Kivu is a lake with crystal clean water that reflects the color of a cloudless blue sky especially in the sunny season, (best for swimmers); that you will with no doubt acknowledge its welcoming and natural beauty.
The lake is known to have abundant natural methane gas and that’s not all: Kivu is home to millions of Limnothrissa miodon fish locally known as Isambaza which are liked by locals and non-locals. Kivu waters are also good for swimmers.
Although many people like to swim in Kivu especially Kigali escapers, the lake does have some places where it’s not safe to swim. It has few sandy beaches and most of its shores are rocky and slippery. It’s highly recommended to swim on a sandy beach especially for beginners. Rocky beaches are dangerous if you enter Kivu for the first time. It’s also not advisable to dive close to the shores as you may hit the rocks and injure your head or arms.
According to local swimmers, most fatal accidents in Kivu are said to have been caused by careless dives on rocky shores. Abundant methane gas in Lake Kivu may also cause fatal accidents. So you’d better follow instructions not to swim in prohibited areas.
Karongi is one of the districts making up the Western Province. It is located on the shores of Lake Kivu; but safe swimming sides are not that many. One of the best swimming places was at former Guest House Hotel (closed down in 2006). The hotel had a beautiful beach for both swimming and water skiing (surfing).
At present, the best swimming side is found at Eden Rock Golf Hotel (a 5 minute ride on motorbike from Kibuye town). Beginners find it easy for a safe swim but professional ones can swim from one shore to another (700 meters) between Gold Hotel and Bethany Guesthouse.
With an increasing number of tourists and township escapers heading down to Kivu side, local authorities in Karongi have begun to create artificial sand beaches-where applicable- to make the district the most attractive place. You can also find life jackets sold in the central town at Peace House hotel (with Fina Bank and MTN on your left, and Bank of Kigali on your right as you enter the town.)
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