November 23, 2023
Rwanda Lakes
Away from the tourist resorts, Rwanda Lakes provides a wonderful look into old African lifestyles. Fishermen use dugout boats that have remained unaltered for decades, while colorfully clad ladies smoke ancient wooden pipes and troubadours play softly on stringed iningire (traditional ‘guitars’).
The wildlife is spectacular, with pelicans soaring over the river, crowned cranes displaying their golden crests in the marshes, and jewel-like malachite kingfishers hawking softly above the coast.
Lake Kivu
Lake Kivu is the greatest of the several freshwater lakes that shimmer amid Rwanda’s lowlands. The lake is a popular vacation destination for Rwandans, with families and friends enjoying relaxed days on the beach, water sports including as kayaking, canoeing, and windsurfing, and beach volleyball. Take a leisurely voyage along the country’s western shoreline aboard the “Munezero” tourist boat from Gisenyi to Kibuye to Cyangugu, an experience you won’t forget.
Burera and Ruhondo Lakes
Lakes Burera and Ruhondo, near the gorilla-tracking headquarters of Ruhengeri, are often overlooked wonders, with deep blue pools surrounded by steep slopes and big waterfalls, with the adjacent Virunga Volcanoes providing a stunning backdrop.
Muhazi Lake
Lake Muhazi, located within an hour and a half from Kigali, is one of the country’s picturesque highlights. This calm cove in Rwanda’s eastern region is great for a day excursion away from the city, where you can eat fresh fish and watch the sun set over the little boats that dot the lake.
Akagera National Park features 10 lakes, some of which serve as drinking holes for animals and others as havens for birdwatchers, including the uncommon shoebill stork.
