Lake Kivu
Unwind to the sound of the tranquil lake and take a boat out with local boatmen to appreciate the stunning views.
This relaxing and serene city is located in the south of Rwanda, a quiet and beautiful destination with views of Lake Kivu. The area has a small population of just over 64,000 residents, giving the city a homey feel – perfect for a retreat from daily life. Top attractions include Kibira National Park, Gishwati Forest and Lake Kivu.
Get ready to unwind with cheap flights to Cyangugu for a limited period of time. Cyangugu is home to Kamembe Airport (KME), located on 10-minute drive from the city centre. Kamembe Airport serves a number of airlines, including RwandAir, Ethiopian Airlines and other regional airlines. The flight duration is approximately 5 hours 30 minutes. There are direct flights from Johannesburg and connecting ones from Cape Town.
| Flight Route | Airline | Trip Type | Travel Dates | Searched | Price From |
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Unwind to the sound of the tranquil lake and take a boat out with local boatmen to appreciate the stunning views.
For an experience that your body will surely thank you for, take a dip in the Cimerwa hot springs that come with a view!
The city of Cyangugu has a dense forest that is alive with adorable monkeys and thick vegetation, to be visited with a certified tour guide.
Essential details you need to know before your trip
| Country | Rwanda |
|---|---|
| Currency | Rwanda Franc |
| Exchange Rate | 1 ZAR = 66.90 RWF |
| Language | English / French / Kinyarwanda |
| Hub Airport | Kamembe International Airport (KME) |
| Airline | RwandAir |
| Time Zone | GMT +2 |
| Travel Adaptor | Type C & J |
Cyangugu has a tropical climate with wet and dry seasons. The dry season is the most popular time to visit the city and its surrounding areas as this is when the national parks in the vicinity are all open for wildlife viewing. The dry season falls between the months of June and August, and again from December to February. The wettest month of the year is April.
Average temperature (°C) & rainfall chance (mm) per month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low °C | 15°C | 15°C | 15°C | 15°C | 15°C | 15°C | 14°C | 14°C | 14°C | 14°C | 14°C | 15°C |
| High °C | 25°C | 26°C | 26°C | 26°C | 25°C | 26°C | 27°C | 26°C | 26°C | 25°C | 24°C | 25°C |
| Rainfall (mm) | 85 | 93 | 100 | 170 | 120 | 23 | 8 | 30 | 70 | 103 | 114 | 87 |
This serene city has breathtaking attractions, one of them being Nyungwe Forest; home to adorable monkeys and chimpanzees, with plenty of thick, dense forest to hike from and a variety of bird species to spot along the way, Nyungwe Forest is an ideal attraction for adventure lovers.
Take a trip to Rusizi district and visit the hot springs in Cimerwa, enjoy the hot swim, wade off and immerse yourself in the hot water and cool it off on the rocks nearby while enjoying the lovely view! Nyamasheke district is worth the visit as you get to enjoy the stunning view of Lake Kivu and hike part of the Congo-Nile trail. For nature lovers, this is an ideal spot to get absorbed with the wonderful scenery that surrounds the Congo-Nile.
Discover the hidden gem that is Kumbya Retreat, a lovely serene and peaceful retreat on a little peninsula on Lake Kivu secluded away from the rest of Rwanda. Enjoy the peace and quiet in one of their cozy cabins or camp the night away and wake up to a lovely swim on their floating island. Kamembe Mosque located in the city is such a beautiful sight to see and also one of the city’s attractions worth checking out. There are plenty more attractions that are waiting for you to explore in this wonderful city.
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South African passport holders do require a visa to visit Rwanda. Visas are issued on arrival and are valid for 30 days. You will need to ensure your passport has a validity of at least six months and two blank pages available for entry stamps.
For more information, please contact the Rwanda High Commission
Address: 983 Schoeman St, Arcadia, Pretoria, 0181
Phone: 012 342 6536
Cyangugu is a relatively safe city, with friendly locals that are always willing to help out with directions or suggestions for a good restaurant. With that in mind, please practise the usual precautions and do not flash your expensive belongings and try not to walk around alone at night.
Rwanda is at risk for malaria. Immunisations against hepatitis A & B, yellow fever, typhoid, cholera and rabies are recommended. Other vaccinations include MMR, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, meningitis, varicella, polio and influenza. Stick to bottled water. Swimming in lakes and rivers is not recommended.
| Item | Cape Town | Johannesburg | Cyangugu |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal (inexpensive restaurant) | R 120.00 | R 125.00 | R 40.00 |
| Domestic beer (0.5 litre draught) | R 30.00 | R 30.00 | R 15.00 |
| Cappuccino (regular) | R 25.00 | R 26.00 | R 30.00 |
| Taxi 1km (normal tariff) | R 10.00 | R 15.00 | R 23.00 |
| Pack of cigarettes (Marlboro) | R 40.00 | R 43.00 | R 15.00 |
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