Travellers on Lake Kivu often ask whether they can drive into DR Congo from Rwanda. Rubavu sits right next to the Congolese city of Goma, and the volcanoes of Virunga National Park are close by. Our answer for hire cars is simple: we don’t recommend it.
Why we don’t recommend you drive into DR Congo
- Security: parts of eastern DR Congo have experienced unrest and armed conflict. The situation can change quickly.
- Insurance: standard insurance for Rwandan hire cars doesn’t cover DR Congo.
- Roads and borders: road conditions, checkpoints and border procedures are very different from Rwanda’s.
- Breakdowns: our roadside assistance can’t reach you across the border.
For these reasons, our hire cars may not be taken into DR Congo.
Check official travel advice
If you are thinking about visiting DR Congo at all, read your government’s latest travel advice first. Many governments advise against travel to much of eastern DR Congo.
Great alternatives in Rwanda
- See volcanoes and mountain gorillas in Rwanda’s own Volcanoes National Park.
- Enjoy the beaches and boat trips of Lake Kivu on the Rwandan side.
- Track chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest.
Crossing into Uganda or Tanzania instead
If you’d like to visit another country, Uganda and Tanzania are both possible with the paperwork we prepare. Read cross-border car rental and Bwindi from Kigali.
By Kigali Luxe Car Rental
