Lake Kivu Accommodation

Lake Kivu is located on the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, within the Albertine Rift on the western branch of the east African Rift surrounded by magnificent mountains and deep emerald green waters covering a surface of 2,700 km2 (1,040 sq mi), making it Africa’s eighth largest lake. Lake Kivu is approx. 90km long, 1,460 meters above sea level with a maximum depth of 220 meter.

Rubavu, previously known as Gisenyi, is large town on the northern edge of Lake Kivu, and 1 hour’s drive from Volcanoes National Park – the gorilla trekking location. Rubavu’s waterfront is lined with fading old mansions, hotels and trendy bars now ideal for sundowner cocktails was once a colonial beach resort. From Rubavu in the north, the Congo Nile Trail extends 227 kms of scenic landscapes way in to Rusizi in the south of lake Kivu. The trail gently curves back and forth, weaving through hills and mountains beside the lake with eucalyptus trees along the road and every inch of the hills seemingly terraced with bananas.

The lake emptiness into the Rusizi River which flows southwards into Lake Tanganyika. Lake Kivu covers a bed of mostly toxic methane that is called a killer lake. The mix of methane and carbon dioxide is as a result of the water interaction with a volcano. The lake water has approximately 60 km3 of methane and 300 km3 of carbon dioxide. The extraordinarily high concentrations of these gases are a huge risk to the riparian population in the event of uncontrolled degassing. In 2004, there was an extraction of gas that was done in the lake which was used to run boilers at the Bralirwa brewery located in Gisenyi. The dissolved methane if of economic interest worth more than 20billion dollars

Karongi halfway along the lake is the most popular beach retreat in landlocked Rwanda, with hillsides covered in pines and eucalyptus serve as a backdrop to the sparkling lake. The sound of local fishermen singing at dawn and dusk carries across the water as they paddle in unison.

The Uniqueness of this location:

8th largest lake in Africa
Lake Kivu, gaseous chemical composition is as a result of lake water interacting with volcanic hot springs
Rwanda’s largest lake
Provides the largest source of fish in Rwanda

Accommodation Options:

Lake Kivu Serena/Gisenyi
Inn on the Lake
Cormoran Lodge
Moriah Hill Resort
Cleo lake Kivu Hotel

Activities:

Kayaking on Lake Kivu
Watersports include water skiing, paddle boarding, wind-surfing
Mountain biking
Hiking one of the 6 off-the-beaten path stages of the spectacular Congo Nile Trail.
Swimming
Walking Tour around the Island & visit Coffee plantations
Visit Nyamirundi Island
Boat Cruises
Sports Fishing
Bird watching
The Singing Fishermen