North Kivu: Landscapes, wildlife and cultural sites

North Kivu can be explored through a range of geographic and cultural points of interest: Virunga National Park, bodies of water and mountains, excursions near Goma, and places associated with remembrance. For planning your trip, it helps to have a specific focus. If you are looking for a hotel, you can start by deciding which landscapes, destinations or cultural themes you want to shape your trip.

Nature and geographical orientation in North Kivu

Virunga National Park is named as a tourist destination in North Kivu Province. UNESCO lists 218 mammal, 706 bird, 109 reptile and 78 amphibian species for the park. These UNESCO-specific species counts may change with future surveys. Of the four groups, birds have the highest species count, at 706, followed by mammals at 218, reptiles at 109 and amphibians at 78. The course of the Semuliki is also specific: the river leaves Lake Albert and then flows through Virunga National Park. Nyiragongo Volcano and Lac Noir are listed as tourist destinations in North Kivu in an inventory published in 2021. Mount Ruwenzori is identified as a mountain in the Beni area and as a tourist destination in the province. Wildlife, the course of a river, and a volcano and mountain thus offer different nature-related points of interest. When planning, you can first decide which of these topics interests you most.

Excursions near Goma

An inventory from 2012 lists Lac Vert in the Goma municipality as an excursion destination. Before making specific plans, check whether a visit is currently possible. Himbi Public Beach in Goma is known as “Plage du peuple”; here too, check current access arrangements before visiting. The descriptions distinguish between the types of places: Lac Vert is listed as an excursion destination, while Himbi is named as a beach.

Memorial sites and cultural perspectives

Kibati Cemetery is in the Nyiragongo area on the Goma–Rutshuru–Butembo road, about 15 kilometers from Goma city center. Its commemorative significance offers a different focus from the nature destinations. In the Rutshuru area, the graves of former collective chiefs are considered special sites. The Pygmy village of Mbau is listed as a tourist destination in North Kivu Province. These points of interest broaden the picture to include remembrance and cultural sites. If you are considering a visit to Mbau, check beforehand whether a visit is possible and in what form.

In the broader destination of Congo

For the southern sector of Virunga National Park, the broader destination of Congo describes climbing to the summit of the active stratovolcano Nyiragongo, camping on the crater rim and viewing the lava lake as visitor activities. Check current operating conditions before making such a trip.

Tailor your hotel search to your destinations

Goma, Nyiragongo, Rutshuru and Beni represent different destinations in the region.

Discover more destinations: Binza, Kasindi, Goma, Niari, Kouilou, Cuvette, Bas-Congo, Orientale

To the broader travel overview: Congo.