After the excitement of spending time with the gorillas in the mist, we headed west to Lake Kivu for a mellow lake day in the town of Gisenyi, checking out the DRC border, and swimming in the lake. We parked the car and walked to the border of Congo, at the town of Goma. The visual differences between the Rwandan side and the other were drastic. One, a progressive country on the rise, with rules about conservation & even motorbike helmet laws, and the other constantly threatened by rebels & civil war. Our day at the lake also coincided with the end of Ramadan. Even though a small percentage of the population are Muslim, many people were out, swimming, celebrating and enjoying the day.
The road to the west had many rolling hills, tea leaf fields, and photo stops
Kevin stopped to purchase a few baskets from this man on the side of the road – he was carrying them atop his head headed down the road, miles from any town
Some of the children that ran out for a visit on one of the many stops
A sad roadside marker – here, 25,000 female Tutsi were marched off the cliff, to their deaths when they refused the Hutu's demands to eat their unborn babies
Closing in on the border to Congo
Some first views of Kivu on an overcast day
The largest brewery in Rwanda is settled on the shore of the lake – in addition to trucks, boats load up and travel as far as 200 miles South
These wide fishing boats, manned by three men, set out for Tilapia as well as a smaller fish that is set out to dry – fragrantly
Beautiful lake Kivu from the hot springs
Kristin trying her best to not be a Muzungu
Goats, a common meat here, lay about everywhere – some with leashes
Kristin wanted to stop for some roadside peanuts
Enjoying some cold, local beers at Paradis Malahde
And some very fresh Talapia caught earlier in the day
The locals eat with their hands, and so does Kristin
Relaxing with our driver and friend, Kevin
Locals take advantage of one of the few lakes in Africa where you can swim
Kristin makes friends wherever she goes
Nice little dip in the cool waters of Kivu
Kristin opts not to go after hearing how stories of Congolese neglect of the lake just a few miles away
The sun poked out just as we departed the lake and headed back for Musanze
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