Mount Karthala

It's 04:30 when I am roused from my sleep by the endless and incomprehensible screams over the loudspeakers 📢📢. The first Islamic prayer 👳‍♂️ of the day is announced.

Barely an hour later I'm in a taxi on my way to Mount Karthala (2360m) one of the largest and most active volcanoes 🌋 in the world!

We start the expedition 👣 in Mvouni, at an altitude of 400 meters. A few hours later I see the capital Moroni, the airport 🛩️ and the Indian Ocean. After a 5 hour walk we arrive at the base camp, at 1600m. The guides conjure up a few tents 🎪 and sleeping bags and drag them up on their shoulders 😬 After more than 7 hours of walking we have climbed 1900 meters in altitude and we finally reach the top! 🤩

Mt Karthala is alive. In some places the ground feels warm and steam rises. We have now walked 22 km. In the crater we set up the tents, light a cozy campfire and the guides cook a primitive game of food 🍽️. The night is hell. The fierce wind and the tapping of the rain on the tent keep everyone awake all night.

The next morning it rains ️ it rains and the descent follows. It was a hell of a ride! 🙈

In the past 200 years, this volcano has erupted on average once every 11 years. The last eruption spewed lava for 14 days in December 2005.

The good news of the latest explosion is the spectacular desert landscape it has created on the mountains

If you want to experience this yourself, please contact Adore Comores.