Lake Muhazi
Lake Muhazi is a long, shallow lake in eastern Rwanda. Most of it lies in the Eastern Province, with its western end forming part of the border with the City of Kigali and the Northern Province. The lake runs roughly east to west for about 60 kilometers, is less than 5 kilometers wide, and covers about 33 square kilometers. It sits at roughly 1,443 meters above sea level and has an average depth of about 10 meters, with a maximum depth near 14 meters. The main outflow is the Nyabugogo River, which flows south to Kigali and joins the Nyabarongo River.
A concrete dam at the western end was built in 1999 to replace an older earth dam. The lake has several inlets and offshoots, and it can be accessed from three major routes: the Kigali–Gatuna road near the western end, the Kigali–Kayonza road along the southern shore, and the Kayonza–Kagitumba road along the eastern shore near Gahini.
Historically and culturally, the shore of Lake Muhazi is linked to early Rwanda’s history and borders. Under colonial rule the lake became an important east–west transport route. The area also endured killings during the 1994 genocide. Geologically, the western shore sits on schist while the eastern shore rests on granite, a pattern dating back hundreds of millions of years. The region has a temperate tropical highland climate, with Kigali typically ranging from about 12°C to 27°C, two rainy seasons, and two dry seasons.
Ecologically, the lake is known for its wildlife, including a population of spotted-necked otters (about 200–400 in 1990) and many bird species such as African fish eagles, kingfishers, weavers, babblers, sunbirds, storks, and others. There is a pair of semi-domesticated grey crowned cranes at Jambo Beach. Fish life has included Haplochromis species, and various attempts have been made to introduce species such as marbled lungfish and tilapia. The lake’s phytoplankton includes Microcystis and Ceratium species.
The shores are popular for tourism, with the Seeds of Peace center at Gahini and Jambo Beach for boating, fishing, and bird watching. Rwesero Beach on the northeastern shore offers camping and day trips from Kigali. A planned Lake Muhazi Golf & Country Resort on the Gati Peninsula was announced in 2006, with a first phase in 2007, but by 2010 there were no clear signs that construction had begun. The Rwanda Housing Authority has conducted land and town planning studies to protect the lake’s shores and guide sustainable development.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 06:58 (CET).