Lake Kivu is one of Africa’s great lakes that lies in the Albertine rift on the border between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. This Lake is believed to have been discovered in 1894 by a German explorer known as Gustav Adolf von Gozten. It initially drained its water towards the north contributing to the White Nile not until volcanic activities blocked the Lake’s outlet to the watershed of the Nile about 13,000 to 9,000 years ago. These volcanic activities led to the development of the Virunga Mountains that rose between Lake Kivu and Lake Edward to the north. Water from Lake Kivu was then later forced to flow southwards into the Ruzizi River where it currently empties its water.
Lake Kivu is approximately 42 kilometers long and 50 kilometers at its width estimated to cover a surface area of 2,700 square kilometers. This positions it as Rwanda’s largest and Africa’s 8th largest lake. This lake houses the world’s tenth largest Island known as Idjwi and settlements along its shores include Gisenyi, Cyangungu, and Kibuye in Rwanda, Bukavu, Kalehe, Kabare, Goma, and Sake in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Lake Kivu is an extraordinarily beautiful inland sea enclosed by steep, green terraced hills and islands. These provide an ideal place for relaxation while on a safari most especially in Rwanda. It is strategically positioned on the tourism circuit making it an ideal stopover while on a safari to the Land of a Thousand Hills.
Activities on Lake Kivu
The base for tourism activities along Lake Kivu in Rwanda includes the main tourist sites of Kibuye, Gisenyi, and Cyangungu. Gisenyi is the most developed of all the three and is known as Rwanda’s second-largest city after Kigali. It is contiguous with Goma, a city across the border in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Gisenyi is renowned for its numerous resorts along the shores of the lake and sandy beaches. It is popular for a variety of water sports activities, cultural trips to local communities for experiences such as local brew manufacturing, and many more.
Kibuye lies on the eastern shore of Lake Kivu between Gisenyi and Cyangungu approximately 135 kilometers west of Kigali. This town is known as the beach resort situated within the driving distance of Rwanda’s two national parks namely Volcanoes and Nyungwe Forest National Park. Bisesero Genocide Memorial is located within Kibuye where thousands of people gather to commemorate the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Other tourism potentials that lie close to Kibuye include the Ndaba Falls and many more.
Cyangungu is a city that lies along the southern shores of Lake Kivu and is known as the capital of the Rusizi district in the western province. This town is contiguous with Bukavu in the Democratic Republic of Congo and is separated by the Ruzizi River. Kamembe airport lies within this town and serves this region with flights of about 11 times a week to Kigali. This town lies close to Nyungwe Forest National Park which is Rwanda’s renowned home to the chimpanzees and several other primate species.
Tourist activities along Lake Kivu include the following.
Boat cruise
Cruising along Lake Kivu’s calm water is the perfect way to explore this scenic and tranquil Lake while capturing several bird species and many others. Boat trips along Lake Kivu are done throughout the entire day though the best time is in the morning and evening hours. You can have lunch served on a boat cruise and capture an evening sunset while sipping a glass of wine which is fun. One can also cruise to several Islands such as Amahoro and many more where great adventure awaits.
Bird watching
Lake Kivu is home to over 400 bird species ranging from small passerines to large waterfowl. Some of the bird species to look out for include pied kingfishers, white-breasted cormorants, osprey, giant kingfishers, knobs billed duck, greenbul, African fish eagle, yellow-billed stork, sacred ibis, common waxbill, chin-spot batis, hadada ibis, speckled pigeons, white-faced whistling duck, ashy flycatchers to mention but a few. Bird watching is done on a motorized boat or a boat cruise as well as walking along the Lake’s shores.
Sport fishing
Sport fishing is an interesting activity carried out on Lake Kivu with the guidance of experienced fishermen while trying out different fishing methods. It is best done on a boat either in the morning or evening hours which are also perfect for watching both the sunrise and sunsets. This freshwater Lake is home to quite an interestingly unique and versatile number of fish species for example fin tilapia, redbreast tilapia, blue-spotted tilapia, Lake Tanganyika sardines, Nile tilapia, and many more.
Island exploration
This Lake is dotted with a variety of Islands that are often visited on one’s trip to Lake Kivu. The most visited Island is known as the Amahoro Island located on the eastern side of the lake which is a popular tourist site for visitors looking for a peaceful and cool atmosphere. The Island is a base for a small community of fishermen and farmers where visitors are welcome to experience the daily lifestyle of the locals for example coffee experience, local brew processing, fishing, and many more.
Biking trips
Cycling in the western province of Rwanda is done along the renowned Congo Nile trail that runs from Rubavu to Rusizi covering up to 280 kilometers. It takes up to 5 days for a normally fit cyclist to complete this distance at a leisurely pace. This activity is the best way to explore and discover the delights of Rwanda’s western province such as the natural beaches of Lake Kivu, coffee, tea, and banana plantations, amazing views of the country’s dramatic landscapes, and many more.
Best time to visit Lake Kivu
Just like the climate in eastern, southern, and central Africa, Lake Kivu experiences two dry and wet seasons annually. The dry season is the best time to visit Lake Kivu though it’s open for visits throughout the year. The dry season runs from June to August and mid-December to mid-February though you should expect some showers in the latter part of the season. The wet season runs from March to May and short rains run from September to November which brings a burst of new vegetation that can be breathtakingly beautiful. The dry season is best for travelers to enjoy several activities such as sunbathing, swimming, cycling, and watching several avian species that roam this tranquil Lake. Since the wet seasons are the low tourism months, you might be able to get room discounts in the various accommodations during that time. While it may be called the wet season, those visiting during this time should expect that it will not rain continuously throughout the day. Typically, heavy showers are interspersed with bright sunshine.
Accessibility
Lake Kivu covers most of the western border of Rwanda with the main tourist areas being Gisenyi, Kibuye, and Cyangungu which can easily be accessed from Kigali. It can be accessed by using both air and road transport and by road, the driving distance lasts for about 2½ hours. This breathtaking lake is also accessible from Rwanda’s national parks such as Volcanoes National Park which is about an hour’s drive, Nyungwe and Akagera National Parks. By air, daily flights are run by Rwandair from Kigali International Airport to Kamembe airstrip adjacent to Ruzizi.
