Region

Kivu

In 2026, do not travel to Kivu: M23 rebels and the Rwanda Defence Force have captured Goma and Bukavu; the US, Canada, UK and Australia advise against all travel. Wait for the conflict to resolve and the gorilla parks to reopen.

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Key facts · Democratic Republic of the Congo

Visa: Depends on your passport
Currency: Congolese franc
Language: French (official)
Plugs: C · D · E · 220 V
Time zone: UTC+1 in Kinshasa and the west

Month by month hereIn detail ↓

Rules in force · 9Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…Sort the visa before the flight

Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
Central Africa ↗Sort the visa before the flight: none of the seven countries reliably issues tourist visas on arrival to Western passports, and e-visas here are tied to named airports.
Central Africa ↗Carry the original yellow fever vaccination certificate in your hand luggage; health desks at every Central African airport ask for it, and a missing card can mean refusal or a jab at the desk.
Central Africa ↗Before booking anything in or near the DRC, read the WHO Ebola situation page and your own government's health notice: the 2026 outbreak brought quarantine and boarding rules for people who have been in the DRC.
Democratic Republic of the Congo ↗Check visa and entry rules for your passport with the DRC authorities or embassy before booking; a visa is usually needed in advance.
Democratic Republic of the Congo ↗Check your government's advice province by province: most governments advise against all travel to the eastern provinces and several other areas, and the US and Canada advise against all travel to the DRC in 2026.
Democratic Republic of the Congo ↗Book a travel-clinic visit several weeks ahead; ask about malaria prevention, and carry the yellow fever vaccination certificate, which is strictly checked at DRC entry.
Democratic Republic of the Congo ↗Photography in public places can lead to detention; do not photograph government buildings, soldiers, police, airports or bridges.

Kivu is the eastern DRC region of volcanoes, mountain gorillas and Lake Kivu. Virunga National Park (gorillas, Nyiragongo) and Kahuzi-Biéga (eastern lowland gorillas) are its draw. In 2026 both parks are closed and the cities of Goma and Bukavu are under rebel control. The region is not safe for any travel.

Where to sleep

3 places in this region

Sleep base

GomaCity guide
Under rebel control in 2026. Virunga access point — closed.
Best Jun–Sep
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Goma →
BukavuCity guide
Under rebel control in 2026. Kahuzi-Biéga access point — closed.
Best Jun–Aug
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Bukavu →

Day trip

BunaganaCity guide
Border town; check status before travel.
Best Jun–Sep
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Bunagana →

Plan the nights

How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags

Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights1 partNights

Night sequences

M23 rebels and the Rwanda Defence Force control Goma and Bukavu and surrounding areas as of 2026. The situation is highly unstable and unpredictable.
Virunga National Park and Kahuzi-Biéga National Park are closed in 2026. Do not attempt to visit.
A DRC stamp in your passport can cause quarantine or a boarding ban on your next flight, even if you transit through a third country.

When to go

Months and weather

Open When to goClose When to go2 partsSeasons · Climate

Seasons at a glance

From each city's month table

Pick a month to see where to go.

Only good-now countries

Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table

Country	JJan	FFeb	MMar	AApr	MMay	JJun	JJul	AAug	SSep	OOct	NNov	DDec
Goma	×	×	×	×	×	go	go	go	go	×	×	×
Bukavu	ok	ok	×	×	×	go	go	go	ok	×	×	ok
Bunagana	ok	ok	ok	ok	ok	go	go	go	go	ok	ok	ok
Democratic Republic of the Congo (country-wide)	ok	ok	ok	×	ok	go	go	go	go	ok	×	×

Go: the good monthsFair: workable, mixedPoor: heat, rain or hazeAvoid: storms, floods, closuresno data yet

Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.

Climate strip

Month by month

Zone	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Kivu highlandsGoma, Bukavu and the lake shore	ok	ok	wet	wet	wet	wet	ok	ok	ok	ok	ok	ok

ok: workablewet: daily rain

Kivu highlands: Two rainy seasons: March–May and September–November. The dry months (June–August and December–February) are the best for trekking, but in 2026 the parks are closed.

Altitude (1,500 m at Lake Kivu) keeps temperatures mild year-round, 20–25 °C (68–77 °F). The volcanoes are colder above 3,000 m.Altitude (1,500 m at Lake Kivu) keeps temperatures mild year-round, 68–77 °F (20–25 °C). The volcanoes are colder above 3,000 m.

Getting in and passes

Arrival times and regional passes

Open Getting in and passesClose Getting in and passes1 partGet in

Get in

Door-to-door p50, 2026 estimate

From	To	How	p50	Note
Kinshasa	Goma	Flight (Congo Airways, check)	~2 h	Flights are the only safe option; road travel is not advised. In 2026 Goma airport is in a conflict zone.
Kigali, Rwanda	Goma	Road via the border post at Goma	~3 h	The border is closed in 2026. Do not attempt.
Bujumbura, Burundi	Bukavu	Road via the border at Bujumbura	~4 h	The border is closed in 2026. Do not attempt.

Eat and move on

Regional food and where to go next

Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on2 partsFood · Go next

Regional food

Where and when it works

Dish	Where	Timing / trap
Fufu and fish from Lake Kivu	Goma and Bukavu markets	Staple meal; check if the market is open.
Brochettes (grilled meat skewers)	Street stalls in Goma and Bukavu	Common street food; hygiene varies.

Go next

Kinshasa

Flight from Goma or Bukavu, ~2 h

The only safe onward destination in the DRC in 2026.

Congo Basin

planned

Flight to Kisangani then boat

Check security before travelling.

Katanga

planned

Flight to Lubumbashi

Lubumbashi is safer than Kivu in 2026.

Kasai

planned

Flight to Mbuji-Mayi

Check security before travelling.

Western DRC

planned

Flight to Kinshasa then road

The west is safer than the east in 2026.

Planning aids

Built from this guide's own data

Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids2 partsIn numbers · Going in…

Region in numbers

Where to sleep: 2 bases
Ways in: 3 listed
Best months: No month rated best

Going in…

Pick a month for the weather in each zone of the region, plus the country-wide rating and holidays.

Pick a month.

Plan your trip to Democratic Republic of the Congo Up to Democratic Republic of the Congo

Deep dive

Photos, reading and every source

Open Deep diveClose Deep dive1 partSources

Sources

officialAustralian Government — DRC travel advice
officialGovernment of Canada — DRC travel advice
officialNew Zealand Government — DRC travel advice
officialUK Government — DRC travel advice
officialUS Department of State — DRC travel advisory
officialGerman Foreign Office — DRC security
secondaryWikivoyage: Kivu, revision 5312979 (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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