Lake Muhazi – Discover Rwanda’s Historic & Peaceful Lakeside Escape

Much of Lake Muhazi covers the Eastern Province, with its western parts acting as a border between the Northern Province and Kigali City. This shallow lake stretches with many branches reaching north and south. It is said to sometimes flood east and west, draining into the Nyabugogo River. This river flows south to Kigali and eventually joins the Upper Nile.

The western area has grown, with a concrete dam built in 1999 replacing an older earth dam that had been there for a long time. Lake Muhazi holds much of Rwanda’s history. According to the country’s oral stories, the kingdom of Rwanda was formed in the 14th century near the shores of Lake Muhazi, in the Buganza area. At that time, Rwanda was a small state. Using smart tactics, it created conflicts between the larger Bugesera and Gisaka kingdoms, which helped Rwanda grow. It expanded west toward Lake Kivu, including the lake area, which became an important religious place.

In the 17th century, the kingdom of Rwanda was taken over by Bunyoro, and the kings fled to the western region. They left the treasure of Buganza and Lake Muhazi under the control of Bugesera and Gisaka. Later, Rwanda reclaimed these lands, and Lake Muhazi became a border area between Rwanda and the independent Gisaka. This area was not fully claimed until 1830, when it was annexed and placed under Rwanda’s control.

During the German and Belgian colonial period, Lake Muhazi was an important east-west transport route. It connected Kigali and the western part of the country to the north-south and eastbound roads from Gahini.

Like many places in Rwanda, Lake Muhazi holds painful memories from the genocide. Bodies were thrown into the lake by Interahamwe militias, while others drowned trying to escape. At that time, people called this place the “place of blood.”

The lake has rocky parts that change depending on the area. The western side has high hills, while the eastern side has soil. The region has a temperate tropical highland climate, meaning the temperatures are cooler than in the equatorial zone.

Lake Muhazi is a peaceful area in Rwanda, making it a place visitors should not miss.

Want to relax in nature? Explore Rwanda’s hot springs in our blog.

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