Lake Kivu

     If you're in the mood for some terrifying news, read all about Lake Kivu.  It is one of Africa's Great Lakes, near Lakes Victoria and Tanganyika, and about as beautiful as one could hope for.  But it sits on a huge mass of gasses, which according to historical analysis, has caused the lake to literally explode about every 1000 years or so, which wipes out all living things in the area.  Many of the African lakes have the same situation, and some are experimenting with ways of safely venting the gasses, but it doesn't seem as if there's much optimism.  It's a matter of when, not if.
      You'd never guess at this tense situation approaching

the lake.  It is set in the middle of steep mountains which gives it a flavor of coastal southern Italy or even the more mountainous islands of the Caribbean.  It is breathtakingly beautiful.  We arrived there midday and found our way to the hotel, called the Paradis Malahid in the town of Gisenyi.  I was shown a wonderful little rondaval that was to my home for the night. 
    






 My rondaval was situated a matter of yards from the shore of Lake Kivu, and this was the view I had.

We were scheduled to take a tour of the lake in one of these traditional boats, but it was rainy and windy and didn't let up till late afternoon.  So our ride got a little abbreviated.  No amount of rain could diminish the beauty of the place though. 




 

Gisenyi is a fishing village, and these seem to be the traditional fishing boat used there.  The long poles extending over the water make them resemble a shrimping boat in the American southeast.

 Not all the fisherman use boats though.  I was thrilled to see this vigilant kingfisher patrolling the shores.  I've seen so many varieties of kingfisher all over Africa.  There must be dozens.

 Our boat ride took us to a big island where lots of fishermen lived.  There were mud springs there, where really hot water was burbling up from deep below Lake Kivu.  Right where the water came out, it was too hot to even touch, but even a few feet away, it was pleasantly warm.
Jackie and I were treated to mud pedicures!

         
 Here's my pedicurist!  What a treat!