Kolwezi Airport (KWZ) is on the eastern edge of the city and has daily flights to Lubumbashi, the regional capital, and occasional onward services to Kinshasa via Lubumbashi. Most international visitors arrive overland or by air from Lubumbashi, 320 km southeast on the N1 (about 5–6 hours by road in dry season).
The colonial-era railway from Lubumbashi via Likasi is in poor repair and passenger services are infrequent; freight to the mines continues to run. For most visitors, a flight via Lubumbashi or a hired vehicle and driver from Lubumbashi is the practical option. A valid visa for the DRC is required in advance.