| Kivu | |
 | |
Location  | |
| State | Democratic Republic of Congo |
|---|---|
 | ATTENTION: The north and south regions of Kivu have been in conflict since the early 1990s. Traveling to the region should only be done by people for official business whose employer / sponsor / organization is keenly aware of the dangers. (July 2013) |
Kivu is a region of the Democratic Republic of Congo located in the eastern part of the country.
To know
Influenced by the neighbor Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda and this region is known for its volcanoes, mountain gorillas and, tragically, its unfathomable conflicts.
Geographical notes
The whole region around Lake Kivu is called Kivu, including part of the Rwanda where most of the population of the lake area resides (Gisenyi in Rwanda, with a population of about one million inhabitants is the main inhabited center of the Lake Kivu region). The area is characterized by lush vegetation and a climate favorable to crops, the shores of the lake are located at an altitude of about 1500 m a.s.l. and the soil of the region is of volcanic origin. The Kivu region is the highest point in the East African Rift Valley.
Background
The name "Kivu" dates back to at least 1914, when the colonial government divided the Congo into 22 districts.
Since 2004 the region has been the scene of heavy clashes between the government troops of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) supported by rebel groups including Laurent Nkunda's troops.
Territories and tourist destinations
Kivu: full screen map.Includes North Kivu and South Kivu provinces.
Urban centers
Other destinations
- Ruwenzori chain - Small mountain range ofCentral Africa, located on the border with theUganda.
- Mount Hoyo
- 1 Itombwe Mountains
- 2 Kahuzi-Biega National Park - Located 50 km west of Bukavu in South-Kivu province, near the western side of Lake Kivu and the border Rwandan.
- 3 Virunga National Park - Founded in 1925 as the first African national park.
- 4 Tayna Gorilla Reserve
How to get
By plane
- 1 Goma International Airport. The closest to the Virunga National Park. As of 2019, two companies operated there:
- Congo Airways - From Kindu, Kinshasa-N'djili, Kisangani.
- Ethiopian Airlines - From Addis Ababa.
- 2 Kavumu Airport (IATA: BKY). It serves the city of Bukavu. There Africaine d'Aviation Companies flies from Goma, Kalemie, Kongolo, Lubumbashi.
How to get around
What see
- Lwiro Primate Rehabilitation Center (4 km from the Kahuzi-Biega National Park).
What to do
At the table
Safety
Before embarking on the journey consult:
- Safe travel - Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Farnesina) (Country safety information).
