Hotels in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo

The city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is along the eastern border with Rwanda. For visitors, Goma is one of the cheapest places in Africa to go on a mountain gorilla safari. Situated on the north shore of Lake Kivu, Goma is less than 10 miles south of the active Nyiragongo Volcano, a popular place to hike when local fighting (almost never a threat in the city) doesn't make the trip unsafe. The volcano erupted in January 2002 and most of the population of Goma was evacuated, but the lava destroyed more than 40 percent of the city and Goma was subsequently reconstructed--with several new hotels.

Ihusi Hotel

Right on the shore of Lake Kivu, the Ihusi Hotel--a pink and white complex of buildings--is one of the most popular and luxurious hotels in Goma and is less than 500 feet from the Rwandan border. The hotel has a garden (where cranes stroll through the lawn and guests can enjoy views of the Rwandan mountains), a first-class swimming pool, tennis courts, a gym and spa, Internet access and a business center. The hotel's restaurant is probably its biggest downfall: the food is decent at best and the wait can be terribly long some days. As for the rooms, the top floor offers gets spectacular reviews for its comfort and views, but other rooms in the hotel can be a bit cave-like. Nevertheless, the staff of the Ihusi is usually very helpful (the hotel manager has been known to pick up guests in nearby Kilgali) and the hotel's water and electricity rarely go out, which is a common problem with Goma's accommodations.

Hotel Ihusi
Boulevard Kanyamahanga, near Rwanda border
Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo
011 (+243) 813 12 9560
travelpod.com/hotel/Hotel_Ihusi-Goma.html

Hotel la Versaille

One of the less popular Goma hotels, Hotel la Versaille is a cheaper option than many of the resort style accommodations catering to tourist groups in town for gorilla tracking and climbing the nearby volcano. Nevertheless, Hotel la Versaille still has the amenities of a standard hotel and is directly in the city center, across from Goma's City Hall. The rooms are clean, the staff is friendly and the hotel is within walking distance of most city sites, including the shores of Lake Kivu.

Hotel la Versaille
Near City Hall, City Center
Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo
011 (+243) 997 73 4710
travelpod.com/hotel/Hotel_la_Versaille-Goma.html

VIP Palace

One reviewer on tripadvisor.com said that "while neither a palace, nor perhaps suitable for VIPs, the VIP Palace is nonetheless a fine place to stay in Goma." The rooms at the VIP Palace are not always the cleanest in town, but the service is almost always helpful, often to even those stopping by solely for the restaurant or to use the tiny but adequate business center. The hotel's restaurant is also quite popular, and many foreigners working in the city--even those staying elsewhere--come to the VIP Palace for a bite to eat. The design of the VIP Palace, choppy and kitsch, has to be seen to be appreciated. According to ex-United Nations worker Kim Gjerstad, a Montreal blogger who lived in Congo for several years beginning in 2002, the VIP Palace Hotel is "probably the most astounding" of the many eclectic hotels in Goma, most of which are owned by local politicians, he wrote.

VIP Palace
Kanyamuhanga Boulevard, North Kivu
Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo
011 (+243) 813 18 0999
travelpod.com/hotel/VIP_Palace_Goma-Goma.html

Resources

Article Written By David J. Harvey

David J. Harvey has worked as a journalist since 2006, while earning a degree in political science and writing at the University of California, San Diego. He has written and edited for the UCSD "Guardian" and the AUC "Caravan" in Cairo, and currently freelances with San Diego's "Uptown News."

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