Cruising on this beautiful magical and peaceful lake on your Rwanda safari is indeed a refreshing journey you ought not to miss.

Lake Kivu straddles the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, and is in the western branch of the East African Rift Valley.

Lake Kivu, a significant part of the Great Rift Valley, is the largest fresh water lake that contains numerous scenic islands of varying sizes as it flows and empties into the Rusizi river that flows southwards into Lake Tanganyika.

The Lake covers a total surface area of about 2,700 km2, 89 kilometers in length, 48 kilometers in width and a maximum depth of 480 m.

Guests from safaris like gorilla trekking safaris Rwanda, golden monkey trekking safaris Rwanda, chimpanzee trekking safaris Rwanda, and wildlife safaris stop by lake Kivu to relax, swim as well as take a boat cruise past the small lake side villages which give a rewarding glance of the rural life in Rwanda.

Cruising on Lake Kivu is fun and adventurous, but it’s advisable you ride with a guide and wear a life-jacket if you cannot swim.

The lake’s maximum length is 89km, maximum width 48km, maximum depth 480m and has a water volume of 500km³.

The visitors doing this Lake Kivu boat cruise have a lot of chances of seeing the  local fishermen oaring as well as explore the area of the lake as well as its surrounding including the rural life which lives out in the villages at the edges of the lake.

The lake also attracts a good number of bird life including the beautiful flotillas of pelicans that sail heavily across the open water crowned cranes groom their golden crests in the near surrounding swamps, as the Jewel like malachite kingfisher hawk slowly above the shores.

Preferably, the visitors can also base themselves at one of the best accommodations around Lake Kivu and alternative between days spent along lake side with feet up and the days that are spent on the thrilling safaris to find the primates living in the rain forest of Nyungwe and Volcanoes National park.