Gisenyi

Introduction

Lake Kivu

© All Rights Reserved mohn

Gisenyi is a small town on the northeast shore of Lake Kivu in Rwanda, close to the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. Its beaches are a holiday destination for rich Rwandans.

Getting There

By Bus

There are several minibuses per day from Musanze (aka Ruhengeri), costing RWF900 (June 2009) and taking about 1 hour 20 minutes. There are many minibuses per day to Kigali, costing RWF2,300 (June 2009) and taking about 3.5 hours.

Drink

Bikini Tam-Tam, on the lake shore, is a popular and pleasant place to watch the sunset with a few Primus beers. Food is available too. It's also possible to swim here.

Sleep

Budget

• Auberge de Gisenye, very close to the bus stop, charges RWF10,000 (June 2009) for a "suite". The shower is cold water only but you can order a bucket of hot water from the kitchen. There's a good buffet available in the restaurant for lunch and dinner - one heaped plate of veg is RWF1,500 (June 2009).

Keep Connected

Internet

Internet is available for RWF400 per hour (June 2009).

Phone

See also International Telephone Calls

Post

Office national des postes is the company responsible for postal service in Rwanda. Post offices are generally open from 8:00am to noon and 2:00 to 4:00pm, though regional variations apply. The one in Kigali generally keeps longer hours. Check with your accommodation for other options to send letters and postcards, as shops or hotels might sell stamps as well and can help you to post things. Services are fairly reliable though slow and for sending parcels it might be a good idea to check options with companies lik DHL, TNT, UPS or FedEx.