Experience the best of Goma

Goma lies at about 1,500 metres beside the lake, and parts of the city are built on old lava fields from Nyiragongo. The volcano erupted in 1977, 2002 and 2021, and lava reached parts of the town in 2002. The Rwandan town of Gisenyi, also called Rubavu, lies across the border on the lake shore.

Nyiragongo, one of the world's most active volcanoes, has held a lava lake in its summit crater. Its slopes lie within Virunga National Park, the oldest national park in Africa, which also protects mountain gorillas in the forests of the volcanic range.

Local food is built on lake fish, cassava, beans and plantain, served with rice and simple sauces, and the volcanic soils around the lake are fertile. The altitude keeps the air cooler than in the lowlands, with rain on many days of the year. Conditions in this part of eastern Congo have been unsettled for years, so travellers should check their own government's current advice before planning a visit.