Goma Travel Guide

Top activities:
-Climb Mount Nyiragongo, most dangerous active volcano in Africa
-See highland gorillas in Virunga National Park
-Jetski/swim/ride boat on Lake Kivu
-Watch soccer match
-Wednesday happy hours (starting at 9 pm) and Sunday brunches (around 12h30) at Le Chalet
-Enjoy film festival(s) when available

Weekly activities:
-Shop in Virunga market for fresh produce
-Shop in local markets for fashion
-Play basketball
-Play soccer (though tough to find a decent field)
-Play cricket in abandoned field across from Jeffrey Travels
-Go to Gisenyi (next door) and enjoy the beach/scene/restaurant/peace there

Restaurants - just ask around for location:

Petit Bruxelles : Belgian
Salt and Pepper : Chinese/Indian
Hawaii : Lebanese/falafel
Coco Jambo, VIP Hotel, Ihusi Hotel, Hotel Linda : typical western
Nyira : western with a Congolese twist
Le Chalet/Stella : western / pasta
(Le Chalet has happy hour Wednesdays and brunch Sundays)

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Taking photos in Goma is a very delicate art. People hate having photos taken of themselves and sometimes even whole areas – even trees. Then you also have corrupt undercover Policemen who would love to see you taking photos, but that is a different warning al together. Not only do local people not like it, they will attempt to smash your camera. Seriously. I found the best way to take photos was to use a guide and 2 motorcycles (with drivers). So I had local knowledge of the dangers of when and where to take photos and a fair warning that some people get very angry about it. Some tourists have even had rocks thrown at them and their cameras. I also thought I would have safety in numbers and safety in speed. As we whizzed around town on the motorcycles I snapped away with most people not noticing me at all or too late. No, I was not trying to be insensitive, but to get lots of local photos so we have more here on VT.

As I was driving past and snapping away I suddenly noticed, too late, that a young angry looking man had seen me from a distance. As I went past him at about 30kmh he raised his open hand to smack the camera out of my hand. Somehow his dirty hand and fingers managed to hit the body of the camera and the back of my hand, but miss the extended lens. I honestly thought after I felt the pain that my camera was smashed and my hand really hurt. When were a safe distance away I looked and found the camera ok, but dirty fingerprints all over my camera and right hand. I was very lucky.

So if you want photos here, you need to be as subtle and quick as you can. Otherwise get prepared to have to socialise a lot to get a few people’s permission to take their photo. And the best option is still either a motorcycle of a car with windows/windscreens that are not cracked and/or very dirty. Trust me the motorcycle is more realistic.

Take care.