Rwanda’s western side is bounded by Lake Kivu, one of the string of huge freshwater lakes which lie along Africa’s Great Rift Valley. There are three towns on the shore.
Gisenyi, in the north, was a colonial beach resort of note. Its waterfront area is lined with fading old mansions and a few old hotels plus the international standard Lake Kivu Serena Hotel. All overlooking a lovely sandy beach complete with a laid-back beach bar.
Further south, Kibuye is probably the prettiest of the towns; if you’re visiting in August, you may catch thousands of kites here on their annual migration. The Bethanie Guesthouse and the Moriah Hill Resort both have beautiful locations on overlooking the lake. From here you can take boat trips on Lake Kivu to nearby islands: Napoleon Island with its’ colony of fruit bats and Amahoro Island (aptly known as one bar island as all it has on it is one bar). There is also a genocide memorial church on a hill above Kibuye – a place for peaceful contemplation.
At the southern end of the lake, Cyangugu (pronounced ‘Shangugu’) is an old border town whose fading façades tell of its past as a vital trading gateway. Here the Hotel du Lac is a delightfully old, reliable-but-slightly-shady institution, with a bar/restaurant where you’re guaranteed to find some offbeat characters. A more savory option is the Peace Guesthouse.
Lake Kivu is the largest freshwater body in Rwanda. It is about 2650sq Kilometer. It is surrounded by 3 resort towns of Gisenyi, Cyangugu, and Kibuye. The towns act as stopover places for tourists heading to Nyungwe Forest National Park. The basic tourist activity on the lake is a boat ride which offers great scenic views of the small islands on the lake and also the nearby rural areas and fishing villages.
Among the three towns that surround the lake, Gisenyi town offers excursion visits to tourists in Parc Nationale Des Volcanoes. Gisenyi is located on the northern shores of the lake and offers many water sports activities to tourists.
Kibuye is the second considered town and is located on the southern shores of the lake. The town has tourist sites like Kaboza, Nyenji, and Nyakabuye. Besides that, there is also the Rugege forest which acts as a habitat place for many different animal and bird species like the pelicans, crowned cranes, and malachite kingfishers. These are found in the forest and also on the shores of the Lake.
The 3 towns of Gisenyi, Kibuye, and Cyangugu are connected by a wide roller-coaster road that passes through lush plantain fields and relic patches of misty rainforest to offer sweeping views over the shimmering lake. Besides the road, there is a charter boat that can help you connect to all the 3 towns.
At Kibuye to the south, tourist activities are centered on a modern lakeshore guest house overlooking pine-covered hills. Kibuye is such a relaxed, pleasant town that it’s enjoyable to stroll along the lake shores, bird-watching, or just watch life unfold. Other leisure activities include water skiing, windsurfing, boat trips, and fishing.
The real joy of this area is driving between the towns. The unpaved road gently curves back and forth as it weaves through hills and mountains beside the lake from Gisenyi to Cyangugu. Eucalyptus trees line the road, while every corner of the hills is terraced with bananas. Villagers smile and wave; you’ll end up with hands tired from waving, and feel like royalty at the end of the trip!