Lava bubbles, fiery and red before your eyes. Steam escapes in great flumes from the volcanic crater. The African sun makes its brilliant afternoon descent. 

You stand almost 3500 metres above sea level, on the rim of Nyiragongo, one of the world’s most active volcanoes. The world’s largest lake expands below your feet. Reaching the summit is a full-day hike, ending with a 45-minute scramble on a near-vertical rock face. 

But as nighttime replaces day your energy returns. Pockets of fire jump to new parts of the crater. The liquid gurgles sonorously, almost like a waterfall. And sat on the volcano’s edge you watch nature’s fire rumble on and on.