Full Day Goma Villages Tour: Local life, farms, schools and dance

Seven to nine hours moving between villages to see how rural Congo actually works

A full-day guided tour of five villages around Goma where you participate in local activities rather than observe from the outside. You visit crater lakes, markets, farms, schools, a chieftancy office and an orphanage; cook and eat local food; learn traditional dance from the Kihunde group; and meet people in their everyday work. Private transportation and a guide in English or French are included. Pickup is from your hotel.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Goma villages and local culture

• Visit Black and Green Lakes
• Discover rare fish species
• Explore Sake local market
• Meet locals and observe daily life
• Visit organic fruit and vegetable plantation
• See donkeys and cows on private farm
• Participate in cooking local food
• Learn and practice traditional dance
• Visit primary schools and chieftancy office
• Taste local banana and maize beers
• Visit coffee farms and orphanage
• Assist in cow milking activities
• Return to Goma

The experience

The tour moves through Buhimba and Mugunga first, about 15 to 18 kilometers from Goma, to see the Black and Green Lakes: crater lakes formed by an eruption before the 1800s and isolated by hills from Lake Kivu. Both hold rare fish species. From there you drive to Sake, roughly 27 kilometers out, which functions more like a small city despite its rudimentary living conditions. You walk through the colorful local market, meet people at work, and visit an organic fruit and vegetable plantation and a private farm with donkeys and cows. The operator notes you may encounter youth football games or cultural activities, though these are not guaranteed.

The afternoon takes you to Bweremana in North Kivu Province, 40 kilometers from Goma, and Minova in South Kivu Province, 50 kilometers away. In Bweremana you visit Miteeso and Bweremana Primary Schools to understand education challenges firsthand; stop at the Chieftancy office of Buhunde to learn how villages are governed; taste local banana and maize beers and watch how they are made; and join the Kihunde traditional dancer's group to learn and practice their dance. Depending on availability, you may also visit local fishermen. In Minova you walk through coffee farms, visit an orphanage to witness the impact of war on rural families, and participate in cow milking on a farm. The return to Goma begins around 4 p.m.

This is not a drive-through of landmarks but a day built around participation: you cook alongside locals, dance with them, work in fields and help milk cows. The guide speaks English or French and travels with you throughout. The tour suits someone with a full day free and the stamina for a vehicle-based itinerary with multiple stops and hands-on moments, rather than a walking tour or a single-site visit.

What’s included

• Private transportation throughout the day.
• a live guide in English or French.
• hotel pickup.
• all fees and taxes.
• participation in local cooking and traditional dance.
• visits to schools, farms, markets, a chieftancy office and an orphanage.
• tastings of local banana and maize beers.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

AgesAdult (18 to 59 years) · Senior (60 to 80 years) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 4 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancy

Operated by Congo Local Guides

Is this one for you?The tour runs seven to nine hours with multiple vehicle stops and hands-on participation in farm work, cooking and dance, so it suits someone with a full day free and comfort moving between villages. The fixed itinerary covers five locations, so you see breadth rather than depth at any single site.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

2 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and French.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What are the Black and Green Lakes near Goma?

The Black and Green Lakes are crater lakes formed by an eruption of Nyiragongo before the 1800s, located about 15 to 18 kilometers from Goma. Both are isolated by hills and connected to Lake Kivu. They get their colors from vegetation and hold rare fish species found nowhere else nearby.

Do I participate in activities or just watch?

You participate. The tour includes cooking local food with villagers, learning and practicing traditional dance with the Kihunde group, helping with farm work, and assisting in milking cows. You also visit schools, markets and a chieftancy office to understand daily life and local governance.

How far do we travel from Goma?

The villages range from 15 to 50 kilometers from Goma. Buhimba and Mugunga are closest at 15 to 18 kilometers; Sake is about 27 kilometers; Bweremana is 40 kilometers; and Minova is 50 kilometers. You travel by private vehicle throughout the day.

What time does the tour start and end?

The tour begins with pickup from your hotel and starts visiting villages around 9:30 a.m. The return to Goma begins around 4 p.m., making the full day seven to nine hours depending on travel time and activities.

Is lunch included?

Lunch is not included in the tour price. You will taste local banana and maize beers and participate in cooking local food, but you should plan for a meal separately or discuss options with your guide.

What is the Kihunde traditional dance?

The Kihunde is a traditional dance group based in Bweremana. During the tour you meet them, learn the movements and practice dancing together as part of experiencing local culture firsthand.