North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo · Africa
Goma sits on the route: 10 minutes from Gisenyi, 45km from Karongi (Kibuye), Lake Kivu.
Goma is in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, with about 430,000 people. The nearest town is Gisenyi, about 4 km away.
Goma is the capital and largest city of the North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is located in the east of the country on the northern shore of Lake Kivu and shares borders with the Bukumu Chiefdom to the north, Rwanda to the east and the Masisi Territory to the west. The city lies in theRead more
Albertine Rift, the western branch of the East African Rift, and is only 13–18 km (8.1–11.2 mi) south of the active volcano Mount Nyiragongo. With an approximate area of 75.72 km2 (29.24 sq mi), the city had a population of 782,000 people in 2024,
with an additional 500,000 displaced people.
Goma is administratively divided into two communes: Goma and Karisimbi, which are further subdivided into 18 quarters (quartiers). The city is home to several notable landmarks, including Goma International Airport, the UNESCO World Heritage Site Virunga National Park, the private Christian co-educational school Adventist University of Goma, the University of Goma, and is surrounded by the active Virunga volcanic range, which includes volcanoes Nyamulagira, Nyiragongo, Mikeno, Visoke, Gahinga, Karisimbi, and Sabinyo. Goma hosts the annual Amani Festival, the Free University of the Great Lakes Countries, which supports local development initiatives, and the regional cultural center and art school, Foyer Culturel de Goma.
The recent history of Goma has been dominated by the volcano and the Rwandan genocide of 1994, which fueled the First and Second Congo Wars. The aftermath of these events was still having effects on the city and its surroundings in 2010. The city was captured by rebels of the March 23 Movement during the M23 rebellion in late 2012, and then retaken by Congolese government forces. As of January 2025, the city is once again under the control of M23, following a fresh offensive by the group that culminated in the Battle of Goma.
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Within an hour or so of Goma: Karongi (Kibuye), Lake Kivu (45 km).
Goma is in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, about 4 km from Gisenyi.
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1 notable place within an hour's drive.
scenic viewpoint
A town on a green peninsula of Lake Kivu, the base for the lakeside stretch of the Congo Nile Trail. The road north to Gisenyi twists through steep tea and banana terraces above the water.
45 km · about 50 min drive
Year-round
Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.
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