Bukavu Accommodation

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is currently undergoing much upheaval and strife internally as well as with a couple of their neighbours, and this has led to a sharp decrease in travellers visiting the country for holiday or leisure purposes. However, the DRC is one of Central Africa’s most dynamic nations and offers tourists a wide range of natural spectacles to discover and explore. One such landmark is the stunning Lake Kivu, which lies on the border between the DRC and neighbouring Rwanda.

Lake Kivu has been described as one of Africa’s Great Lakes and is a key producer of methane and a local variant of sardine. One of Lake Kivu’s key features is the town of Bukavu which is located at the extreme south eastern shores of the lake. Bukavu is steeped in history and was founded in 1901 as a Belgian colony where it had a prominent European population while under the control of the colonial power. Just as it was then, today this charming town is attractive largely because of its aesthetic appeal as well as its sub-tropical climate. The area is fairly lush and green, with a tranquil ambience emanating through its surrounds.

Bukavu was once a major transport route and gateway through the eastern parts of the DRC, but continuous civil war has deteriorated much of the road network. However, the town’s transport link has a good chance to recover and be rebuilt particularly if it can connect with the paved road networks of East Africa. Its close proximity to the ports of Lake Taganyika provide it with a further advantage as these ports link up with other important stations throughout the continent. One of Bukavu’s main attractions is the Kahuzi-Biéga National Park where visitors can view species of the mountain gorilla family.