Activities on Lake Kivu
Activities on Lake Kivu: Lake Kivu is the largest fresh water Lake in Rwanda that is very significant in the growth of tourism in Rwanda given a number of attractions that can be seen by tourists as they take part in the different activities on Lake Kivu. The lake has a lot to offer to the different tourists interested in taking part in different activities given a number of attractions that can be seen like islands on the lake, different bird species both migratory and endemic to Rwanda, the lake is also a home to over 28 fish species that tourists interested in fishing will find interesting making your Rwanda safari rewarding.
Birding
You will have an amazing birding experience when you choose visiting Lake Kivu given the fact that you will see a number of migratory bird species from Europe running away from winter conditions, you will also have the chance to see endemic Rwanda bird species that will give you an amazing time while on your Rwanda safari. Birding on Lake Kivu is usually carried out during the boat cruise where you will see a number of water birds and along the shores of the lake. Among the different bird species that can be seen include; African wood pecker, knobs billed duck, white faced whistling duck, yellow billed stork, sacred ibis, hadada ibis, Common Waxbill spotted Yellow-throated Greenbul, Speckled Pigeons, Chin-spot Batis, African Darter, African Wattled Lapwing, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Common Squacco Heron, Crowned Lap wing, Eastern Grey Plantain-eater, Great Egret Ashy Flycatcher among other bird species that will give you an amazing time understanding their different behaviour, characteristics and their adaptations to the external environment giving you an amazing time on your safaris.
Fishing
Fishing is among the memorable activities on Lake Kivu that tourists can take part in for a rewarding experience on your Rwanda safari. It should be noted that the lake is a home to 28 bird species that can be seen when you take part in the rewarding activity of sport fishing which will give you the opportunity to catch different kinds of fish like; red breast tilapia, blue-spotted tilapia, Nile tilapia, Tanganyika sardine long fin tilapia, lake among other fish species. During fishing you can also get to accompany local fishermen if you’re interested in learning more of the indigenous methods of fishing, you will also have rewarding cultural exchanges with natives as you take part in the activity with the locals and hence a memorable experience.
Boat cruise
You can also participate on Lake Kivu as part of the memorable activities on Lake Kivu during your Rwanda safari. The boat cruise on Lake Kivu will give you the chance to see a number of attractions like numerous bird species like Common Waxbill spotted Yellow-throated Greenbul, Speckled Pigeons, Chin-spot Batis, African Darter, African Wattled Lapwing, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Common Squacco Heron, Crowned Lap wing, Eastern Grey Plantain-eater and many more. You will also get to experience the relaxing breeze that will make your safari worthy of the money spent and to top it all off is the fact that you will also get to see the beautiful sun set.
Visiting the islands
Among the activities on Lake Kivu that you should take part in for a rewarding safari is visiting the different islands which will give you the chance to have memorable safaris as you get to understand the historical attachment of the islands to Rwanda and the memorable islands that can be visited on lake kivu include; Nyamirundi Island, Napoleon Island and many other islands.
As another activity on lake activity, you can also visit Napoleon Island which is commonly known as the bat Island that has an attachment to the 1994 Rwanda genocide, during the mass killings of the Tutsis by the Hutus the Tutsis tried to look for a number of hiding pots where they would be safe from the killings and napoleon island was to them the best option they chose. At the island the Tutsis were guaranteed of safety because it was a deserted place but the fact that the Hutu got to know about their escape to the island, all their hope was shuttered because they were burnt with all their property leading to the death of over 1000 Tutsis which was such a dark period in the history of Rwanda and today the island is in ruins and inhabited by bats which can be seen when you visit.
Nyamirundi Island is the perfect spot for tourists interested in agro tourism and also adventure tourisms where you will an amazing time taking part in plantation visits. At the island you will have the chance to take a trip along the coffee plantations which will give you the chance to understand how coffee is planted, under the conditions, coffee harvesting which will give you the chance to understand the right beans to harvest, you will also get to see how the coffee is processed and ready for home consumption and as a reward of your participation in the activity, you will get to enjoy a cup of organic coffee that will stimulate your taste buds.
Swimming
Given the fact that lake kivu is the largest fresh after lake in Rwanda, there are a number of beaches and resorts established for the comfort of tourists where they can unwind as they enjoy bar services where they and sip their favourite drink, you can also enjoy restaurant services which will give you the chance to enjoy the finest Rwanda cuisines but one of the memorable experiences you will have is taking part in swimming. Lake kivu is the largest fresh water lake in Rwanda free from bilharzia that can be a threat to the life of the tourists therefore take part in swimming where you will enjoy the fresh waters of the country sand in case you don’t know how to swim, there are different trainers to train you and lifeguards that will ensure that you have a safe time during the activity on Lake Kivu.
Lakeside biking
Enjoy the rewarding experience of lakeside biking as one of the memorable activities on Lake Kivu the activity involves biking along the shores of the lakes as they enjoy watching the locals carrying out their activity of fishing, you will also get to enjoy the Lake Breeze and exceptional views of the bird species especially water birds catching their prey among other rewarding attractions.
