Lake Kivu
Sandy beaches at the northern end of a deep Rift lake, lava under the lakeshore plain, kayaks out to the islands, and an airstrip a short way from the water.
- Arrival
- Kigali International · KGL
- To the lake
- About 100 km west of KGL as the crow flies
- Private jets
- Into KGL; small aircraft or helicopter on
- Best time
- January · June to August
The city
Rwanda's inland shore.
Lake Kivu fills some 2,700 square kilometres of the Rift between Rwanda and Congo, and drops more than 470 metres at its deepest. Gisenyi, in Rubavu district, holds the northern end: three sandy beaches, a flat shore of old lava from Nyiragongo, and the brewery that makes Primus. Further south along the Rwandan side lie Kibuye and Cyangugu.
The water hides a curiosity: some 55 billion cubic metres of dissolved gas, much of it methane, now drawn up by a barge offshore to make electricity. On the surface, days are for swimming, paddling and lunches that run long. The weather is mild all year; June to August and January are the drier spells.
- The Gisenyi beaches Three stretches of sand on the northern shore, with the lake opening out to the south.
- Kayaking to the islands A paddle out from the shore to the islands of the lake, with the fishing boats for company.
- The Congo Nile Trail A long cycling and walking route on the Rwandan side of the lake, best taken in sections.
Arriving
Kigali first, then west to the water.
There are no scheduled flights to the lake at present. Kigali International, about a hundred kilometres east as the crow flies, is the way in; Gisenyi has its own small airfield at the edge of town.
- Nairobi 1 h 30
- Addis Ababa 2 h 25
- Seychelles 4 h 10
- Mumbai 7 h 10 long-range jet
- London 8 h 45 long-range jet
When to go
January, and June to August.
The lake lies at about 1,460 metres, so the air stays temperate, around 25 °C by day in every month. The figures are Kigali's, at a similar height. Rain comes in two seasons, peaking in April and again towards November; July is close to dry.
- 26° J 75
- 26° F 102
- 26° M 118
- 25° A 186
- 25° M 107
- 26° J 23
- 26° J 9
- 26° A 35
- 26° S 90
- 26° O 109
- 25° N 140
- 25° D 101
Where to stay
On the shore at Gisenyi.
Shown for information. We have no arrangement with any of these hotels.
Elsewhere in Rwanda
More reasons to come.
Flying to Lake Kivu?
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