Lake kivu
Lake Kivu is found in western Rwanda on the country’s border and it’s surrounded by majestic mountains known as the Virunga Mountains and has deep emerald green waters covering a surface area of 2,700 km2 and a height of 1460 meters above sea level. It’s Rwanda’s largest lake and the sixth largest in Africa.
Lake Kivu is shared between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo making up the largest part of the border between the two countries. In addition, this lake pours into River Ruzizi and flows southward to Lake Tanganyika.
The bottom of Lake Kivu rests on the rift valley floor which is pulling apart resulting in volcanic action within the area thus making it veritably deep at 480 meters and it’s ranked as the 15th deepest lake in the world.
Scientists suppose that enough volcanic relation with the water bed of the lake bears high-pressure gas concentrations might heat water, compelling the methane away from the water, resulting in a methane explosion together with driving virtually simultaneous escape of carbon dioxide.
This carbonic-acid gas would ultimately suffocate large numbers of people on the lake basin while the gases escape off the face of the lake. It’s still considered that this lake may produce lake tsunamis as the gas blows from it.
There are around 28 fish species that stay in this amazing lake, and among the Fish species caught then are Clarias, Haplochromis, Barbus, and the Nile Tilapia which was later introduced in the lake together with the Tanganyika Sardine
It’s said that the 10th largest island in the world known as Idwiji Island is found in Lake Kivu and different villages are found around this lake, which are Kalehe, Bukavu, Sake, Kabare, and Goma found in Congo Plus, Gisenyi, Cyangugu and Kibuye in Rwanda.
Towns around Lake Kivu
Kibuye city/ Karongi
Kibuye is located midway between the north and the south of Lake Kivu. It’s a beautiful quiet town and it’s arguably in the most scenic section of Lake Kivu. There are nearly no beaches but there are several hotels in quiet spots with a waterfront. Due to the quiet and beautiful scenery, Kibuye is arguably the best place to retreat and relax on Lake Kivu. This town has several hotels where you can spend time while on your visit, and these include, Moriah Hill Resort, Kivu Lode, and Home Saint Jean.
Gisenyi/Rubavu
Gisenyi is a large town on the northern edge of Lake Kivu, in the Rubavu District in the northwest of Rwanda. It’s approximately an hour’s drive from Volcanoes National Park and the perfect place to relax after gorilla trekking. Other activities to engage in this town are, paddle boarding, boat cruise on the lake as you visit the beautiful islands, Kayaking, and more.
Once a colonial beach resort of note, Rubavu’s waterfront is lined with fading old mansions, hotels, and trendy bars on the lakeshore, ideal for sundowner cocktails.
There are numerous hotels and sandy beaches and thus popular with weekend party goes coming in from Kigali and across from the Democratic Republic of Congo coming to party at the beaches over the weekend. Some of the hotels in Gisenyi Town include Inzu Lodge, Lake Kivu Serena Hotel, and Paradis Malahide Hotel
Gisenyi is located in the foothills of the Virunga Mountains and its 1.5 hours’ drive from the Volcanoes National Park, home of the mountain gorillas. From Kigali to Gisenyi is a 3.5-hour drive.
Cyangungu
Cyangungu is the last town south of the lake. It overlooks Bukavu town on the other side of the lake in the Democratic Republic of Congo. To reach this city, it is approximately 30 – 40 minutes ’ drive from Nyungwe Forest National Park and is, therefore, a good place to stay when visiting Nyungwe forest national park for the 3 Days Chimp trekking Nyungwe NP or other treks in the forest. This town is not as developed as the other two towns. Some of the Hotels you’ll find in Cyangugu include Emeraude Kivu Resort and Peace Guesthouse.
Human History Fact check
During the Rwandan Genocide back in 1994 and the first and second Congo wars. Several dead bodies were seen floating on Lake Kivu after the genocide.