Top 8 Activities to Do at Lake Kivu.
Lake Kivu, the 8th biggest in Africa, is located in Rwanda. It is one of the country’s freshwater lakes, where visitors can have a spectacular experience.
It’s shared with Congo and Rwanda. Lake Kivu is home to 28 fish species, including blue-spotted tilapia, red tilapia, and Nile tilapia, among others.
Water birds include the Common Waxbill, Yellow-throated Greenbul, Speckled Pigeon, Chin-spot Batis, Ashy Flycatcher, Cardinal Woodpecker, Bronzed Sunbird, and many others.
Lake Kivu is positioned on the tourism circuit, making it a great stopover for exploring Rwanda.
The 8 best activities to undertake for a fantastic and enjoyable experience are listed below.
Among the activities that can be completed on a tour to the lake include;
1. Boat cruise.
Lake Kivu provides an ideal opportunity for a fantastic boat excursion; all of the boat cruises at the lake are spectacular, with a variety of things to see while cruising on the lake’s calm waters.
Another fantastic option that can be borrowed while on your boat tour on Lake Kivu is the customizable packages, which include enjoying lunch while on the boat and seeing the sunset while sipping on your wine and reading a book in the evenings.
If you choose a longer boat tour, you can visit various islands such as Amahoro Island and Napoleon Island, both of which provide exciting adventures.
2. Sport fishing.
Various fish species can be found in the freshwater lake, including the Lake Tanganyika sardine, Nile tilapia, blue-spotted tilapia, redbreast tilapia, and longfin tilapia.
The variety of fish species that can be caught in the lake adds to the activity’s appeal and makes it worthwhile.
The fact that it allows you to keep one fish to take home as a reward for your participation in the sport is highly encouraging, making your Lake Kivu vacation intriguing.
3. Birding.
The African kingfisher, African woodpecker, knob-billed duck, white-faced whistling duck, yellow-billed stork, holy ibis, and hadada ibis, Common Waxbill-spotted Yellow-throated Greenbul, Speckled Pigeons, Chin-spot Batis, and Ashy Flycatcher. Other bird species can be seen while on a boat tour or walking along Lake Kivu’s shoreline.
4. Swimming.
Lake Kivu is a freshwater lake with clean, bilharzia-free waters, making it ideal for swimming.
So, after a long walk in the sweltering sun, take a dip in the waters for a pleasant, quiet excursion in the water.
If you’re not a skilled swimmer but are interested in the pastime, don’t worry; there are pleasant people who are prepared to teach you or assist you while you go swimming.
There are various beaches along the lake, all of which have lifeguards to ensure your safety.
5. Visiting the islands.
Depending on how much time you have at the lake, you can visit the various islands, such as Nyamirundi Island, which has a large coffee plantation where you can learn about the entire coffee-making process and, if possible, enjoy a fresh cup before returning from the land of a thousand hills with deep fertile soil.
You may also visit Napoleon Island, where you can witness countless bats in trees that greet you with distinct noises; the island has a relation to the Rwanda genocide and can be visited as part of the Rwanda genocide trip.
During the 1994 massacre, many fled to the island for safety in order to hide from the Hutus.
When the Hutus discovered their secret, they came to the island and burned everything, including all of the people who had sought refuge there. Other islands in the lake include a tranquil island, Peace Island, Amahoro Island, and so on.
6. Coffee tour experience.
A fantastic day of sipping authentic and locally sourced African coffee while learning about coffee production in Gisenyi and along the shores of Lake Kivu.
While here, you will learn how to pick, wash, dry, roast, and grind coffee, as well as drink a fresh cup of coffee.
While here, you will learn how to pick, wash, dry, roast, and grind coffee, as well as sample a freshly brewed cup of coffee.
Rwandan beans are ranked second best in the world based on home grounds.
And it boasts some of the best Arabica beans in the world, and this experience walks you through the crop-to-cup process of preparing a cup of the best coffee in the world.
7. Biking/Water sports.
Biking along the lakeshore allows you to enjoy the breeze from the lake, but biking is not the only sports activity that can be done along the coast.
The hills are ideal for biking and discovering new paths, connecting with the locals, and, of course, capturing pictures from every altitude for a better aerial view of the lake.
Other sports activities available on the various beaches along Lake Kivu’s shoreline include beach volleyball, beach soccer, kayaking, windsurfing, and much more, making the vacation to Lake Kivu highly rewarding.
8. Visiting Imbabazi Orphanage.
The orphanage was built to provide a home for orphans whose parents were slaughtered in the Rwanda genocide, which left a lot of youngsters orphaned.
When Rosamond, an American citizen, realized the anguish they were going through, she decided to open an orphanage to care for the orphans so they wouldn’t miss out on the love of loved ones, which is a beautiful gesture to a non-Rwandan.
Booking and Planning Your Trip to Lake Kivu with Gecko Safaris Africa
If you’re looking to experience all the incredible activities at Lake Kivu and its surroundings, Gecko Safaris Africa is a perfect choice for planning and booking your adventure.
We specialize in providing tailor-made tours that include everything from gorilla trekking and volcano hiking to cultural experiences and nearby excursions.
