Lake Kivu Rwanda

Lake Kivu Rwanda, There are many beautiful lakes in Rwanda, but Lake Kivu is one of the best. Lake Kivu is one of Africa’s “Great Lakes.” Africa has many great lakes. Lake Victoria is the second-largest lake in the world by size, and Lake Tanganyika is the second-largest lake in the world by volume. Kivu is in a good spot on the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda.

The Albertine rift slope is part of the Great East African rift valley, and Kivu is on the western side of it. The Lake is about 2,700 kilometers long and 1,460 meters above sea level, making it a pretty long lake. Almost half of this lake’s water is in Rwanda, while the other half is in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Things You Should Know About Lake Kivu

It is thought to be 1,575 feet (480 meters) deep, which makes it the 18th deepest lake in the world and the deepest lake in Rwanda. This makes it even more important to see while you’re in the area. You can see Lake Kivu and either Volcanoes National Park or Nyungwe Forest National Park at the same time. Idwiji Island, the tenth biggest island in the world, is in Kivu.

So is Tchegera Island, which has black sand and is part of Vesak National Park. At night, guests can choose to stay at the fancy Tchegera Tented Camp or on the shores of Lake Kivu. There are many resorts and restaurants to choose from in the area and nearby towns, such as Kibuye, Gisenyi, or Cyangugu in Rwanda and Kabare, Bukavu, Sake, Kalehe, and Goma in eastern DRC.

Even though the area has had volcanic activity, Kivu is a freshwater lake. Some eruptions were recorded more than 1,000 years ago. Mount Nyiragongo, which is close to Lake Kivu, is the volcano that makes the lake and surrounding area explode. Gas was found under Lake Kivu and was used to make power until it was found to be dangerous to the people who lived near the lake.

Many fish species have been able to stay alive in Kivu’s freshwater because of this. About 28 fish species have been reported in these waters. Four different kinds of fish have also been added to Lake Kivu. The cichlids, Leucostictes, redbreast tilapia, long fin tilapia, clupeid, and limnothrisa, a native sardine from Lake Tanganyika, are some of the fish species that were brought to Lake Kivu.

Things to do near and on Lake Kivu

Boat trip

A relaxing and enjoyable cruise on the lake’s water. Longer trips can take you to Amahoro and Munini Islands, with Munini Island being called “Napoleon Island” because it looks like Napoleon’s famous hat. There is a big colony of fruit bats on the island, and you can meet them after a short, easy walk. Big African millipedes, fish eagles, and many kinds of water birds can also be found there. The locals call them shongololo. The “Inzocor,” or water snake, might even show up. If you choose an evening tour, picture yourself sipping a glass of wine while taking in the beautiful views of Kivu as the sun goes down.

Fishing for fun

On Lake Kivu’s list of Top Activities, this is yet another fun thing to do. Redbreast tilapia, blue-spotted tilapia, Nile tilapia, longfin tilapia, and Lake Tanganyika sardine are just some of the fish that live in the freshwater lake. The number of different kinds of fish that can be caught in the lake makes the activity fun and worth the work. The fact that the country lets you keep one fish to take home as a treat for taking part is a good reason to do it, which will make your trip to Lake Kivu more interesting.

Bird watching

Over 700 species of birds have been seen in Rwanda, which is known as the “land of a thousand hills.” If you want to see as many new species as possible, you should definitely visit Lake Kivu. Some of the birds that live there are the African fish eagle, the spotted Cardinal Woodpecker, the African Pied Wagtail, the Yellow-throated Greenbul, the Chin-spot Batis, the Ashy Flycatcher, the White-tailed Blue Flycatcher, and the Tropical Boubou. On a good day, you should have your glasses ready to see these birds.

Tours of the islands

Nyamirundi Island is one of the bigger islands in Lake Kivu. It is home to a big coffee farm. You can learn about the whole process of making coffee here, from picking the beans to drying them and roasting them. You can also try some of the world’s freshest, healthiest, and most award-winning Rwandan coffee. You can also go to Napoleon Island, where you can see many bats in the trees and hear them making noises to greet you. The island has a connection to the Rwandan genocide and can also be seen on the Rwanda genocide trip.

People from the Tutsi group ran away to the island to stay safe from the Hutus. But when the Hutus found out their secret, they burned down the island and all the people who had gone there to stay safe. Peace Island, Amahoro Island, and a calm island are some of the other islands in the lake. Some of these are deserted islands in the lake, and people who want to enjoy the peace and quiet of the lake while camping can book these islands ahead of time.

Mountain bike riding

There are some great mountain climbing trails in Rwanda. The “Bikepacker” Congo Nile Trail is one of the most well-known. It’s about 160 miles long and takes you through some of the most beautiful scenery and trails in Africa over the course of five days. The hiking and mountain bike trails around Lake Kivu aren’t as long or far, but they go through lively towns and along the lake’s beautiful shores, making them great alternative ways to see the area.

Swimming

Lake Kivu is a freshwater lake with clean, bilharzia-free water. After a long walk in the hot sun, you can cool off in the water for a relaxing, entertaining journey. Don’t worry if you’re not good at swimming but still want to do this at Lake Kivu. There are nice people who will teach you or help you while you swim. Along the lake, there are many beaches with lifeguards to keep you safe.

Visit the Gisenyi Orphanage

People often visit the Imbabazi Orphanage while they are in the Lake Kivu area because Rosamond started it while she lived in the Mugongo area. Some flowers from her flower yard were sent to hotels and guest houses in the area. This Gisenyi shelter has been around since 1994 and mostly takes care of kids. A lot of people come to see Lake Kivu and Rwanda.

Where to stay when you visit Lake Kivu

Since Lake Kivu is near a tourist town, there are many places to stay in all price groups. You can find cheap, moderately priced, and high-end hotels in the Lake Kivu area, based on your needs. The Paradise Malahide hotel is the least expensive choice. The Le Palme Beach resort hotel is the next most affordable. And the Lake Kivu Serena hotel is the most expensive.

It is in a quiet suburb on the lake, east of Gisenyi, in the Lake Kivu area of western Rwanda. The Lake Kivu Serena hotel is there. There are 66 rooms at Lake Kivu Serena, which is a big beach hotel with all the normal amenities.