Kibuye

Lake Kivu

Kibuye is a city in Western Rwanda. Located on the shore of Lake Kivu, the surrounding area offers some stunning views of the lake.

Understand

By bus from Kigali

1. Capital bus line runs from Kigali to Kibuye and back every hour on the hour. As of late September 2011, the cost is currently 2700 RWF. The trip will take you about two hours and forty-five minutes.

2. A second option is to take a local bus (matatu) which costs the same amount as the more legitimate bus line Capital.

By bus from Gisenyi

1. Onatracom runs a bus from Gisenyi to Kibuye most everyday. The bus is extremely crowded and you often won't get a seat. However, with a price of only 2000 RWF it is great deal. The ride takes around 5 hours. From Gisenyi, the bus leaves at around 730 AM. Get there well ahead of time if you want to have a seat.

2. A second bus line, Zam Zamu, runs a camper-bus looking bus service between Gisenyi and Kibuye. This bus leaves at around 11/12 o'clock and costs 3000RWF. It is smaller and more comfortable than the Onatracom. The trip takes roughly the same amount of time though.

By boat

It is supposedly possible to catch a ride from Gisenyi to Kibuye on the boat (Primus boat). This fleet of boats will run whenever there is a need to transport beverages from the Bralirwa bottling facility in La Brasserie (Gisenyi) to either Kibuye or Cyangugu.

Get around

Walking or taking a moto (motorcycle or scooter) are your options.

Moto prices:

From Kibuye town to most of the hotels listed should cost around 500RWF.

From Kibuye town to KHI Nyamishaba - college campus with good internet and computers - 400 RWF.

See

Visit the Genocide Memorial and Catholic Church at Home Saint Jean.

Do

1. Take an hour boat ride around Lake Kivu for 15,000 RWF.

2. Go swimming at the very small beach at the Moriah Hotel or across the street from Golf Eden Rock Hotel.

3. Or just go swimming anywhere for that matter.

4. Visit the genocide memorial and Catholic church at the Home Saint Jean Hotel.

Learn

The Kigali Health Institute (KHI) has its smaller campus located in a part of Kibuye called Nyamishaba. The school offers the best internet access in town and the computers and internet are available for a nominal fee.

As of late June 2010, the price from Kibuye town to KHI/Nyamishaba is currently 400 RWF and will take approximately 5 minutes.

Buy

There is a local market everyday in Kibuye town. You can find local produce, used clothing, and lots of things from China.

If you are looking for more exotic (expensive) things - bread, spices, snickers, potato chips, etc., - go to the shops at the two gas stations in town. It is assumed that people who can pay for gas can also pay for expensive things.

Eat

All hotels have a restaurant with decent food. Again, eating at the hotels will be more expensive than eating in Kibuye town at a local establishment. Prices range from 2,000 to 10,000 RWF

Local

The following prices are for most Rwandan bars around Kibuye town (as of late June 2010)

-Goat brochettes will cost 300-400 RWF

-Cooked potato will cost 100 RWF

-Plate of fries will cost 400-500 RWF

Normally there is a lunch buffet available at some restaurants in town. Generally speaking, they cost around 800 RWF or around 1000 RWF if you chose to get a piece of meat with your meal.

Drink

All hotels listed under the hotel section (minus Saint Marie) offer drinks at slightly elevated rate and with a slightly better selection or variety than you'll find in Kibuye town. If you go into town you can find a number of local bars offering local prices for local beers - mainly Primus, Mutzig, Skoal and Turbo King.

Local

A list of prices at local bars, shops and restaurants as of late June 2010:

-Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite, etc., costs 250 or 300 RWF

-Small bottle of water: 300 RWF

-Large bottle of water: 600 RWF

Beers:

-Mutzig: 800RWF

-Primus: 600RWF

-Skoal: 800RWF

-Turbo King: 1000RWF

Sleep

Budget

Saint Marie offers rooms from 3500 RWF a night. 250 08742303 or 250 03019526

Mid-range

View from Home St Jean

1. Home St. Jean A basic hotel/guest house. Hot water, elctricity in clean rooms with double beds. No TV, no internet but stunning views over the lake. Rooms cost 10-15,000 RWF. Take the RWF 15,000 rooms for the best view.

2. Golf Eden Rock

3. Bethanie A beautiful setting on the water with mediocre, inflexible service and decent food but poor wine selection. Swimming is possible directly from the hotel. There is no beach, only slimy rocks. Terraced rows of rooms with nice gardens and trees everywhere. Single room, self-contained, as of May 2012 is 15000Rfr -- or $28US, which is a terrible exchange rate of around 535 (whereas the hotel's exchange rate is 570 so just change your dollars first then pay for the room)..

4. Holiday Inn (not affiliated with the chain)

5. <sleep name="Moriah Hill Resort " alt="" address="" directions="" phone="+250 (0) 252 56 86 67 " url="http://www.moriah-hill.com" checkin="" checkout="" price="$100" lat="" long="">Probably the nicest (and most expensive) place to stay in Kibuye.</sleep>

As of June 2010 you could get a room at most of these hotels - excluding the Moriah and Holiday Inn - starting at around 10 to 12,000 RWF. All hotels have a view of Lake Kivu, with Bethanie, Moriah and Holiday Inn being directly on the water.

Contact

English/French language broadcasts are available from BBC World Service in Kibuye/Karongi on 93.3MHz.

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