Eastern DR Congo

DR Congo’s Tourism Capital

Eastern DR Congo – Putting the sad story of DR Congo aside, Eastern DR Congo is a misty region of cloud-scraping volcanic mountains, lakes of lava, and those tranquil giants, the mountain gorillas. Elsewhere the region lives up to Africa’s definition as best imagined.

Well-developed Goma is a city located in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is close to the northern shores of Lake Kivu on the border with Rwanda. Goma is the capital city of the Northern Kivu province and one of the largest after Kinshasa. Goma is a very busy city because it is a major trading route for goods going to Congo. It also hosts a large number of UN and other international humanitarian organizations.  Goma is just a few minutes away from Virunga National Park hence offering countless opportunities for those interested in nature and Wildlife. For these obvious reasons, Goma is the capital of tourism in DR Congo. More than half of the country’s half tour operators are established here.

Why Visit Eastern DR Congo

The environs around Goma have striking and natural scenery consisting of forests, lakes, hills, and misty mountains. Being a tourist hub owing to its location just a couple of kilometers from the Virunga National Park and the beautiful Lake Kivu with its culturally rich islands, Goma makes Eastern DR Congo to remain competitive with the rest of East African countries.  A key feature that should not be missed is majestic and towering like a sentinel, the Nyiragongo Volcano. Goma also has restaurants, museums, and theaters, as we shall see later. If you are in Goma or planning to visit and wondering what to do during your free time, then this might just be the article for you.

Visiting Eastern DR Congo requires more than just traveling. It also requires being updated with the latest security information as Eastern DR Congo is not your ordinary tourism destination. In spite of being endowed with pristine wilderness, landscape and endemic wildlife Eastern DR Congo’s dark history of civil unrest and conflict still hang a dark cloud that may make you ask about your safety while visiting.

With our up-to-date information, the security situation has normalized and the Virunga National Park opened, but still need to know what you might be getting into. Our advice is that it would be important to remain cautious and know the latest security updates especially if you are planning to explore other parts of the Eastern Congo.

Included Highlights

Eastern DR Congo offers so much more than just the Gorillas. The vast Virunga National Park covers an area of 7,800 square kilometers and is the oldest national park in DR Congo but in Africa. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage site with several mountains like Mikeno, Nyiragongo, Nyamuringa, and the Rwenzori Ranges within its boundaries.

Mountain Gorillas are only found in three countries – The Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda. In DR Congo, the Mountain gorillas are only found in Virunga National Park. 

The Senkwekwe Centre is the only Mountain Gorilla orphanage in the world. One of the advantages of gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park is that you can actually visit this Centre for free – that is if you choose to stay at the luxurious Mikeno Lodge.

Kahuzi-Biega National Park is one of the many UNESCO World heritage sites in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is located in the Bukavu in the South Kivu region. The park which is named after two dormant volcanoes – Kahuzi and Biega was established in 1970 is home to Eastern Lowland Gorilla that is the star attraction, Chimpanzees, other smaller primates, Bush Elephants, Buffaloes, Giant Forest Hog and countless antelopes among many other creatures. Visit Lake Kivu lies on the borders of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. Lake Kivu empties its waters into the River Ruzizi, which then flows into Lake Tanganyika further south. Being on a boat or canoe is the most suitable way to explore the lake. It’s also possible to kayak when the weather permits alongside chilling down on the shores of this tranquil water body with amazing scenery, views, and the reflections of the distant Virunga Volcanoes.

Culinary in Goma is one of the main attractions that any traveler must try. The Lake is home to several fish species including Sambaza, Capitaine, and Tilapia. Sambaza, is a special, the most sought-after meal in Goma, and if fried well, the result is always never disappointing. Capitaine and Tilapia can be served whole or in smaller pieces with spices and lemon dice. To sample these, please spare some time to explore Goma hotels and restaurants for the best experience.