Fishermen Experience on Lake Kivu.

The fishermen experience on Lake Kivu is a newly introduced tourism activity on the shores of Lake Kivu, which has started to attract very many tourists at Rubavu /Gisenyi where the fishing is carried out on the three wheel canoe boats. It is becoming part of Rwanda Gorilla Safari, for those who have a night in Gisenyi, after their gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, or Nyungwe National Park, and having a night stay in Rubavu / Gisenyi. You can color your evening, with this magical tuned authentic fishermen experience on Lake Kivu. This can easily be encrypted on your Rwanda Safari package. A high recommendation for anyone interested to get to know more of real Rwanda beyond the tourist destinations. The fishermen experience is authentic and insightful as you’re hoping for.

An evening at Lake Kivu in Gisenyi, has started to be very vibrant with the Fishermen experience on Lake Kivu, with a night with Rwanda’s Musical Fishermen on Lake Kivu. Shared by both Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lake Kivu stretches 89 kilometers long, 48 kilometers wide, and 240 meters deep.

The pictures taken, during the entire fishermen experience on Lake Kivu adventure, are pure and the best ones, you can take in the country. The entire experience is authentic, with the local fishermen, who are both Congolese and Rwandese on a joint fishing, doing their daily fishing duties, without being tempered or influenced with the tourist presence.

You will enjoy their traditional folk songs, used while fishing as they jointly put their nets into the water, to try to hunt for a catch.

What time does the fishermen experience on Lake Kivu activities start, and when?

Every evening, one of Rwanda’s dreamiest activities takes place on the shores of Lake Kivu. As the sun sets, lakeside towns are abuzz with the songs and whistles of fishermen rowing their way to the center of the lake, ready for another night of work. By around 4.30 Pm, the tourist who would like to join the fishermen experience adventure should be ready by the shores, of the Lake, to witness the entire process, from when the fishermen put all their fishing gears comprising of the 3 boats, nets, and lamps, as they team up to start off, and head into the Lake. You should have booked your separate boat, which will have a guide, who acts as a translator, to help you go about the entire fishing process, explaining to you, what takes place.

The workday begins, as hundreds of fishermen row themselves to the center of the lake singing and whistling to keep rhythm with one another. They sing for courage, and to help them paddle their canoes as they get lost into the lake, for the hunt.

How long does the fishing experience on Lake Kivu last?

The fishermen’s nightly journey across the lake, with their melodic songs (This is reason some call them, the singing fishermen of Lake Kivu) and brightly lit lanterns, is truly captivating, and this can go for the entire night, from around 5pm in the evening till 5am the next morning, as they try to hunt for a catch.

For tourists, who would like to experience this, will join them from around 4pm, to watch them start the preparation, up to when they follow them up on a separate boat, but can as well later join the fishermen on their three boat canoe, to try to practice the fishing adventure. When it turns dark, at around 6:30 PM, the fishermen start to light their gas lanterns, which attracts the fish to their nets. This turns the lake to be beautifully colored with lights, almost like dinner date candles. The locals around the lake are very famous with these lights. The lake is so colorful at night with the bright fishing lights. Finally, and after several hours of waiting, the fishermen hoist the net in a process they will repeat up to three times throughout the night before returning to the shore.

The tourists can later return to their hotel by around 8pm – 9 pm, as the nets will be set into the waters. The entire experience can last for 2 – 4 hours depending on one’s interest.  Watching from the shores of the Lake seems interesting, why not go out there and share a moment with them? Because, it’s only when you’re watching, you will have a close interaction with them, and see each beat of the entire experience.

A number of tourists have now started to include this in their itinerary, with Rwanda Eco Company and Safari, as the leading company to know and sell more of this unique authentic experience, to their clients including Rwanda gorilla trekking tours.

Which type of boat is used for the Fishermen experience?

The tourist will use a single canoe boat, and the fishermen will be canoeing in groups, with three boats tied together. The three boats are tied up, to give great balance during fishing, and as well help to carry the lamps and nets used while fishing. The middle boat is always fixed with a lamp, which lights to attract the fish. The boats are put together to provide balance while fishing.

Though from afar it looks as if the three boats are distinctly separate, they are linked by flexible eucalyptus fishing rods. Walking on the rods as if they were tightropes, the men dash back and forth to make sure the net is completely secure.

Which type of fish are caught on the Fishermen Experience on Lake Kivu?

Canoeing in groups of three boats, Rwanda’s fishermen spend every night out on the crystalline water searching for Isambaza (a fish similar to a small sardine) and Tilapia. This sardine (Limnothrissamiodon) is endemic to Lake Kivu and Lake Tanganyika, the waters of which many communities of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have used for fishing and based their livelihoods on.

The elements in the order of importance are the following: emotional value, social value, and epistemic value. This means that Finnish fishing tourists value such elements as nature, peace-and-silence. As you sit in the boat, value it, it’s someone’s boat, which feeds his family, therefore seat firm, and ask permission when taking photos.

You can as well enjoy the fishermen experience with boat ride at Lake Kivu, Kayaking on Lake Kivu, visit to the hot springs, Rubavu city tour and coffee tour experience in Kimbiri. You can still opt for the Congo Nile Trail experience through biking or village walks.

The fishing experience is unique, and amazing from daily tourism activities, you will capture some of amazing beautiful sunset photos at the lake as well. Capture Rwanda, at its magical moment on a fishermen experience on Lake Kivu as the sun kiss the earth.

On this tour you’ll discover an unknown part of the city and learn practical information that will help you become a more discerning consumer. By learning about the traditional methods of fishing, you’ll also contribute to the long-term viability of this profession and help spread awareness of its importance to the local economy.

This is quite a special tour as you get to experience firsthand how fishmongers work, their three boats, it’s a great opportunity to have a one to one conversation, these guys work really hard and they’re open to sharing their fishing techniques and stories.

Book with Rwanda Eco Company and Safaris, to have this fishermen experience on Lake Kivu, included in your itinerary during your Rwanda Safari visit, as you have a night stay around Lake Kivu.