and Grant's gazelles, elands, waterbucks and countless bird species. Oh, and just to let you know, there are some rather gigantic pythons too!
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Pico del Teide
The cable car provides the easiest, most popular and most expensive way to get up to the peak of El Teide. On clear days the volcanic valley spreads out majestically below, and you can see the islands of La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro peeking up from the Atlantic. It takes just eight minutes to zip up 1200m (3937ft).
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Volcán Teneguía
From the visitor centre, a signposted trail leads you to Volcán Teneguía; its 1971 eruption was the archipelago's most recent. The easy walk there and back takes about two hours.
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