{"id":15295,"date":"2021-07-24T10:18:16","date_gmt":"2021-07-24T08:18:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kanaga-at.com\/info-viaggi\/rwanda\/lake-kivu\/"},"modified":"2022-06-20T15:13:25","modified_gmt":"2022-06-20T13:13:25","slug":"lake-kivu","status":"publish","type":"info_viaggi","link":"https:\/\/www.kanaga-at.com\/en\/trip-info\/rwanda\/lake-kivu\/","title":{"rendered":"Lake Kivu"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

‘<\/span>The country of a thousand hills and lakes’, is how Rwanda is picturesquely described, with its rainforests covering rolling hills and ancient volcanoes, between which flow water-rich valleys and natural reservoirs, set like gems between tea, coffee and banana plantations. A true lake paradise is Lake Kivu, the country’s largest, whose waters stretch along the western border with Congolese territory.<\/b><\/p>\r\n

Here, a scenic road, called the Congo Nile Trail, <\/b>connects the main towns of Gisengyi (Rubavu), Kibuye (Karongi) and Cyangugu (Rusizi)<\/b>, running for about 225 km along the lakefront<\/b>, on stretches that are partly paved or deviate onto rural paths, passing through small fishing villages<\/b>, characteristic agricultural agglomerations <\/b>and vast plantations<\/b>, opening up here and there to breathtaking lakeside scenery, or entering areas of dense primary forest, such as the Gishwati Forest<\/b>, inhabited by chimpanzees, golden monkeys and blue monkeys, or the intricate vegetation of the Nyungwe National Park <\/b>in the <\/span>southern hinterland of Kivu, home to hundreds of species of endemic flora, a very rich birdlife and numerous families of primates.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The surroundings of the lake are morphologically dominated by the gentle slopes of fertile land <\/b>sloping down from more than 1,000 metres and framing the transparent sheet of water, acting as a hinge with the blue sky. There are <\/span>so many activities to do amidst these idyllic sceneries, from hiking and cycling <\/b>to water sports<\/b>, from excursions to the many islands <\/b>lying on the surface of the lake, to total relaxation amidst the thermal water springs <\/b>or the fine sandy beaches<\/b>, equipped by the accommodation facilities that dot the shores.<\/p>\r\n

An ideal destination to reach after a challenging and exciting hike in the footsteps of the gorillas in the Volcanoes Park, Lake Kivu offers numerous tourist accommodations <\/b>where one can rest and enjoy the quietness of the lake’s scenery.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Enchanted landscapes that provide a backdrop for the fishermen’s boats <\/b>that set sail at dawn and dusk, returning laden with sambazas <\/i><\/b>(a kind of endemic sardine), while farmers <\/b>and beekeepers <\/b>live according to the rhythms of the fertile land.<\/span> Everything revolves around the lake, the real protagonist and main source of livelihood for more than 2 million inhabitants, many of whom are employed in tourist reception.<\/p>\r\n

The cheerful and festive atmosphere, <\/b>over a glass of banana beer, <\/b>but also relaxed and familiar, thanks to an exemplary welcome, will do the rest.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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