Giseny

Welcome to the Costa del Kivu! Gisenyi is a ritzy resort town for rich Rwandans and resident foreigners. The views over Lake Kivu and Nyiragongo to the northwest are magnificent, though be warned that the volcano blew its top in early 2002, consuming much of neighbouring Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Gisenyi is a secluded retreat for the country’s well-to-do, which means that most of the action centres on the town’s posh hotels and restaurants. If you’re looking for something to do however, you can check out the Primus Brewery, about 7km (4.3mi) out of town along a stunning coastal road. Swimming and sunbathing on the area’s lovely beaches is also a nice way to spend the day, though be sure to ask locals before plunging in, owing to dangerous pockets of volcanic gases.