Lake Kivu lies on the border between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda and is in the Albertine Rift, the western branch of the East African Rift and it’s one of Africa’s great lakes (sixth largest lake in Africa) and the world’s eighteenth deepest lake by maximum depth, and the ninth deepest by mean depth
The lakebed sits on a rift valley that is slowly being pulled apart, which causes volcanic activity in the area. Once the mechanisms that caused lake overturns began to be understood, so did awareness of the risk the lake posed to the local population; Lake Kivu is a freshwater lake that undergoes limnic eruptions.
The world’s tenth-largest island on a lake, Idjwi, lies in Lake Kivu, within the boundaries of Virunga National Park. Settlements on the lake’s shore include Bukavu, Kabare, Kalehe, Sake and Goma in Congo, and Gisenyi, Kibuye, and Cyangugu in Rwanda.
Lake Kivu’s three main towns (Gisenyi, Kibuye and Cyangugu) are roughly 3-4 hours apart from each other. However, on our last visit, extensive road construction works were making the journeys longer.
Activities
Lake Kivu is a fantastic tourist attraction, which one should not miss out on while in Rwanda. On a visit to the Lake, a tourist can engage in various activities that include the following:
Swimming: with cool temperatures, tourists can freely cool down on a hot day on Lake Kivu, given its freshwater body and freedom from crocodiles, hippopotamus and bilharzia. Better swimming points can be found in the major towns of Gisenyi, Kibuye and Cyangugu.
Tourists can enjoy hiking and biking along the shores after a Rwanda safari or during a honeymoon safari. With great views of the freshwater body, a walk on the shores of the lake with cool breezes from the waves will give you a remarkable and unforgettable experience.
Water trips and cruising: cruising on the freshwater body enables one to discover more of the land of a thousand hills.
A visit to Nyamirundi Island allows tourists to learn about the coffee-growing process. The island provides beautiful views of the farmlands.
A visit to imbabazi orphanage; the orphanage takes care of the children who were left orphans by the terrible Rwandese genocide. It’s well-built with beautiful gardens and a restaurant and provides great views of the Virunga volcanoes in the background.
Windsurfing and other water sports: the waters of Lake kivu has waves that support windsurfing, kayaking, speed boat rides and sport fishing. Windsurfing and kayaking equipment can be hired from around Gisenyi
Buses run frequently from Kigali to Gisenyi, about every 15-30 minutes; it costs between $2 and $5 depending on which bus company you use and whether you go for a bulk standard matatu. It will take 2 hours 21 minutes or 2 hours.
Accommodation units include Hotel Paradise Malahide, Belvedere Hotel, Lake Kivu Serena Hotel, Discover Rwanda Gisenyi, Cormorant Lodge, Moriah Hill Resort, Hotel Ubumwe, Hill View Hotel Lake Kivu, Lake View Apartments and Hotel, Hotel La Benediction, Bethanie Guesthouse and Kivu lodge to mention a few.
