Lake Kivu, located in Rwanda’s west and a portion of the Great Rift Valley of Africa, has a surface area of 2,700 km2 with deep, emerald-green waters. It is encircled by majestic mountains. The sixth-biggest lake in Africa, it is also the largest lake in Rwanda. Visiting Lake Kivu in Rwanda is a wonderful experience you should not miss out on while on a safari in Rwanda.
One of the Great Lakes of Africa, Lake Kivu is split into two fingers that run along the boundary between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Rwanda is home to the tenth-largest inland island in the world. It is located in the Albertine Rift, the western arm of the East African Rift, and marks the boundary between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda. The Ruzizi River, which drains Lake Kivu, empties into Lake Tanganyika towards the south. West of Rwanda, with a surface area of 2,700 km2, Lake Kivu is surrounded by stunning mountains and features deep, emerald-green waters. The sixth-biggest lake in Africa, it is also the largest lake in Rwanda.
Similar to the rest of eastern, southern, and central Africa, Lake Kivu has two rainy seasons and two dry seasons. June through August and mid-December through mid-February are the dry seasons, however you can expect occasional rains towards the end of each period. Travelling during the dry months is ideal for taking advantage of the sun and swimming in lakes.
There are 60 different species of birds in this area, and birders may go exploring to see many of them. The prolonged rains in this area take place from March through May, with April being particularly bad. From September through November and into the first few days of December, there are brief showers that produce a surge of new greenery that may be stunningly gorgeous. You might be able to receive hotel discounts at the various lodgings during the wet seasons as they are the months with the least amount of tourism. Despite the name “wet season,” visitors during this period should not expect nonstop rain; instead, they should expect heavy showers punctuated with dazzling sunlight.
One of the Great Lakes of the Rift Valley in Africa is Lake Kivu. On the border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it is located in a stunning area.
A bus ride to Lake Kivu from Kigali takes only a few hours. A journey here is a fantastic way to escape the city for a night or a weekend. The lake would also provide for an easy pit break for visitors heading to the DR Congo’s Virunga National Park. You might easily take a short diversion en route to Goma before continuing on.
During the protracted dry season, there is an influx of local visitors to Lake Kivu. Families like spending time exploring Rwanda’s parks and reserves on animal spotting trips during this time of year, notably participating in gorilla safaris at Volcanoes National Park, which corresponds with summer vacation in North America and Europe. The serene Lake Kivu waterfront setting is the perfect location to unwind after a gorilla experience.
Of course, the brief dry season falls during the winter months in the northern hemisphere, so for those with similar interests, spending time in Rwanda and Eastern Africa’s milder temperature is a great option. Additionally, the latter two weeks of December are a time of joyous holidays, and many Rwandans enjoy spending them with friends and family.
Beautiful tourist towns surround Lake Kivu Rwanda, including Rubavu, which is located on the northern edge of the lake and is only a 60-minute drive from Volcanoes National Park, Cyangugu, which is located at the lake’s southern end and serves as a gateway to Nyungwe Forest National Park, and Karongi. These towns provide the best locations to unwind.
Far from the hordes of other similar locations, Lake Kivu is still a relatively untouched site. Beaches, resorts, and islands on the lake are hence quite tranquil. On any of the lakes’ beaches, finding a peaceful space is still not difficult. This is soon going to change. Rwanda has one of the fastest growing economies in the world and is one of the world’s fastest developing nations. Rwanda’s tourism industry is quickly expanding beyond mountain gorillas.
A variety of infrastructural and new resort developments are being made around Lake Kivu’s coastline. Examples of these include the brand-new Mantis Kivu Marina Bay Hotel in Rusizi, the Kinunu Guest House’s addition, and the opulent Cormoran Lodge in Karongi. The government of Rwanda is also making investments in a new set of ports on Lake Kivu. Once the ports are completed, passenger boats are expected to run between Rusizi and Rubavu, expanding the options for boat transport for passengers on Lake Kivu. Contact us to know more about visiting Lake Kivu in Rwanda.