Importance of Lake Ihema to Rwanda : Lake Ihema is among the most rewarding tourist attractions in Rwanda that travellers that visit Rwanda look forward to watch when they make their way to the country. After Lake Kivu in Rwanda, Lake Ihema is the second largest lake in Rwanda which is one of the main reasons it is sought after but also the fact that the Lake is of a number of importance to Rwanda to both the locals and the visitors which has increased its popularity and among the most rewarding tourist attractions in Rwanda as you visit the different lakes in Rwanda. here are some of the importance of Lake Ihema to Rwanda. the lake is surrounded by large seasonal swamps which are a habitat to a number of wildlife, you will get to watch numerous bird species that make it one of the most rewarding water sources in Rwanda.
Revenue
Lake Ihema is a source of revenue to the people of Rwanda which is obtained from the travellers that visit Akagera National Park to visit Lake Ihema for travellers interested in take part in the boat cruise on lake Ihema they ca either participate in the morning boat cruise also known as the day cruise at a price of 35USD which will give you access to the endangered shoe bill stork, clear views of the crocodiles sun-basking, you will get to watch the elephants quenching their thirst from the water source.
And to make your way to the park travellers for instance the foreign residents will pay 100USD to access the park premises in order to participate in a number of activities. The revenue has been used to improve the infrastructures round the lake which in turn has led to the development of a number of areas around the park and easy access to the different areas. In Akagera national park, you can also participate in a number of other activities like the game drives in Akagera national park which you will get to track the big five animals in Rwanda.
Employment
Indirectly lake Ihema has also provided employment opportunity to the people of Rwanda for-instance the captain that drive boats on lake Ihema, the guide that offers all the relevant information about the lake as travellers enjoy the boat rides on lake Ihema. A number of local farmers are able to catch a number of fish types from the Lak Ihema which is sold off in the different farmer’s markets and the income can be used to meet the local’s basic needs and covering number of bills hence the improvement in the lives of the people of Rwanda in the long run.
Boat cruise
For travellers interested in visiting Akagera national park, you have the opportunity to participate in the boat cruise which will help you have the most rewarding safari adventure during your Rwanda safari. As you take part in the boat cruise on lake Ihema, you will get to watch a number of bird species making the park one of the most rewarding spots for birding in Rwanda and among the numerous bird species that you can watch in the park include; African Darter, African Wattled Lapwing, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Common Squacco Heron, Crowned Lap wing, Eastern Grey Plantain-eater, Great Egret White-breasted Cormorants, Pied Kingfishers, Osprey, Double-tooth Barbet, Yellow-bellied Waxbill, Familiar Chat, Brown-throated Wattle-eye and Spot-flanked Barbet and many other bird species. the boat cruise will also give you the chance to observe the sunset for an amazing experience. Lake Ihema is also a permanent source of water that is used for industrial and domestic consumption that is used by the people of Rwanda.
Aside from Lake Ihema in Rwanda, there are a number of other rewarding water sources that you can visit to ensure that you have an amazing experience and these include; lake kivu, the twin lakes in Rwanda that is lake Ruhondo and lake Burera, you can also visit the Isumo waterfalls in Nyungwe national park where you will get to access a number of attractions in the park for an amazing experience in the wild.
Alternatively, you can also participate in the primate safaris in Rwanda which will give you the chance to visit a number of attractions in the park like; golden monkey trekking in Rwanda, gorilla trekking in Rwanda, you can also participate in chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda, Nyungwe national park which will help you understand more about the playful primates in the wild for an amazing experience in the park. You can also participate in the Rwanda genocide tour, which will help you understand more about the 1994 Rwanda genocide, you will get to visit a number of genocide memorial sites in Rwanda like the Kigali genocide memorial museum where you will get to visit a number of exhibition areas showing how the victims were killed, confessions from the murders which is quite devastating but it gives hope at the end of your safari because of the fact that Rwanda is one of the most peaceful countries you can visit in the country now.
