{"id":1947,"date":"2014-11-11T09:00:48","date_gmt":"2014-11-11T09:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/travelcake.site\/?p=1947"},"modified":"2025-04-22T18:40:49","modified_gmt":"2025-04-22T18:40:49","slug":"24-hours-in-gisenyi-rwanda","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/nl\/24-hours-in-gisenyi-rwanda\/","title":{"rendered":"24 Hours in Gisenyi, Rwanda"},"content":{"rendered":"

f there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s one thing Rwanda does well, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s pleasant, laid-back towns. Maybe a little too<\/em> laid-back, depending on your mindset. There is a fine line between chilling and being bored<\/strong> and that was my general state of mind in Rwanda. I was never sure if I was relaxing or slightly bored. Maybe I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m just spoiled.<\/p>\n

As I mentioned in my previous post about Rwanda<\/a>,, Rwanda is worth a visit\u00e2\u20ac\u201djust maybe not as your sole<\/em> destination. If you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re already in the region for gorilla trekking or volcano hikes, a detour to Gisenyi is 100% worth it. I might be a little biased (I spent a few of my childhood years there), but to me, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Rwanda\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s best town to hang out in.<\/p>\n

Twenty-four hours is enough to soak in the vibe. Add an extra day or two if your soul needs a breather. Here\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s how I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d spend 24 hours in Gisenyi:<\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n

Check in at Paradise Malahide hotel. <\/b><\/p>\n

This place lives up to its name. Paradise Malahide offers cozy African-style bungalows, each facing the lake with its own slice of tranquility. The staff is warm and genuinely tries to make you feel at home.<\/p>\n

It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a bit removed from the town center, so unless you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve got your own wheels, prepare for a thrilling moto-taxi ride. Yes, the rooms are pricey but then again, so are most accommodation in Rwanda.\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Reception<\/a>
Reception area at Malahide<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n

Dinner at a local bar<\/b><\/p>\n

Rwandans nail<\/em> barbecue. Find a local spot and order \u00e2\u20ac\u0153brochettes and frites\u00e2\u20ac\u009d with a cold beer. Just like that, you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re part of the culture. Bonus: the fries come with good<\/em> mayo\u00e2\u20ac\u201dsomething every Belgian will rejoice over.<\/p>\n

We walked to a simple open-air bar right next to the hotel and feasted on grilled beef skewers as the sun dipped into Lake Kivu. Simple, tasty, perfect.<\/p>\n

\"Kivu<\/a>
sun setting in Kivu lake<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Breakfast in Paradise<\/b><\/p>\n

Even if you didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t sleep there, pop by Paradise Malahide for breakfast. The presentation, the setting, the lake breeze\u00e2\u20ac\u201dit all feels indulgent. Again, it comes at a cost, but in Rwanda, you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll get used to that quickly.<\/p>\n

\"breakfast<\/a>
organic omelette, cr\u00c3\u00a8pes, toasts, homemade jam and local thee\/coffee… with a view<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"IMG_5831\"<\/a>
wake up slow<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n

Hit the market<\/b><\/p>\n

Gisenyi\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s market is your classic lively African market\u00e2\u20ac\u201dcolorful, busy, chaotic in the best way. Great for people-watching, fruit shopping, and especially for picking up vibrant local fabric.<\/p>\n

You can have it tailored into clothing on the spot<\/em>. Bring an existing piece to copy or let your imagination run wild with a Rwandan statement piece. Throught the region, Rwandans are known for their top notch tailoring.<\/p>\n

\"take<\/a>
take your pick. photo by J. Rosenkrantz<\/a>.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n

Stop at ‘Atelier des Poup\u00c3\u00a9e’<\/b><\/p>\n

Founded in the ’80s by a French nun, this humble workshop trains and employs widows in sewing and craftsmanship. The women create beautiful handmade dolls with African skin tones, bags, wallets, and toys\u00e2\u20ac\u201dall from recycled fabrics.<\/p>\n

You can even commission custom pieces at very reasonable prices. I love supporting initiatives like this; they make your souvenirs mean something.<\/p>\n

\"atelier<\/a>
signature dolls<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Rwanda<\/a>
leftover fabrics put to good use<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n

Buffet for lunch<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rwandans love<\/em> buffets\u00e2\u20ac\u201dand they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re onto something. You pay one fixed price and pile on as much local food as you can eat. Ask around for the best spots; locals will know.<\/p>\n

