City & Town in DR Congo

Goma

Lake town beneath the volcano

  • Best Mar, Jun to Aug
Best time to go
Mar, Jun to Aug
Altitude
About 1,500 m

Overview

We are not currently offering travel to this area. Government travel advice is against all travel to North and South Kivu, and the parks and airports here are closed or not operating. This page stays here for reference, and we will review it when the advice changes. Our Uganda and Rwanda gorilla safaris are open.

For reference, Goma sits on the northern shore of Lake Kivu, at the foot of the Nyiragongo volcano, whose eruption in 2002 covered part of the city in lava. Before the current conflict it was the main gateway to Virunga's gorillas and the volcano.

Weather and climate

Goma has a pleasant, warm climate tempered by the altitude, with rain in most months and a drier season from June to August.

Month by monthDay °CNight °CRain (mm)
  1. 26°16°130Jan
  2. 26°16°130Feb
  3. 26°16°150Mar
  4. 25°16°170Apr
  5. 25°16°140May
  6. 25°15°50Jun
  7. 25°15°40Jul
  8. 25°15°80Aug
  9. 25°16°130Sep
  10. 25°16°170Oct
  11. 25°16°170Nov
  12. 25°16°140Dec
Average climate in Goma
MonthDay °CNight °CRain mm
Jan2616130
Feb2616130
Mar2616150
Apr2516170
May2516140
Jun251550
Jul251540
Aug251580
Sep2516130
Oct2516170
Nov2516170
Dec2516140

Approximate long-term averages. Higher ground is cooler, and forests can rain in any month.

Best time to visit

June to August would be the best time when travel is possible.

Best time to visit Mar, Jun to Aug

  1. January: Good
  2. February: Good
  3. March: Excellent
  4. April: Good
  5. May: Good
  6. June: Excellent
  7. July: Excellent
  8. August: Excellent
  9. September: Good
  10. October: Good
  11. November: Fair
  12. December: Good

How to get there

Goma’s airport is not currently operating commercial flights, and the crossing from Gisenyi in Rwanda can close at short notice. We are not arranging travel here at present.

Permits and fees

We are not currently offering travel to this area. Please check your government’s travel advice.

Health and safety

Please see the DR Congo page for health information and the Ebola outbreak.

Where it is

RWANDABURUNDITANZANIASOUTH SUDANDR CONGOCENTRAL AFRICAN REP.CONGOANGOLAGABONCAMEROONLake AlbertLake TanganyikaLake MweruLake BangweuluLake KivuLake EdwardLake Mai-Ndombe Goma

Plan your time in Goma

Every safari we run is private and built around you. Tell us your dates and what you hope to see, and we will shape the route, the lodges and the permits.

Lava lake inside the Nyiragongo crater

Made to measure

Your Goma, your way

Tell us how you like to travel and we will build a private journey around it: the right lodges, the right pace and the permits already in hand.

Start planning

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