Lake Kivu
Lake Kivu is located on the border of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo and is one of the great lakes in Africa.
The covers most of the western border of Rwanda and is considered the largest lake in Rwanda and is also referred to as Lac Kivu in French. Lake Kivu is a rift valley lake located in the Albertine Rift.
Means of transport used along Lake Kivu include the local boats which are operated by the skilled fishermen. The local boats are used to connect to the various towns along the lake shores and they provide a relaxing experience during the boat rides with many scenic views.
The beautiful shores of the Lake are neighbored by different resort towns which include Kibuye, Gisenyi also known as Rubavu and Cyangugu. These towns are a relaxing spot for tourists visiting Rwanda for other tourist activities for which the country is known. Different attractions can be seen during these vacations in the towns neighboring Lake Kivu such as the rural life, plantain fields with scenic views of the lake. Gisenyi is known for its vibrant nightlife and good hotels, Kibuye is a tropical area and is considered the prettiest of the three towns and Cyangugu is an old border town.
Boat cruises are also available along the lake with a view of the villages located by the lake shores. Lake Kivu also has a fair share of different features formed along the course of the lake such as waterfalls, peninsulas, islands and many others which add to the beauty of this lake. The boats take people to different stops along the way and it continues its journey to the furthest parts of the lake.
The lake offers the perfect stopover for tourists who have been visiting the neighboring national parks for the gorilla trekking activity which is one of Rwanda’s tourism selling points. Kahuzi Biega is located not far from Lake Kivu and this makes it easier for the tour packages which involve both destinations making the tourists experience better.
Life jackets are provided for the people using boats to ensure the safety of the people as they enjoy their Lake Kivu adventures. Different bird species can be seen during these boat rides along the shores of the Lake and flying above the lake’s calm waters.
Some of the islands which can be visited include Kimbiri which is known for its coffee plantations which attract different people to visit this island. Other agricultural produce is also grown on Kimbiri island.
Lifeguards are also present during the boat rides on Lake Kivu making the adventures on this lake safe for both tourists and the locals who live around the lake shores and nearby areas. The lifeguards instruct the tourists on what to do and what to expect during the water sports such as paddle boarding, water skiing, kayaking, and many other activities.
The increased volcanic activity around the lake has led to the alterations in the nature of the water which doesn’t favor the breeding and habitat for some aquatic species such as hippos, crocodiles. The uniqueness of the waters of Lake Kivu has to a lesser extent affected the number of people living along the lake shores which have a dense population.
The fact that the Lake sits on the rift valley floor has led to a lot of volcanic action in the area. There are many underground springs that pour water into this Lake and these springs greatly increase the concentration of gas in Lake Kivu as they contain gas.
Activities carried out on Lake Kivu include;
- Fishing in Rwanda is commonly done on lake Kivu although the country has other lakes. Traditional dugout canoes are among some of the water vessels used during fishing. Fish species such as Nile tilapia, catfish, sardines, longfin tilapia, and many other fish species are caught in the Lake.
- Swimming is very favorable due to the waters being free from crocodiles and bilharzia which are likely to hinder this tourist activity. The temperatures of the lake also favor swimming.
Other activities are carried out around Lake Kivu which includes hiking and biking, nature walks, coffee tours, Water skiing, windsurfing, paddling, motor boating, kayaking.
Different accommodations are also available for tourists touring around Lake Kivu and they are classified into luxury accommodation, midrange accommodation and budget accommodation depending on the preference of the tourists.
Some of the trails explored by hikers and other tourists include the Congo-Nile trail. Other adventurous activities such as cycling also take place along these trails as tourists and bikers enjoy the breeze from Lake Kivu.
The Congo-Nile trail offers views of different scenery such as the sparkling Lake Kivu, breathtaking landscapes through hills and mountains and many plantations. This trail is an off the track trail which opens to the beauty of this land of a thousand hills as you cycle along the tracks for an exciting adventure.
Many companies have established projects around the Lake to extract the gases in the lake. This gas which is extracted is used by some of the manufacturing companies and other companies to run their industries for example through using biogas to run machines. These projects have increased power generation in Rwanda and made many businesses better.
Other gases found in Lake Kivu include methane and carbon dioxide. Many attempts have been carried out to extract some of the gases which are highly concentrated in the lake. Experiments have also been carried out to find the most favorable way to extract the gas from Lake Kivu in a safe way which does not affect the many humans living around the lake and who depend on the Lake.
The distance of the Lake from Kigali City is about 102 km and about 3 hours’ drive along the road which continues north to other attractions around Rwanda. Lake Kivu pours water into Lake Tanganyika through the Rusizi river creating a connection between these two lakes.
Lake Kivu was formed as a result of volcanic activity and tectonic movements in the earth. The formation of lake Kivu greatly influences different features about it which vary from other lakes and they include the origin, occurrence, size, shape, depth and many other features.
The area around the Kivu receives long rainy periods in the months of February to May and short rains are received in the months from October to December.
Along Kivu, a beach resort known as Karongi can also be found with a lot of greenery such as beautiful pines and eucalyptus. Other towns found the watercourse also offer a variety of sites such as a beautiful sunset with a reflection of the sparkles on Lake Kivu as the fishermen bring in their fish catch of the day.
The population that lives around the Lake survives on the lake in terms of carrying out fishing, acting as local guides for tourists, selling different items such as crafts and art and many other businesses have also come up around this lake hence improving on the standards of living of people.
Some of the islands found along the Lake include Idjwi which is considered as the world’s tenth-largest island.
Visit Lake Kivu and experience the beauty of this rift valley lake.
