Democratic Republic of the Congo
Goma travel guide
Goma is a city in Democratic Republic of the Congo, home to about 782,000 people.
- Best months
- June to August
- Nearest airport
- GOM2 km · Goma International Airport
- Currency
- CDFCongolese franc
- Time zone
- Africa/Lubumbashi
- Language
- French
About
About Goma
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.
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.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Goma
Do
- Climb Nyiragongo Volcano
- Hakuna Matata safaris
- Green Hills Eco-Tours
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Goma
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Goma are June to August. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 24 °C; October is the wettest, with about 171 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Goma: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Goma International Airport (GOM), about 1.7 km from the city centre in a straight line; Kamembe Airport (KME, 95 km) and Kigali International Airport (KGL, 107 km) are also within reach.
Getting around
You can use boda-boda (motorcycle taxi) to get around Goma. The normal (local) price is ~500 Congolese Francs for the short ride.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
GOM · Goma International Airport
KME · Kamembe Airport
KGL · Kigali International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Goma
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.
Stay safe
The biggest danger in Goma during the day is crossing the busy roads. At night don't walk anywhere besides the main nightclub zone of Blvd Kanyamuhanga. It is advised to not leave valuables in hotels. Rebels have been responsible for killings of gorillas and the security situation remains precarious within the Virunga Park. An outbreak of Ebola in July 2019 has been brought under control in February 2022.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Goma: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Goma?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Goma are June to August. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 24 °C; October is the wettest, with about 171 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Goma?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Goma International Airport (GOM), about 1.7 km from the city centre in a straight line; Kamembe Airport (KME, 95 km) and Kigali International Airport (KGL, 107 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Goma?
Congolese franc (CDF).
Nearby
Destinations near Goma
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.