Gisenyi & Lake Kivu

A laid-back resort town on the northern shore of Lake Kivu with beaches, hot springs and lakeside fishing villages; the Congo Nile Trail starts here, and tea estates and coffee farms along the shore are open to visitors.

Gisenyi (officially Rubavu) lies in Rwanda's Western Province on the northern shore of Lake Kivu, just across the border from Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. At an altitude of about 1,460 m, it is Rwanda's most popular lakeside resort town. Lake Kivu is one of the great lakes of the East African Rift; its waters are deep and free of bilharzia, so swimming is safe. A visit here is all about relaxing: by day, stroll and swim along the lakeside beaches and palm-lined avenue on the west side of town, admiring colonial-era villas; head about 5 km south to the Rubona Peninsula to visit the Nyamyumba hot springs and hire a boat from the fishing harbour for a lake cruise, then in the evening listen to fishermen chanting as they row out to fish. Outdoor lovers can climb Mount Rubavu on the edge of town for views of Nyiragongo volcano, or walk a stretch of the Congo Nile Trail past coffee washing stations, terraced fields and fishing villages in the lake's bays; the Pfunda Tea Estate on the eastern outskirts can be visited by appointment. At Rubavu Market in the town centre you can buy African wax-print fabric and have a tailor make something for you on the spot. The climate is mild, with daytime temperatures of about 20–27°C year-round. June–September and December–February are the dry seasons and best for lake trips and hiking; during the rainy seasons of March–May and October–November roads turn muddy. Getting there: about 3–4 hours by bus from Kigali, or about 1.5 hours from Musanze, home of Volcanoes National Park, so it's often combined with gorilla trekking; heading south along the lake, you can travel by boat or road to Kibuye. Plan on staying 2 nights. Visiting Nyiragongo volcano on the DR Congo side requires a separate visa and an overnight stay at the summit; the security situation changes frequently, so be sure to check the latest travel advisories — it is not listed as a standard attraction for this destination.

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