5 top day activities in Goma city that can be done after or before gorilla trekking in Congo
Apart from poplar gorilla trekking and Mt Nyiragongo volcano hiking in Virunga national park, there are few other tourist attractions that can be done in Goma city, Goma is located on the northern shores of Lake Kivu at the border with Rwanda, Goma can be easily accessed via Gisenyi town that borders, Goma city is also the main town in the Northern Kivu province.
Goma city is just about 45 minutes drive to Virunga national park, Goma is one of the busy cities in DR-Congo because it is the main trading route for goods coming from Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and other East African Countries, Goma is also the main host’s UN peacekeepers in Congo and other humanitarian organizations offices.
Goma has natural beautiful scenery which includes mountains, hills, lakes, and valleys overlooking Virunga National Park which is the main tourist destination in northern Kivu province of Congo, talking of what to do in Goma city after gorilla trekking in Congo, Mt Nyiragongo volcano is the key feature when in Goma. Mount Nyiragongo volcano is an active volcano in Africa with a crater of 2km wide, Mt Nyiragongo volcano last erupted on 22nd May 2021 in DR- Congo, and over homes were destroyed and 32 people died as a result of the eruption, Nyiragongo volcano is located in Virunga national park in northern Kivu province of DR-Congo just 45 minutes away from Goma city.
Here are the main tourist Attractions of what to do in Goma city after the gorilla trek in the Virunga national park in Congo
- Mount Nyiragongo Hiking: is the number one activity that can be done while in Coma city, Nyiragongo is 3470 meters high and it’s not difficult to hike so you don’t have to be an experienced hiker even begins can hike Nyiragongo without a problem. Nyiragongo volcano hiking is one of the best adventurous activities in East Africa, Mt Nyiragongo is the only active lava lake in Africa that is open for tourism, Nyiragongo hiking is 2 days activity, this opportunity to spend a night at the biggest lava lake in Africa.
- A visit to Senkwekwe Gorilla Orphanage center: This gorilla orphanage is considered the only gorilla orphanage in Africa and in the whole world so while in Coma city you use that chance and visit Senkwekwe mountain gorilla orphanage because it is even free to visit this orphanage. The name Senkwekwe is for one great Silverback who was killed in 2007 by a militia group that was operating in Virunga at that time, at the same time 2 young gorillas were rescued so there was a need to start an orphanage where these two can grow from and the orphanage was named Senkwekwe silverback. At the moment this orphanage center is being used as a home to gorillas and animals rescued from poachers or animal traffickers after their parents were killed.
- A visit to the Kahuzi Biega National Park: this is a UNESCO World Heritage site where you can see lowland gorillas so this means that the Democratic Republic of Congo is the only place in the world where one sees both mountain and lowland gorillas, in Congo Mountain gorillas are found in Virunga national park while lowland gorillas are found in Kahuzi Biega national park. Kahuzi Biega park is located in Bukavu town which is not far from Goma city. There are chimpanzees in Kahuzi Biega park and much other wildlife which includes forest elephants, forest buffaloes, giant forest hogs, and antelopes among other animals to see in this park.
A day tour of Lake Kivu: Lake Kivu is one of the most beautiful lakes in Africa, Lake Kivu is shared between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, and Lake Kivu has one outlet which is called River Ruzizi and this river flows to Lake Tanganyika in Burundi. Lake Kivu is also one of the lakes in the world with methane gas underneath its floors with the main plant in Rwanda. This lake is safe, and calm tourists and other visitors can take part in different activities including taking a boat or canoe to the different fishing villages and landing sites, relaxing on the lake shores as you enjoy the amazing scenery from Volcanoes, sport fishing, swimming, and island hopping among many more other activities that can be done on Lake Kivu.
Check out the nightlife of Goma city: African nightlife is always very interesting as you mix with happy local people, while in Gome Chez Ntemba is one of the places you can check out, Chez is one of the most night club in Goma city among the local people but some times during the weekend it can be very crowded, for those who want to hang out in the places where you can meet international people working with UN and other international organization and business, then you can try Kivu Club which also has a swimming pool, also for those who love football and other sports then Kivu club is the place to be because they have a giant TV screen where you can watch all your favorite sports.
