Day Boat Cruise In Gisenyi: All You Need To Know Before You Go

Day Boat Cruise In Gisenyi

Gisenyi is an intimate town along the shores of Lake Kivu, also referred to as Rubavu, it is a perfect blend of natural beauty, beaches, cultural experiences, and a relaxation point of Rwanda and was once a colonial beach resort with the waterfront of Gisenyi lined with fading old mansions, and decent hotels, it is a beginning point of most travels in the south eastern Rwanda including the famous Congo Trail and the Lake Kivu coffee tours. Lake Kivu is a stunning place in Rwanda where all boat cruises in Gisenyi are conducted. It has clean water with no hippos, crocodiles, and crystal-clear waters free from bilharzia. The Lake is the deepest in Africa and is home to incredible fish species. It overlooks the great Virunga volcanic region with amazing sights of the rolling mountains.

Lake Kivu is one of the most interesting places in Rwanda to visit. It is one of the great lakes of Africa, offering memorable experiences to travellers.  Boat cruise in Gisenyi gives you a chance to experience the best of the region, including the fishing villages, Islands, birds of different species along the showers, to mention a few, you can do a morning boat cruise, afternoon boat cruise or a sunset cruise on the Lake, on a lucky day you may have an opportunity to hear and see fishermen singing as they head out for duty. Boat rides are conducted on motorised wooden boats for 2-3 hours. They are operated by local guides who are knowledgeable about the region and will tell you more about the area. Swimming on the lake is non accepted and is at an individual risk; however, there are other activities like fishing and kayaking that can be done during a visit to the Lake.

Boat cruise in Gisenyi is best done during the dry season in December, February, June, July, August and September when the waters are on low volume and calm, this time is also referred to as a high or peak tourism season even though the lake can be visited any time of the year, what to pack includes, long sleeved shirts and trousers, water proof walking boots, insect repellents, t shirts, cameras, binoculars, hand gloves, water bottles, face masks and any other important items of personal nature.

Besides boat rides in Gisenyi, there are several things to do while in Gisenyi, for example, the Coffee tours, which take you to the farmlands around Lake Kivu growing Arabica coffee. Visitors have the chance to experience the process of making coffee from crop to cup, and taste the end product of coffee. Gisenyi offers a variety of activities and attractions for visitors to enjoy. Here are some top things to do while in Gisenyi:

Visit the hot springs in Gisenyi, they are the perfect place of relaxation known to the locals, the waters are rich in minerals, and a bath in them can be so relaxing. Experience the local market areas where local produce is sold, have a taste of the traditional Rwandan cuisine, or just spend the day relaxing at the angelic beaches of Lake Kivu.

Visit the Congo trail, this was designed to explore the best of Rwanda’s countryside, it allows travellers to bike, hike or drive through, enroute are amazing small towns and villages where you can stop by for refreshments, expect to see a number of birds species and an ever-green environment with a backdrop of the never-ending mountain region.

In conclusion, Boat trips in Gisenyi can be done together with activities in the nearby national parks, for example, chimpanzee tracking and canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park, and mountain gorilla trekking in the Volcanoes National Park north of Rwanda.