Lake Muhazi
Lake Muhazi
Geography and Geological Formation.
Lake Muhazi is a unique, long, narrow and shallow lake in eastern Rwanda. It is approximately 37 km in length and 0.6 km in mean width, and has a total area of approximately 33 km2 and a mass of water of approximately 0.33 km2. The lake is approximately at 1,443 m above sea level.
The lake, geologically, is impounded in a flooded valley, with many north-south offshoots which were tributaries.
The substrate changes in length: the western end is on schist, and the eastern end is composed of granite, the residue of the Kibaran orogeny of 1.0-1.4 billion years ago.
The lake has a temperate tropical highland climate, though cooler because of altitude, with an average daily temperature of 12°C to 27°C.
The bimodal rainfall in Rwanda occurs between February and June and later between September and December, with dry intervals in the months in between.
Hydrology & Infrastructure
Lake Muhazi flows into the Nyabugogo River, which empties into the Nyabarongo.
In 1999, an ancestral earth dam was replaced by a concrete dam in the western end.
A later RWF 3 billion dyke, 6.5 m high with a crest level of 1,437.5 m, was finished to manage lake drainage, improve flood control, irrigation sustainability, fisheries and tourism. The watershed of the lake is approximately 829 km2.
Historical and Cultural Importance.
According to oral tradition, the Kingdom of Rwanda began in the Lake Muhazi region of what was now Rwamagana, near Buganza, around the 14th century, with early rulers and the famous religious places of the region being closely associated with the lake.
Precolonial Lake Muhizi was an important transport corridor between the east and the west, connecting Kigali to the eastern routes. Between 1922 and 1924, the region came under provisional British occupation when preliminary surveys were carried out on the proposed Cape-Cairo railway. The Church Missionary Society (CMS) was also starting missions in Gahini at this period, which would become the basis of permanent hospitals and churches.
But this lake has a dark history due to the 1994 Rwandan genocide, when numerous bodies of victims were thrown into the water. Certain individuals also perished in the attempt to escape, and during this fateful time, eyewitnesses reported that the lake was literally mingled with blood.
Ecology: Flora & Fauna
The Lake Muhazi sustains a fertile ecology:
It supports a significant proportion of spotted-necked otters (Hydrictis maculicollis)-in 1990, it was estimated that there were 200-400 of them, or 20 otters per 10 km of coast.
There is also a great variety of birds, including:
African fish eagles
Pied and malachite kingfishers.
Swamp flycatchers, African paradise flycatchers
Weavers, gossipers, sunbirds (scarlet-chested, bronze, green-headed), village weavers.
Yellow-fronted canaries, pytilias, great and white-breasted cormorants
The open bill and yellow-billed storks, cattle egrets, and semi-domesticated grey crowned cranes of Jambo Beach in Gahini
The resources of the lake are also exploited by fish populations:
Marbled lungfish were brought in 1989.
The introduction of Tilapia in 2003 and 2009 minimised dependence on imports.
Phytoplankton includes mainly Microcystis aeruginosa and Ceratium hirundinella.
Tourism and Recreation
Lake Muhazi is a calm getaway and home to many activities:
Recreation on water: Canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and traditional boats are common (particularly at sunrise/sunset).
Fishing: Anglers, local and tourist, fish tilapia and lungfish, usually in combination with professional fishermen.
Birdwatching boating: With such diverse populations of birds, the lake is a heaven to the binocular-wielding or camera-toting birdwatchers.
Cultural discovery: Local towns such as Gahini have missionary architecture (churches, hospital, and cathedral) that is based on the history of the early 20th century.
Camping & picnicking: Rwesero Beach and other areas serve day-trippers and overnight campers. There are numerous resorts and guesthouses with facilities and gear.
Luxury and eco-tourism:
Jambo Beach and Seeds of Peace Centre in Gahini provide accommodation, lakeside access, boating, fishing and birding.
The northeastern shore, Rwesero Beach, provides camping motifs which are preferred by visitors based in Kigali.
UMVA Muhazi offers modern and design-oriented accommodations like Birdhouse, Pod, and Bungalow for retreats or as a remote workplace approximately 1.5 hours out of Kigali.
The Muhizi Marine Beach Hotel is a 3-star lodge located on the lakeside in Rwamagana, comprising 63 high-quality rooms fitted with modern facilities, approximately 45 minutes outside Kigali and 43km outside Akagera National Park.
Muhazi Resort Hotel is also selling luxury lakeside vacation homes (starting at USD 150,000), including features such as personal pools, docks, fitness facilities, and is near both Akagera and Kigali.
Development & Planning
The lake area is being developed by efforts that include:
It was announced in 2006 that a previously planned Lake Muhizi Golf & Country Resort and Boulevard, 250 acres with villas and a golf course, would be built. But it seemed paralysed or called off by 2010.
The land control studies by the Rwanda Housing Authority were to determine the zoning protection belts and correct planning of the northern and eastern lake shores to enhance sustainable development.
The new dyke is completed to support sustainable agriculture, fisheries and tourism as well as to reduce flood risks down the river in Kigali.
Environmental and Community Sustainability.
The community-based programs have increased the quality of life and environmental quality:
A water project funded by UNDP (DEMP II) has drilled boreholes, which supply clean water to 1,182 households (5,910 people) in Gishari and Muhazi areas. This substituted unsafe lake water collection and helped to create jobs. To conserve the environment of the lake, conservation terraces were built as well.
Conclusion
Lake Muhazi is much more than a picturesque water body- it is a rich ecosystem, a point of reference, a recreational hub and a driver of sustainable growth. It is one of the most attractive natural resources in Rwanda in terms of its ecological diversity, its cultural heritage and its tourism. Lake Muhazi is a lake that provides a touch of experience and meaning in every ripple, regardless of what you need, be it wildlife, tranquillity, heritage, or community-based impact.
