Day trips

The 13 Best Day Trips from Bukavu

Drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan for every place worth the trip.

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There are 13 good day trips from Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, led by Kigali, Bujumbura, Goma. The closest is Kagano, about 35 min by car, and 2 of them fit into half a day. Below: drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan.

Day trips from Bukavu at a glance

DestinationDistanceDrive timeBest as
Kigali148 km NE2 hr 20 minLong day or overnight
Bujumbura115 km SE1 hr 50 minFull-day trip
Goma100 km NE1 hr 35 minFull-day trip
Uvira106 km S1 hr 40 minFull-day trip
Gisenyi99 km NE1 hr 35 minFull-day trip
Gitarama112 km NE1 hr 45 minFull-day trip
Muhanga109 km NE1 hr 40 minFull-day trip
Butare100 km E1 hr 35 minFull-day trip
Ngozi119 km SE1 hr 50 minFull-day trip
Mpanda98 km SE1 hr 30 minFull-day trip
Kibuye74 km NE1 hr 25 minFull-day trip
Kirambo38 km NE45 minHalf-day trip
Kagano32 km NE35 minHalf-day trip

Drive times are estimates from the distance. Check live traffic before you leave.

The best day trips from Bukavu

  1. 1

    Kigali, Rwanda

    Long day or overnight
    About 2 hr 20 min by car148 km north-east of Bukavu4 hr 40 min round trip

    Known for Anti-Corruption Monument.

    Also nearby: Musanze, Shyorongi.

  2. 2

    Bujumbura, Burundi

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 50 min by car115 km south-east of Bukavu3 hr 40 min round trip
  3. 3

    Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 35 min by car100 km north-east of Bukavu3 hr 10 min round trip
  4. 4

    Uvira, Democratic Republic of the Congo

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 40 min by car106 km south of Bukavu3 hr 20 min round trip
  5. 5

    Gisenyi, Rwanda

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 35 min by car99 km north-east of Bukavu3 hr 10 min round trip
  6. 6

    Gitarama, Rwanda

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 45 min by car112 km north-east of Bukavu3 hr 30 min round trip
  7. 7

    Muhanga, Rwanda

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 40 min by car109 km north-east of Bukavu3 hr 20 min round trip
  8. 8

    Butare, Rwanda

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 35 min by car100 km east of Bukavu3 hr 10 min round trip
  9. 9

    Ngozi, Burundi

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 50 min by car119 km south-east of Bukavu3 hr 40 min round trip
  10. 10

    Mpanda, Burundi

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 30 min by car98 km south-east of Bukavu3 hr round trip
  11. 11

    Kibuye, Rwanda

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 25 min by car74 km north-east of Bukavu2 hr 50 min round trip
  12. 12

    Kirambo, Rwanda

    Half-day trip
    About 45 min by car38 km north-east of Bukavu1 hr 30 min round trip
  13. 13

    Kagano, Rwanda

    Half-day trip
    About 35 min by car32 km north-east of Bukavu1 hr 10 min round trip

A sample day trip: Bukavu to Kigali

A realistic pace for Kigali, 148 km from Bukavu. Packy AI builds this for any place on the list, with a route, opening hours and timings you can edit.

  1. 07:30Leave Bukavu
  2. 09:50Arrive in Kigali (2 hr 20 min drive)
  3. 10:05Anti-Corruption Monument
  4. 12:05Lunch
  5. 13:20Explore the old town, markets and cafes of Kigali
  6. 15:50Head back to Bukavu
  7. 18:10Home in Bukavu

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

What are the best day trips from Bukavu?
The best day trips from Bukavu are Kigali, Bujumbura, Goma, Uvira, Gisenyi. The closest is Kagano, about 35 min away by car.
What is the closest day trip from Bukavu?
Kagano is the closest, 32 km north-east of Bukavu, roughly 35 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
Where can I go within an hour of Bukavu?
2 places are within about an hour's drive of Bukavu: Kagano (35 min), Kirambo (45 min).
What is the biggest city near Bukavu for a day out?
Kigali is the largest city in day-trip range, 148 km north-east of Bukavu and about 2 hr 20 min by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
How far is too far for a day trip from Bukavu?
Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Kigali at 148 km, around 2 hr 20 min by car, which is better as a long day or an overnight stay.

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