A tour to Rwanda’s finest lakes of Burera and Ruhondo is one of the most amazing experiences you can ever have in the land of a thousand hills. Rwanda as a country is often thought to be limited to only gorilla trekking and city tours as it has to offer. Although those are some majors, Rwanda has incredible features that would fit any traveler’s bucket list. Rwanda is a land like no other, a land that has defied the odds to emerge as one of the best safari destinations in the world.

This small landlocked country tucked away in the heart of East Africa is bordered by Uganda in the north, Tanzania in the east, Burundi in the south, and the Democratic Republic of Congo in the west. Rwanda’s resilience is one to be written about because what this country passed through should not be where it is now. April 1994 is a year and month that Rwanda will never forget. This is because this was the darkest time the country had not anticipated and never saw coming. A period of 100 days of terror and massacre that saw more than a million people killed. This was the 1994 Rwandan genocide against the Tutsi by the Hutu militias. This period shaped the history of the country for good. Rwanda, although it faced these hardships, managed to revise and fight back to glory and became one of the best safari destinations in the world.

The country showcases a wide range of features and species that have attracted visitors from across the world to experience its formidable adventures. Touring the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo is a highly anticipated adventure that is worth checking out. Lakes Burera and Ruhondo are located very close to the Cyanika border with Uganda and the Volcanoes National Park. These lakes are situated in the Musanze district in the northern region of Rwanda. These lakes offer spanning experiences from the jaw-dropping scenes that are crafted by the topography of the area where these lakes dwell. Lakes Burera and Ruhondo have a maximum area of about 55 square kilometers and 26.6 square kilometers, respectively.

Formation of the twin Lakes Burera and Ruhondo

Lakes Burera and Ruhondo were formed as a process of volcanic activity from the neighboring volcanic mountains like Muhavura and Karisimbi. These lakes are termed lava-dammed lakes. The volcanic eruption began to take place in the volcanic mountains close to the River Nyaburongo. Lava flowed and divided the river as it solidified, hence forming a big lake from the river. With time, this big-formed lake was further divided by a kilometer of land mass, hence creating two lakes. These lakes came to be now known as the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo. This process took place many years ago.

What to do on a day tour of Lakes Burera and Ruhondo?

Lakes Burera and Ruhondo have all it takes to entertain you for an entire day, and still, you would not exhaust it all. Several tourist activities can be done at these twin lakes, as some are unveiled below.

Boat cruise

Embarking on a boat cruise experience on Lake Burera and Lake Ruhondo is one of the best adventures to explore these twin lakes in detail. While on a boat cruise on these incredible lakes, visitors can experience the refreshing breezes and explore the islands on the lakes like Cyuza Island.

The scenic views of surrounding hills give you a scene crafted from the movies as the sun sets behind the hills, spreading across the lakes. While on your day tour of these twin lakes, you will have the best boat cruise experience like no other.

Hiking

The topography of the area surrounding the twin Lakes Burera and Ruhondo provides the best hiking adventures. Rwanda is not called the land of a thousand hills for nothing, its topography stretches across the twin lakes, shading them with beautiful views that pierce the horizon. Several designated hiking trails run across the surrounding highlands, giving you a panoramic view of the twin lakes and the surrounding communities.

Birding

The twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo are blessed with abundant birdlife. This is because the lakes provide the perfect habitat for these bird species. The twin lakes harbor some of the unique species. There are both endemic bird species to the lakes and also migratory birds that fly in from the surrounding areas during specific seasons.

Various bird species to look out for include darters, herons, kingfishers, hammerkops, red-faced woodland warblers, strange weavers, yellow bill ducks, Ruwenzori turaco, handsome francolin, weaver, cormorant, hadada ibis, sacred ibis, yellow bill storks, African fish eagle, black saw-wing, and African crown crane to mention but a few. This activity of birding is done under the guidance of an experienced birding guide with knowledge about most of the birds situated in the twin lakes.

Swimming

Swimming is also another highly anticipated activity that visitors like to participate in. The twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo are very safe for swimming because they harbor no dangerous animals like hippos and crocodiles, nor do they have bilharzia-spreading snails. Therefore, visitors can experience the twin lakes more as they take on a swimming experience on the dark blue, tranquil waters as they enjoy the scenes of the surrounding hills.

What is the best time to have a day tour of the twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo?

As you attempt to embark on a safari experience on a day tour of the twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo, it is important to travel in the best period. Any time of the year, these twin lakes are free to be visited and experienced. However, depending on the specific activities to participate in at the lakes, the best time varies. For instance, for visitors embarking on hiking, swimming, boat cruises, and fishing experiences, the best time is during the dry season. This period is characterized by humid temperatures since there is little or no rainfall. This period runs from December to February and June to September.

For the case of birding safaris at the twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo, the wet season comes in as the best time. This is because the bird species thrive well in these conditions because of the abundance of food and water. This period also in the birdlife is the breeding period, hence a chance of spotting active birdlife. During the wet season, the migratory bird species also flock to the twin lakes area for breeding. The wet season runs from March to May and October to November.