For most travellers, Bukavu is reached from Rwanda. Kamembe Airport in Rusizi District, a short drive from the border, has daily RwandAir flights from Kigali. From the airport, take a taxi to the Ruzizi border post; the crossing on foot takes 15–30 minutes if the queues are short. From there into central Bukavu it is a 10-minute taxi or motorbike ride.
Inside DRC, Kavumu Airport (FZMA), 35 km north of Bukavu on the road to Kahuzi-Biega, has occasional CAA and Congo Airways flights from Kinshasa and Goma — schedules are erratic and cancellations common. The boat from Goma across Lake Kivu is romantic but slow, depending on the operator (Ihusi or the older Emmanuel) and conditions. A 4x4 along the lake road from Goma is theoretically possible but should not be attempted without current security advice.