Overview
Goma is the capital of Northern province of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the extreme east on the border with Rwanda.
Understand
In 2002 Goma was destroyed by lava from the Nyiragongo volcano which buried most of the town’s streets, particularly the town centre. Since then, Goma has been a city under constant construction. The town is worth a visit. While Goma is reasonably safe, any visits outside of Goma should be researched to understand the state of the fighting that persists in the North Kivu province. In particular any trips out of the city should be planned with caution. The city is also the base to climb the Nyiragongo volcano along with some of the cheapest Mountain Gorilla tracking in Africa. It is also a good starting point to Kinshasa via Beni and Kisangani. Goma is considered to have a tropical savanna climate.
Get in
From Kisoro, Uganda, you can take a minibus in Bunagana at the Uganda border. However, as of May 2015, the road between Bunagana and Rutshuru is not safe. Crossing the border called le petite barriere at Cyanika into Rwanda to reach Goma through Musanze (former called Ruhengeri) and Rubavu (former called Gisenyi) is a much safer and faster option.
From Rwanda there are hourly minibuses from Kigali to Goma, such as Atraco Express and Okapi Car. These will take approximately three and a half hours.
From Butembo you can find a bus in Butembo bus station. They may leave early in the morning.
There are daily ferries from Bukavu via Idjwi Island. There are several companies that offer the 2-5 hour trip.
From Gisenyi both towns are on the border and walking between the two city centers takes no more than half an hour.
Get around
You can use boda-boda (motorcycle taxi) to get around Goma.
See
The Nyiragongo volcano Lake Kivu Gorillas in Virunga National Park The Green Lake.
Do
Climb Nyiragongo Volcano. This volcano, famous for its lava lake, is a technically easy climb from the direction of Goma. A trip to the top should take ~6-8 hours, so most climbers spend the night at the top. The park was closed in May 2009 due to the rebel occupation but was reopened in March 2010; it closed again during the M23 siege of the city but it reopened on November 2014.
Hakuna Matata safaris. Offers a 2-day climb and tour of Goma. Owner is a native of the region and very friendly, but it can take time to track him down. It's better bring your own equipment when trekking the volcano as the stuff Hakunamatata safaris provide is of low quality (e.g. leaking tents)
Green Hills Eco-Tours. Local specialists tour guide organizing all kinds of tours in East D.R.Congo. Climb Nyiragongo live volcano, mountain gorillas and lowland tracking, Goma sightseeing tour, Ijwi Island tours.
Buy
Traditional jewellery. Congolese wood crafts and canvas drawings. These are available at Ihusi and VIP palace hotels, but if you're looking for a bargain check out the shop on the roundabout near the post in the centre of town. Other items, such as videos of the Nyiragongo volcano eruption, are available at the Don de Dieu shop on Rutshuru Road.
Eat
Le chalet. Food is excellent and affordable. Considering the quality of the roads, it is quite far from the city center.
There are many cheap restaurants which serve rice, meat, chips and beans. In addition, most also serve one of the traditional African staples ugali, which is made primarily from flour and water. Natural yoghurt (called maziwa) is popular, often sweetened with sugar.
Colibri Hotel. Quiet restaurant with a friendly staff.
Salt & Pepper Restaurant. You will feel at home with the service and smiles from the staff.
Drink
Goma has many kinds of Congolese beers such as Primus, Mitzing, Amstel, and Turbo King.
The proverbial Congolese nightlife is superb, and Goma is no different. In many nightclubs the tunes are a mix of local and western, and so are the Punters.
Sleep
Colibri Hotel. A good budget option with spacious rooms in addition to gardens for campers and backpackers. Is also the location of the Goma branch of the "Go Congo" tourism office.
Ihusi Hotel. Popular top-end hotel in the centre. Has a lovely lake view and a swimming pool.
Make Goma your own.
Before committing, pick one main reason for this visit and two nearby experiences that support it. Check the guide’s transport sections against current operator information. A convenient base can save more time than adding another attraction.
- Choose your arrival point and one base. Write down the real transfer time, not just the map distance.
- Build a first-day plan with room to settle in. Cluster the places you want to see rather than crossing the city repeatedly.
- Use actual accommodation and transport quotes in your budget. Add fees to the quote before comparing it.
- Keep one uncommitted block. Weather, energy and a good local recommendation can all change your plan.
Source transparency
This guide adapts licensed text by Wikivoyage contributors. It is not a claim that Lakhou has visited or independently verified every listing. We converted the source to plain text, selected practical sections and removed price sentences and private contact information. The planning framework and any related-business booking recommendations above are Lakhou editorial additions.
Original revision 5312884 · Contributor history · CC BY-SA 4.0. Reused text and adaptations on this page are available under that license. Source revision date: 2026-07-18. This is not a date of field verification.
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