International Airline Travel
Visitors to Virunga National Park usually fly into Kigali international airport and take the 3+ hour taxi ride to the border crossing at Gisenyi, Rwanda/Goma, DRC. International flights often arrive in the late afternoon or evening. For such arrivals, we recommend spending the night in Kigali and leaving for Virunga the following morning. Most Kigali hotels will arrange an airport pick up for a small additional charge. Ethiopian Airlines and domestic DRC airlines fly into Goma, but the airport is not up to international standards.
Taxi Service
Taxis typically charge $100 from Kigali to the DRC border. Hotels can arrange a taxi for you. Virunga National Park staff and many visitors use Dieudonné Nkongori’s taxi service ($100). Reservations can be made by emailing him at dnkongori
Disclaimer: Virunga National Park is not affiliated with, and receives no financial or other benefit from, any taxi or other transportation service. Virunga National Park therefore is not liable or responsible for any act or omission of any taxi operator, taxi business or other transportation service, whether or not recommended by Virunga National Park.
Transportation to and from Virunga National Park once in the DRC
Virunga National Park is offering one-way and round-trip transportation for the following locations. You can also find transportation options specific to the various lodging and activities from within their booking pages. All pricing reflects per seat booking.
The Grand Barrière border crossing is open to Virunga visitors from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm daily. One can cross the border at 8:00 am for a same day volcano trek. If you book park transport for the volcano (Goma to Kibati), the driver will pick you up at the border at 8:30 am. Same day gorilla treks are NOT possible because park transport leaves Goma for Bukima at 6:30 am.
Please note: Visitors departing from Goma are not permitted to leave past 15:30. When leaving Mikeno Lodge or Bukima Tented camp, visitors are not permitted to leave past 15:30.
a) Primary Access Corridor: Kigali to Goma
The most reliable route into Virunga runs through Rwanda.
You fly into Kigali International Airport (KGL), then drive roughly 165 kilometers west to Gisenyi on the Rwandan side of the border.
The Grande Barrière crossing connects Gisenyi directly to Goma, a transfer that typically takes 30 to 45 minutes once you clear immigration on both sides.
Most trekkers arrange this ground transfer through their lodge or tour operator, which greatly simplifies the border process.
b) Alternative: Flying Direct to Goma
Goma International Airport (GOM) receives limited commercial service, primarily from Kinshasa and occasionally from Addis Ababa via Ethiopian Airlines.
This option cuts ground transfer time to near zero but adds scheduling uncertainty because flights are irregular.
If your itinerary depends on tight connections, the Kigali route is more reliable.
Visa and Entry Requirements
You will need a DRC tourist visa in addition to your Virunga park entry coordination.
The DRC eVisa portal at drcvisa.com processes applications in approximately 7 to 10 business days, though processing times fluctuate.
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is mandatory at the border, and officials check it without exception.
Many trekkers also carry an East African Tourist Visa for the Rwanda leg of the journey, which covers Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda for 90 days for $100 USD.
Your passport must be valid for at least six months and have two blank pages. Congolese immigration enforces this requirement strictly (and yes, the border queue can test your patience on a busy Saturday morning).