Bukavu City is located on the southwestern edge of Lake Kivu in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The town was established in 1901 by the Belgian colonial government and was administered until 1954 by General Paul Costermans.
Bukavu town was once part of an ancient kingdom of the Bushi people, the main ethnic group that settled in the southern part of the Lake Kivu region. The kingdom was initially known as Rusozi and was ruled by Muluzi Nyalukemba.
The name Bakavu came later and means ‘farm of cows,’ referred to in the local word as ‘Bu’ Nkafu’.
Bukavu follows the Central Africa Time (GMT+2).
The subtropical climate of the area attracted a colonial population during their rule. Bukavu town is separated from Rwanda by the Ruzizi river, with an estimated population of 707,053 as per the 2003 census.
Bukavu is built on five peninsulas and has been described as a green hand dipped in a lake. It was a former administrative town of the Kivu region but lost its status with the growth of Goma town.
Visit Kahuzi Biega National Park
Kahuzi Beiga national park is situated near Bukavu town on the western bank of Lake Kivu. The park was established by a Belgian photographer, Adrien Deshryver, in 1970. The park derives its name from the two dormant volcanoes in the area, Mount Kahuzi and Mount Beiga.
The park covers an area of 6,000 square kilometers and is home to eastern lowland gorillas and eastern chimpanzees that tourists can trek to for an unforgettable lifetime experience.
Most of the popular Congo safaris and gorilla trekking Congo tours take place here.
Kahuzi Beiga National Park harbors over 336 species of birds recorded, including Ruwenzori turaco, Shelley’s crimson wing, 44 species of amphibians, 1,178 species of plants, 69 species of reptiles, various mammalian species, and several primate species.
The Mysterious Lake Kivu & Idjwi Island
Lake Kivu is situated at the Congo and Rwanda border and is one of Africa’s great lakes with 28 species of fish recorded. It’s an ideal place for tourists to chill and relax, engaging in activities like kayaking, boat cruises, swimming, and paddleboarding, among others.
About 55 cubic meters of dissolved biogas are trapped within Lake Kivu. The lake has several islands you can visit and have cultural encounters with the locals.
Idjwi Island, located in Lake Kivu, is the second-largest island in Africa with a total area of about 370 square kilometers. The island provides spectacular views of Lake Kivu. A clan-based society became a kingdom on Idjwi Island in the eighteenth century. The people of the island have been spared from the surrounding war zones in Rwanda and Congo in the past.
Getting to Bukavu
Bukavu town can be reached from Rwanda through Cyangugu, from Goma town by road, or through Lake Kivu, and from Burundi via the Uvira border.
Tourists visiting Bukavu town can choose where to stay in hotels ranging from budget to mid-range and luxury. Some of the hotels in Bukavu town include Hotel Horizon, Hotel La Roche, Hotel Orchid, and many others.
Bukavu city can be visited all year round.
