Lake Kivu
Lake Kivu
Lake Kivu is one of the lakes found in the Great Rift Valley. The Great rift valley stretches all the way from the Middle East in the north down to Mozambique in the south. There are a number of attractions in the area such as volcanic mountains, hot springs, geysers and these areas often receive a number of earthquakes. The Great Rift valley has a branch of the East African rift and the Lake Kivu is located on the western arm of the East African rift valley.
The Lake Kivu is located in the west side of Rwanda an hour drive from Volcanoes national park, the home of the mountain gorillas of Rwanda. Lake Kivu is surrounded by the volcanic mountains famously known as the Virunga mountains. With outstandingly emerald green waters, lake Kivu is Rwanda’s largest lake and the sixth largest lake in Africa as a continent. This lake covers 2,700 square kilometers stretching all the way from Gisenyi town north of Rwanda to Rusizi town south of Rwanda.
Gisenyi town is currently known as Rubavu which name was given after gaining independence as a country but the people around the place tend to refer to the place as Gisenyi more. Gisenyi/ Rubavu town is a relatively large town with a number of inhabitants and is located on the northern edge of the Lake Kivu. This town is the perfect destination after engaging in any of the treks of the national parks that is chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe forest national park or Gorilla and golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes national park.
The Gisenyi town is about 5 hours away from the Nyungwe forest on road. Lake Kivu was once a colonial beach and the largest number of people living in the area were the colonial people which can be evidenced by the current buildings in the area. A big number of the buildings in the town are built in the old fashioned way that is the private homes, hotels, bars that one can enjoy a sundowner cocktail. Gisenyi town has a number of hotels that you can book yourself into while on your visit to Gisenyi depending on your budget like the Paradise Malahide for the budget accommodation option, Le Palme Beach Resort hotel for the midrange accommodation option, Kivu Serena lodge for luxury accommodation option.
There is another recognized tourist town of Lake Kivu known as Karongi town. Karongi town is located half way along the Lake. You will pass by this town enroute from Volcanoes national park to Nyungwe forest national park or Gishwati Mukura national park of Rwanda. This town is a more popular beach destination for the local revelers and the travellers looking for an authentic beach experience.
The beaches of Karongi town are touristy with pines, palms and eucalyptus trees spread out along the way with hillsides giving a great backdrop for pictures and breathtaking views topped up by the beautiful clear waters of the lake. Besides the leisure tourism done in the region, the Karongi town is famous for fishing and the fishermen can be seen at the beginning and at the end of the day putting out their fishing nets while singing and setting out to fish while singing. If one is interested in the fishing experience, you can book with us a fishing safari.
While on your visit to Lake Kivu, you can visit a tea plantation to see how tea is grown and processed up to the level of consumption. Make yourself a cup of tea as you enjoy the views and breeze of the lake.
You may also decide to take on the Congo Nile Trail that is a 227 kilometers long trail that stretches along Lake Kivu all the way from Rubavu town in the north to Rusizi town in the south of Lake Kivu. This trail passes through the rolling hills and mountains and the local communities giving you an opportunity to interact with the Rwandan people. Get to enjoy the views of the lake at different points with the eucalyptus trees along the road with a mix of banana plantations grown by the Rwandan people.
You can take on a kayaking tour on the Lake Kivu as most hotels offer the kayaks for hire or take on a mountain biking safari on the several off the beaten paths of the Congo Nile Trail. Get in touch with us and let us arrange for you the ideal visit to Lake Kivu.
