One of the largest freshwater bodies in Rwanda, Lake Kivu totally covers a 2,700 square kilometer area. Situated at an elevation of 4,790 feet above mean sea level, Lake Kivu eventually empties into the Ruzizi River flowing southwards into Lake Tanganyika. A part of the Great Rift Valley, Lake Kivu is largely surrounded by majestic mountains. Featuring several settlements along its shores like Gisenyi, Kibuye and Cyangugu on the Rwandan region, Lake Kivu is equally elegant within Congo on the western side.