Exploring Lake Kivu – Rwanda

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Lake Kivu is located in western Rwanda and is shared with Democratic Republic of Congo with beautiful beaches, great tropical weather, and beautiful scenery. The lake provides the ideal place for rest and recuperation while on your safari in Rwanda. Some of the activities on the lake include, sunbathing, swimming, and water sports like Kayaking, wind surfing & canoeing.
You can visit lake Kivu as part of your Rwanda safari itinerary or for a weekend if you work and live in Rwanda. It is an extraordinarily beautiful inland sea enclosed by steep, green terraced hills and Islands. It is easily accessible from Kigali and all the national parks i.e. Volcanoes national park (Rwanda gorilla safaris, golden monkey trekking, birding & hiking), Nyungwe forest national park (chimpanzee tracking, colobus monkeys, canopy walk and birding), and Akagera national park (game drives, boat trips & birding). It is located on the tourism circuit making it an ideal stopover while you explore Rwanda.
Lake Kivu covers most of the western border of Rwanda with main tourist areas being Gisenyi, Kibuye, and Cyangugu, which lie along the lakes shores. Gisenyi is the most developed of the sites and is less than an hour’s drive from the volcanoes national park and 3 hours drive from Kigali. It is set on a sandy beach lined with swaying palms and colonial-era hotels. Here you are able to find both the upmarket hotels and the budget ones.
Kibuye is located between Gisenyi and Cyangugu in the center along the shores of Lake Kivu. It has tourist activities centered on a modern lake-shore guesthouse overlooking pine-covered hills, and boat trips from here to Gisenyi. Cyangugu is the least developed for tourism and different from the other two. It is the closest to Nyungwe Forest, with great community engagements and beautiful views of Congo but limited lake activities except the fishermen.
As you interact with the people on the shores, you will quickly notice how they are generally laid back exhibiting the phrase ‘hakuna matata’ to its fullest. Fishermen ply the water in dugout canoes on their usual routine of laying their nets for a possible catch of fish. This sell to various hotels and restaurants in town, some is taken to as far as Kigali and the rest is smoked by ladies on the shores for local consumption. You can choose to take a boat ride in the traditional dugout canoes and listen to the ‘sea stories” of the fishermen and even participate in the fishing. The place is teaming with water birds like pelicans sailing, Grey crowned cranes, pied and malachite kingfishers above the shore waiting to catch their next meal.

INSPIRING RWANDAN HERITAGES:

Kigali Hotels Accomodation: Luxury Hotels | Budget Hotels

Rwanda Wildlife Eco-Camps & Luxury Game Lodges:VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK|AKAREGA NATIONAL PARK |NYUNGWE NATIONAL PARK|LAKE KIVU|GISHWATI-MUKURA NATIONAL PARK|

RWANDA: WILDLIFE SAFARIS & PRIMATES ADVENTURE PACKAGES:

 KIGALI EXCURSIONS|RWANDA WILDLIFE SHORT TOURS|CHIMPANZEE TREKKING TOURS|MOUNTAIN GORILLAS SAFARIS|RWANDA/DRCONGO/UGANDA SAFARIS|MOUNTAIN TREKKING|WALKING & HIKING TOUR|BIRDLIFE TOUR|CULTURAL &COMMUNITY TOURISM|EDUCATIONAL & HISTORICAL TOURS|

Rwanda:PARKS & GAME RESERVES | WILDLIFE ECO-LODGES | 

Lake Kivu/ Rubavu
Lake Kivu is stunningly beautiful lake and an incredible place to visit. With no hippos or crocodiles and crystal clear, clean water, it is also one of the safest lakes in Africa. So come and explore, discover and journey along its interesting coastline. Watch unique fishing boats plying the water and find interesting villages as well as amazing birdlife set amongst true peace and tranquillity.

Near to Rubavu (Gisenyi), coffee enthusiasts can see how coffee is grown and made in to a delicious cup of famous Rwandan coffee. And not far from Karongi (Kibuye) is Rwanda’s own ‘Bay of Islands’ where many uninhabited islands are covered with natural woodland and even a remarkable colony of bats. However, it is making the journey silently and quietly along the coast that is the really special part of ‘sea’ kayaking on the lake.
Using their own modern and very stable sea kayaks that are designed for touring, Kingfisher Journeys operates one and two-day small group, guided tours from both Rubavu (Gisenyi) and Karongi (Kibuye) as well as four-day journeys between these lakeshore towns.
Most tour operators can also include ‘sea’ kayaking on Lake Kivu with their other activities and a full Rwandan itinerary.
Activities
You can select from the following options or you can ask your tour operator to arrange and book something especially for you.
Starting in Gisenyi:
Explore Lake Kivu's scenic shores (one day)
Paddling out onto Lake Kivu we find a picturesque coastline where traditional fishing boats ply the azure waters and lush, verdant hills reach up around us. Go fast or enjoy a gentle pace whist enjoying the silence of the open water and watch for the many birds that dart in and out of bushes along the shoreline.
bavu (also known as Gisenyi) is a waterfront town located on the shores of Lake Kivu, one Africa's great bodies of water. At only an hour away from Volcanoes National Park, Rubavu is a great way to unwind after trekking adventures.

Rubavu marks the beginning of the Congo Nile Trail, which extends 227 km to Rusizi, and has plenty of biking and hiking trails to fulfill those who crave the some more adventure. Rubavu is also known for its agrotourism experiences, with many tea and coffee plantations nearby.

East Africa Hiking & Trekking Adventure:

Mt.Kilimanjaro| Mt.Kenya |Rwenzori Mountains| Mt.Elgon| Ol Donyo Lengai Mountain| Mt.Kasirimbi| Mt.Longonot| Mount Meru| Usambara Mountain-Udzungwa Mountains| Pare Mountains.

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