Exploring Lake Kivu in Rwanda

Exploring Lake Kivu in Rwanda: Lake Kivu Rwanda is one of the most beautiful lakes that travelers may see while on a Rwanda safari. Lake Kivu is one of the Great Lakes of Africa. Lake Victoria, the world’s second biggest water lake by area, Lake Tanganyika, the world’s second largest fresh water lake by volume, and Lake Malawi are just a handful of Africa’s major lakes. Lake Kivu is strategically placed on the Democratic Republic of the Congo-Rwanda border.

Lake Kivu is located on the western side of the Albertine Rift Escarpment, which is part of the Great East African Rift Valley. Lake Kivu is a reasonably long lake with a length of over 2,700 kilometers and a height of 1,460 meters above sea level. The majority of this lake is located on the DR Congo side, with around 42 percent of the waters of Lake Kivu lying on the Rwandan side.

Lake Kivu has an estimated depth of 1,575 feet and 480 meters, making it the world’s 18th deepest lake and Rwanda’s deepest lake, making it a must-see when in the area. Lake Kivu can be combined with a visit to the Nyungwe Forest National Park and Volcanoes National Park.

Lake Kivu is home to Idwiji Island, the world’s tenth biggest island, as well as the black sand Tchegera Island of the Virunga National Park. Guests may reserve a night at the beautiful Tchegera Tented Camp or stay on the shores of Lake Kivu. When visiting the region or nearby cities such as Kibuye, Gisenyi, or Cyangugu on the Rwandan side and Kabare, Bukavu, Sake, Kalehe, and Goma on the DR Congo side, there are a variety of resorts and hotels to choose from.

Despite the volcanic activity that has been observed in the vicinity for over 1,000 years, Lake Kivu is a fresh water lake. The volcanic activity in Lake Kivu is caused by volcanic mountain eruptions from Mount Nyiragongo, which is located near to the lake. Lake Kivu had gas beneath it, and this gas was used as a natural resource to generate energy until it was discovered to pose a hazard to the inhabitants living around the lake.

The Lake Kivu’s fresh water character has aided the survival of a variety of fish species, with about 28 fish species documented in these waters. In addition, four new fish species have been introduced into Lake Kivu. Cichlids, Leucostictes, redbreast tilapia, long fin tilapia, clupeids, and limnothrisa, an endemic sardine to Lake Tanganyika, are among the fish species brought into Lake Kivu.

The Lake Rukwa minnow is one of Lake Kivu’s endemic fish species. To name a few, Barbus fish, Clarias catfish, Amphilius catfish, and Nile tilapia. Lake Kivu is the only natural water lake that has successfully habituated the sardine limnothrisa, which was previously only known to exist in Tanzania’s Lake Tanganyika.

A trip to Lake Kivu may be combined with a three-day Rwanda gorilla trekking safari because the lake is only an hour’s drive from Volcanoes National Park, which is home to the world’s last surviving mountain gorillas.

What to do on Lake Kivu

There are a variety of activities available to Lake Kivu visitors, especially given that it is a bilharzia-free lake with no hippos or crocodiles to limit the activities. For approximately $30 USD, guests may take a boat trip on Lake Kivu and enjoy the air and beauty. Lake Kivu is a fairly safe place for people to swim, however keep in mind that it is a pretty deep lake. You may spend your time relaxing on the beach, reading a book or putting your toes in the ocean.

Where to stay on Lake Kivu

As this is a tourist resort, there are a variety of places of different price levels around Lake Kivu. The hotels in the Lake Kivu region accommodate budget, midrange, and luxury visitors, depending on your budget. Guests looking for a low-cost alternative can consider the Paradise Malahide hotel, a mid-range choice should consider the Le Palme Beach resort hotel, and a premium option should consider the Lake Kivu Serena hotel in Gisenyi town.

Get in contact with us and let us plan your ideal and peaceful Lake Kivu vacation. This is great for travelers searching for a spot to unwind after a day of action before flying home or returning to their full time work.