Karongi

Karongi, still widely called Kibuye, is spread across a set of steep peninsulas and inlets on the eastern shore of Lake Kivu, so the town has no real centre and the hotels sit on separate points looking at each other across the water. It is the quietest of the Kivu towns. Boats run out to the islands, including Napoleon Island with its bat colony, and the Congo Nile Trail passes through on its way down the shore.

What you actually see

• The peninsulas - the town spread across steep points and inlets.
• The lake - Kivu with the hills of the far shore beyond.
• The island boats - trips out to Napoleon and the other islands.
• The Congo Nile Trail - the long-distance route running along the shore.

When to go

June to September and December to February are the drier windows. Weekends bring visitors from Kigali. The rains from March to May are heavy but the hills are greenest.

Honest expectations

There is very little to do in town and the hotels are spread far apart without transport between them. Boat prices should be agreed before setting out. Kivu is safe to swim in, unlike most Rwandan water, but the shore access varies.

Nearby

Napoleon Island is offshore, and Rubavu is north up the lake.