Visit Lake Muhazi Rwanda’s Hidden Treasure

Visit Lake Muhazi. Rwanda’s Hidden Treasure: Situated around 40 km East of Kigali, the country’s capital, Lake Muhanzi boasts a picturesque coastline that is well worth discovering during a weekend safari in Rwanda. The charming, laid-back atmosphere of the lakefront neighborhood makes it the ideal location to get away from the hectic, loud life of the city.

Lake Muhazi is a very long, mainly shallow lake that travels 40 km through an inundated valley to reach its Eastern lakeshore, which is not far from the well-known Akagera National Park. In fact, the road that leads to Nyagatare runs near the lake’s Eastern coast and provides a pleasant place to halt for travelers. Before carrying on with your adventure, you can decide to stop for lunch or just take in the refreshing breeze on Lake Muhazi’s Eastern coast.

You may observe how the locals in that area also enjoy their free time by visiting any of the lakeshore’s quaint villages or local bars, which are dotted with lively music venues. You might also decide to go fishing there or just take some time to observe the varied waters along the shoreline.

Gahini Anglican Cathedral

Gahini Town, located atop a hill opposite the eastern shore, is a pleasant spot to experience Rwandan culture. If you happen to come through this town on a Sunday, you will be able to witness the residents praying at the historic Gahini Anglican Cathedral. Don’t be shocked if you come across herds of long-horned Inyambo cows; the majority of the residents of this town and the nearby villages are farmers or fishermen. Unless you take a boat tour on Lake Muhazi to go fishing or bird watching, your trip to the lake isn’t considered complete.

 

 

For those of you who enjoy nature, keep an eye out for the pied kingfisher, malachite kingfisher, African fish eagle, swamp flycatcher, and pied otter, among other birds.

Many streams flow out of Lake Muhazi and into the vast area that is mostly made up of farming settlements. If you have a 4WD safari car, you can easily navigate the less-traveled, unclean, dumpy road and take in the stunningly terraced farmlands on the hillsides that descend to the water’s edge. You get to see stunning vistas of the lake as you drive around.

Near this lake are two sizable villages called Gahini and Rwesero, both of which offer a huge number of guesthouses from where you can arrange a variety of water sports like fishing, boat rides, and bird viewing.

If you would want to swim, you can choose to do so in the shallow waters near the coast, but proceed with caution.
The neighborhood eateries here serve a wide range of delectable regional fare that will give you a genuine sense of Rwanda‘s diverse culinary offerings, as well as a selection of refreshing beverages. For those who enjoy both history and religion, we suggest a visit to the historic brick-built Gahini Anglican Cathedral. Built in what is thought to have been 1975, it still stands tall over other rooftops in Gahini. This cathedral welcomes tens of thousands of pilgrims each year, among them are parishioners from the area.