Cyangugu

Introduction

Cyangugu is a city in the southwest of Rwanda. Pronounced something like "Tchangugu", this is a city right on the southern tip of lake Kivu, as well as Changugu proper the term also refers to Kamembe, a town a few km away just up a hill overlooking the lake. Primarily this town is used as a stopover to or from Bukavu in southern DRC, however it is a pleasant place to spend a few days.

Sights and Activities

Nyungwe National Park

Nyungwe National Park is located in the southwest of the country just south of Lake Kivu and protects not only tropical rainforests but also swamps and grassland. The park is famous for its primates and about a quarter of all primates in the whole of Africa can be found here in this relatively small area, including the number one favorite, the chimpanzee. You can reach the park easiest from Cyangugu which is less than an hour away. If you want to get a feel for the forest, then a guided walk is the only way and doesn't come cheap - US$50 each (including park fee). Depending on your budget, there are currently two places to stay. They are currently building an impressive looking visitor centre at the old campsite in the centre of the park. There are just a few options of staying inside the park.

Getting There

There are regular buses and minibuses to Butare and Kigali in Rwanda. The town is right on the border with Bukavu and DRC. There is also a road south to Bugarama and from there to either DRC or Burundi. This is less frequented than the route east to Butare but it should be possible to arrange transport.

Getting Around

Taxi-moto (motorbike Taxis) are the main form of transport within Cyangugu (and between Cyangugu and Kamembe)

Eat

All the usual Rwandan fayer is easily available from lunchtime buffets to brochettes.

Sleep

There is a range of guest houses and hotels from around 3'000Francs upwards.

Emeraude Kivu Resort, ☏ +250 787 010 900.
Hotel Du Lac, ☏ +250 7 88300518. single/double rooms from Rfr 8,000.
Peace Guesthouse, ☏ +250 7 88 52 27 27. Run by the Anglican Church. A quiet place on a green patch above the lake where you can watch the fishermen going out at night and coming back in the morning. Basic rooms with lakeview are 20,000 RWF. Breakfast is included and the restaurant serves cheap meals for lunch and dinner. From 10,000 RWF.

Keep Connected

Internet

You can find internet cafes in Kigali and some smaller cities and towns. Wifi is on the rise in some places as well, although connections outside Kigali are rather erratic at times.

Phone

See also International Telephone Calls

You can use your own cell phone in Rwanda, but avoid data roaming as it usually means extremely high costs for using the internet. Keep phone calls to a minimum or instead buy a local SIM card which means considerably lower prices for calling and using the internet.

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.

External Links