If you get the chance, try Sambaza<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u201dtiny, deep-fried fish eaten with lemon and pili pili<\/em>. A typical Lake Kivu snack you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll either love or politely tolerate.<\/p>\n

\"sambaza<\/a>
sambaza and frites. Photo by Sean J.<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n

Afternoon and sunset at the beach<\/b><\/p>\n

Despite being landlocked, Rwanda\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Lake Kivu beaches are lovely. In the late afternoon, the public beach comes alive with kids showing off their somersaults and swimmers cooling off after school.<\/p>\n

The lake is calm and great for a swim or a lazy sprawl in the sand. If you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re craving action, rent a jet ski or motorboat. Bring a frisbee or beach ball\u00e2\u20ac\u201dyou\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll make new friends fast. Stick around for sunset and watch swarms of bats take flight for their nightly hunt.<\/p>\n

\"crown<\/a>
crown birds on the beach.\u00c2\u00a0photo by Alex Van den Daele<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n

Catch a traditional dance show in a big hotel<\/b><\/p>\n

Hear me out. Yes, dance performances in tourist hotels can<\/em> feel cheesy and unathentic. But if you want to see traditional Rwandan dances\u00e2\u20ac\u201dlike the iconic tall men with blond wigs doing warrior moves\u00e2\u20ac\u201dthis is where you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll find them.<\/p>\n

These performances don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t really pop up spontaneously in daily life anymore, unless there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a wedding or national event. We got lucky and caught a show at our hotel. I found it impressive but probably wouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have gone out of my way to see it. But that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s just me\u00e2\u20ac\u201dI\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m not a big dance-show person.<\/p>\n

\"traditional<\/a>
not used to watching traditional shows with tourist but fun either way<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n

For the party animals: late-night clubbing at White Rock<\/b><\/p>\n

Real talk: travel in Africa can be exhausting, and by evening, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m usually ready to faceplant.
Loosing my edge? Maybe.
But if you still have some juice left, White Rock is the go-to spot for a proper night out.<\/p>\n

Expect Nigerian pop, American hip-hop, and enough energy to carry you into the early hours. Things change quickly in the party scene, so check with locals for the latest hotspot. It might not be White Rock next month.<\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Pool and lunch at Serena hotel<\/b><\/p>\n

Start your next day with a slow morning at the Serena Hotel. For $10, you get access to the pool, towels, and a drink. Not bad for a little luxe moment.<\/p>\n

The hotel is not just a glitzy place for a swim, there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s history here too\u00e2\u20ac\u201dSerena hotel briefly served as headquarters of the interim government during the genocide in 1994.\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n

While you’re there, don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t skip lunch. The grilled tilapia\u00e2\u20ac\u201dcaught fresh from the lake\u00e2\u20ac\u201dis divine<\/em>. The terrace is a peaceful place to refuel and soak it all in.<\/p>\n

\"Serena<\/a>
Serena’s swimming pool<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"fresh<\/a>
fresh tilapia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n

Digest With a Stroll Down Avenue de la Coop\u00c3\u00a9ration<\/strong><\/p>\n

Leading up to the Serena, this avenue is perfect for a post-lunch walk. Browse local crafts, chat with vendors, or just let your mind wander. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a lovely way to round off your time in Gisenyi.<\/p>\n

\"gisenyi<\/a>
strolling down avenue de la coop\u00c3\u00a9ration<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n


Gisenyi might not be packed with high-energy adventure, but its charm lies in its slow rhythm, its lakeside serenity, and its small but meaningful discoveries. If you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve got a day to spare\u00e2\u20ac\u201dand a soft spot for places that let you breathe\u00e2\u20ac\u201dthis little town might just be your favourite detour.<\/p>\n

The post “24 hours in Gisenyi, Rwanda<\/a>” first appeared on Travel Cake<\/a>.\u00c2\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

f there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s one thing Rwanda does well, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s pleasant, laid-back towns. Maybe a little too laid-back, depending on your mindset. There is a fine line between chilling and being bored and that was my general state of mind in Rwanda. I was never sure if I was relaxing or slightly bored. Maybe I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m just spoiled. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1953,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,87],"tags":[110,20,44],"country":[200],"class_list":["post-1947","post","type-post","status-publish","format-image","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-africa","category-rwanda","tag-africa","tag-off-the-beaten-track","tag-top-things","post_format-post-format-image","country-rwanda"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1947","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1947"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1947\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4579,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1947\/revisions\/4579"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1953"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1947"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1947"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1947"},{"taxonomy":"country","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/country?post=1947"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}