Lakes in Rwanda

LAKES IN RWANDA – WATER BODIES

Lakes in Rwanda are among the major tourist attractions. Many tourists wish to relax at the shores of Lakes in Lake- Beaches.  Most of the visitors are found at the beaches surrounding Lake Kivu in Gisenyi and Kibuye towns.

Lake Kivu is the most famous in and the largest fresh lake in Rwanda. Lake Kivu is shared by Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. Tourist activities done on Lake kivu include sport fishing, kayaking, canoeing and windsurfing, and beach volleyball are among the activities that families and friends enjoy. Take a leisurely ride along the western shoreline of the country on the “Munezero” tourist boat from Gisenyi to Kibuye to Cyangugu, a trip you surely will never forget.

The twin Lakes: Burera and Ruhondo- offers beautiful views and worth a visit. Twin Lakes are found few kilometers from Volcanoes national Park.  You can supplement Gorilla trekking with twin lake tour – virunga lodge is among the super luxurious Lodges situated at the shores of Twin lakes.  Activities you can enjoy here include boat trip, community tours, swimming, sport fishing and sun bathing among other.

Lake Muhazi, a mere hour and a half away from Kigali, is one of the country’s scenic treasures. This tranquil cove in the eastern province of Rwanda is ideal for a day trip away from the bustle of the city where you can eat fresh fish while watching the sun set over the small boats dotting the lake. Akagera National Park has ten lakes, some watering holes for the animals and others havens for birdwatchers—the rare shoebill stork calls Akagera’s lakes home.

Lake Mugesera is a lake in the Eastern Province, Rwanda. The lake is of a great importance to the local communities around. The lake provides water for home use, swimming, moderation of the environment, generation of convectional rain fall and so on.The lake is in the Central Plateau, southeast of Kigali.The lake is part of a complex of lakes and wetlands in a flat valley running in a South South Eastern  direction, 35 kilometers (22 mi) wide. The Nyawarungu River meanders southward through the valley, flooding it to create a zone of permanent swamps and lakes. Lake Mugesera lies on the east bank of the river, and is the largest lake in the complex.

Lake Muhazi is situated approximately twenty kilometers east of Kigali: a long narrow Lake running roughly east-west and extending north and south into a number of tributary valleys.

Lake Ihema is situated in Akagera National Park in the far east of the country, at the border with Tanzania.

Lake Rweru which is found in the south-east, shared with Burundi

Lake Cyohoha South, south of Kigali on the border with Burundi

There are a number of smaller, shallow lakes in the flat, swampy region between Lake Mugesera and Lake Rweru.

Benefits of Lakes in Rwanda:

Lake in Rwanda offers water for domestic and industrial work

Lakes attract tourists – in return Rwanda earns foreign exchange.

Lakes are fishing ground – offers job opportunities to the people of Rwanda.

They moderates the climate in Rwanda – offers convectional rain falls.