Rwanda’s Epic Holidays beyond Gorillas

Rwanda is a renowned destination for luxury safaris in Africa. Situated in Central Africa, this tiny country is a great addition to a safari in East Africa given its closeness to the famous destinations such as Serengeti of Tanzania, Masai Mara National Park, of Kenya as well as the Kilimanjaro Mountains. Nature Adventure Africa has come up with the 10 Days Luxury Safari in East Africa that enables you see the mountain gorillas and explore the classic destinations for game viewing in East Africa. Beyond the gorillas, there is a lot to see in Rwanda itself! We bring to you some of the biggest highlights that will make you fall in love with Rwanda;

Situated in western Rwanda, Lake Kivu covers the Rwanda – Democratic Republic of Congo border consisting of beautiful beaches, great tropical weather, and beautiful scenery. Lake Kivu offers the perfect place for rest and recuperation, especially after your gorilla safaris and chimpanzee safaris as well as game drives in Rwanda’s top Parks; Volcanoes, Nyungwe Forest and Akagera National Parks, respectively.

Among the most popular activities to wallow in while at the Lake include; sunbathing, swimming, and water sports like Kayaking, wind surfing & canoeing. Lake Kivu can be visited as part of your Rwanda safari itinerary and time spent at the Lake is never regrettable. The Lake is a magnificent inland sea enclosed by steep, green terraced hills and beautiful Islands.

The Lake can easily be accessed from Kigali or in any of the country’s three major Parks, namely; Volcanoes Park (after trekking mountain gorillas or golden monkeys), Akagera Park (after game drives), and Nyungwe Park (after chimpanzee safaris). Lake Kivu is strategically situated on the tourism circuit making it an ideal stopover while you explore Rwanda’s adventurous areas including national parks, genocide memorial sites, among others.

Lake Kivu covers most of the western border of Rwanda with major tourist areas being Gisenyi, Kibuye, and Cyangugu, which lie along the lake shores.

Rubavu – previously known as Gisenyi – is a large town on the northern edge of Lake Kivu, which is an hour’s drive from the famous Volcanoes National Park – Mountain Gorilla refuge, and an ideal place to relax after gorilla trekking. Once, a colonial beach resort of note, Rubavu’s waterfront is lined with fading old mansions, hotels and trendy bars on the lakeshore, ideal for sundowner cocktails.

Karongi, half way along the lake, is a popular beach resort with hillsides covered in pines and eucalyptus serve as a backdrop to the sparkling lake. At dawn and dusk, the sound of local fisherman singing carries across the water as they paddle in unison.

From Rubavu in the north, the Congo Nile Trail extends 227 kilometers of breathtaking landscapes all the way to Rusizi in the south of Lake Kivu. The trail gently curves back and forth as it weaves through hills and mountains beside the lake with eucalyptus trees lining the road and every inch of the hills seemingly terraced with bananas.

For adventurous travelers, an exciting way to explore Rwanda is a kayaking tour on Lake Kivu, or mountain biking or hiking one of the 6 off-the-beaten path stages of the spectacular Congo Nile Trail. Visiting the beautiful and deep Lake Kivu is an exciting experience and of course so memorable. After your gorilla safaris and chimpanzee safaris it is therefore a great decision to go visit the beautiful Lake Kivu which offers several amazing activities to engage in.