Lake Kivu is one of the great lakes of East Africa, located at Rwanda’s border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is one of the Rift Valley lakes and lies in the western arm of the East African Rift Valley. This lake is Rwanda’s largest lake and the eighth largest in Africa. It covers an area of about 2,700 square kilometers, is 90 kilometers long, and 50 kilometers wide.
It offers beautiful views with its deep green waters and gently rising hills full of life.
Serenity surrounds the lake while the calm waters create a peaceful atmosphere for relaxation, along with the beautiful beaches around Lake Kivu. It often serves as a perfect getaway for tourists to relax after a tiring gorilla trekking experience, since it is close to Volcanoes National Park and Nyungwe Forest for chimpanzee trekking. It is also near one of Africa’s most active volcanoes, Nyiragongo, which creates a scenic impression.
This deep lake, almost as deep as the sea, offers many opportunities for water activities like kayaking, boat rides, canoeing, and swimming. However, it is sometimes feared because of the gases concentrated at its base. The presence of gases under the lake has made it a subject of research for over a decade. It is classified as one of the three “killer lakes” in the world, prone to explosions if the volume of gases continues to increase.
Large amounts of carbon dioxide, methane, and hydrogen sulfide have been found at the bottom of Lake Kivu, leading to less aquatic life. Because of this, animals like crocodiles and hippos are not found in the lake, which makes swimming and boating safer.
It has been speculated that Lake Kivu could have a dangerous limnic eruption within the next hundred years if gas levels keep rising. This has led to research into safe gas extraction, resulting in the establishment of a power generation plant on the lake, which uses methane to produce electricity. This electricity powers the western part of Rwanda and brings revenue to the country.
The project took about seven years to build and could be the only one of its kind in the world. Lake Kivu is also called a meromictic lake because its surface waters and deep waters do not mix, with the deeper waters being saltier.
Visiting Lake Kivu
Lake Kivu is a popular and favorite tourist destination in Rwanda, and everyone who visits speaks highly of it. The sandy beaches around the lake provide good places for relaxation, holidays, and weekends.
It is surrounded by lively towns like Rubavu, formerly known as Gisenyi, which has busy markets, good hotels, and warm, welcoming people. These towns are great places for shopping, sightseeing, meeting local people, and exploring Rwanda’s rich cuisine.
The lake has many beautiful islands, including Idjwi Island, which is the tenth largest inland island in the world, and Peace Island, known for giving refuge to victims of the genocide.
Tourists visiting the lake can enjoy many activities, including sightseeing, kayaking, boat rides, sport fishing (including catching unique species), birdwatching, and community tours. Swimming in the calm waters of Lake Kivu is very popular because there are no dangerous aquatic animals, and the water is cool.
Hiking and biking over the surrounding hills are other popular activities around Lake Kivu. You can also visit the Imbabazi Foundation to experience Rwandan traditions and culture.
Visit Lake Kivu and enjoy many experiences in one trip. Lake Kivu can be seen as a sanctuary where visitors can refresh and enjoy a peaceful time.
