Lake Kivu is located in Western Rwanda on the border of Democratic Republic of Congo. Gishenyi is a small and quiet town bordering with Congo in the North of the Lake Kivu. Lake Kivu and Gishenyi can be reached road and it’s approximately 3-4 hours’ drive west of Kigali. Lake Kivu is Rwanda’s largest lake, and the sixth largest lake in Africa.
Gishenyi is also referred as Rubavu is a large town spread over several hills on the northern edge of Lake Kivu. The town is a concentration of beach resorts including: Gishenyi’s waterfront is lined with fading old mansions, beautiful hotels including some of international standard, and all sorts of bars and resorts on the lake shore, ideal for a sundowner cocktail. Rubona is also home to some pretty lakeside hotels for the traveler’s needs.
Enjoy the stunning views of green rolling hills and tea plantations as you drive through quality road. The place can be accessed by bus from Nyabugogo bus station which is the major bus hub and the station has a radio station which eases communication. The journey takes you via the prominent destinations of Volcanoes and Nyungwe forest national park. Since Rwanda the place of thousand hills is famously know for gorilla trekking adventure in volcanoes national park.
Transport can cost around 12,000 RWF per person to go all the way from Kigali to Kampala, so a 3-4 hours’ drive from Kigali to Gishenyi will surely be much cheaper.
Boat cruise on Lake Kivu
Taking the boat at sunset on Lake Kivu is some amazing, Inzu Lodge offers a boat ride in a traditional paddling pirogue boat which offers opportunity to view a number of aquatic life and wildlife on land.
The views of wildlife include: hippos, elephant and a number of water birds meaning it’s an added advantage for bird watching and game viewing because of the scenic beauty due to the landscape plus Lake Kivu and Gishenyi themselves.
You will be picked up by a local guide, and you will walk with the local guide from Inzu Lodge to a public beach behind the Palm Beach Resort. The guide will take you from the shore towards the blue waters of Lake Kivu and there are little rocky islands. The sun setting down and making the sky glare up in orange and turquoise color’s, whilst the fishermen are slowly swimming out from the dock to throw their big nets in hope of a catch.
The boat takes from the main land to the rocky islands, between 1-3 persons with life jackets costing approximately USD $30- 45 depending on the season and the period of time, time schedule thus day and night seasons.
Other places to visit
