Lake Kivu stretches between Nyungwe in the southwest of Rwanda and the Volcanoes National Park in the northwest. In the middle of the East African Rift Valley, the border between Rwanda and Congo runs through the middle of the lake. With an area of 2400 square meters, it is four times the size of Lake Constance. With a depth of 480 meters, it is remarkable that the water temperature rises with increasing depth - this is caused by volcanic springs.

ein Morgen am See

At Peace Guest House in Cyangugu, right on the shore of Lake Kivu, I am awakened early in the morning of September 27 by the characteristic call of the Tropical Boubou (Laniarius major):

I'll have to see if I can see him in the garden. At least a young Tropical Boubou I discover on a tree.

And this is from the same genus probably a young Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio):

On September 28 we drive north along the east bank of the Kivu and stop at Kibuye. There, on the shore, we have a direct view of Napoleon Island - the island is said to resemble Napoleon's hat.

On the shore we see the characteristic bird of Lake Kivu, the Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis).

Very lively and not at all shy is the African Pied Wagtail (Motacilla aguimp), which is related to the wagtails. The bird is at home in large parts of Africa south of the Sahara.

We can watch for a while a special nectar bird, whose plumage shimmers in all shades between green and blue. Its dark red breast gives it the English name Red-chested Sunbird (Cinnyris erythrocercus).