Mashyuza Hot Springs
Hot springs near Rusizi in the far southwest, feeding warm pools used for bathing beside a cement works.
Updated 2 September 2026
Mashyuza is a set of geothermal springs in the far southwest near Rusizi, where warm mineral water fills pools that people bathe in for the reputed benefit to skin and joints. The setting is not scenic: a cement plant works the limestone nearby and the surroundings are industrial. It is a local place, used by people from Rusizi rather than by visitors, and it is worth an hour on the way to or from Nyungwe.
What's there
- The springs - warm mineral water filling bathing pools.
- The bathing - local use of the pools for skin and joint complaints.
- The limestone country - the geology the springs and the cement works both depend on.
- The southwest setting - the far corner of the country near the Congo border.
When to go
June to September and December to February are the drier windows. The pools are used through the day and are busiest at weekends. The rains make the access track muddy.
Things to know
The setting beside a cement plant is unattractive and dusty. Facilities are basic with no proper changing area. Water cleanliness varies with how busy it has been.
Nearby
Rusizi is nearby, and Nyungwe Forest is northeast.
What to pack for Mashyuza Hot Springs
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Swimwear - Needed at most public thermal pools; some traditional baths are nude and single-sex. Find on Amazon
- Quick-dry towel + flip-flops - For wet changing areas and hot poolside stone. Find on Amazon
- A dry bag or waterproof pouch - Somewhere safe for phone and valuables while you soak. Find on Amazon
- Water to drink - Hot soaking is dehydrating; sip between dips. Find on Amazon
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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
