It is located approximately 35 km northeast of the town of Goma and the adjacent Lake Kivu.

The steep slopes of the peak are densely covered with equatorial rainforest and alpine meadows.

Being within two national parks, it is by law off-limits to most standard wilderness industries such as logging, farming, or mining.

During this time, military action and refugee relocation wreaked ecological havoc (including deforestation and poaching of endangered species) upon the Volcanoes and Virunga National Parks and the surrounding area.

In recent years, both parks have been somewhat secured, and the tourism industry of the area has been recovering, despite ongoing conflicts and, from 2020-2022, the damage caused by COVID-19 lockdowns.