Cyangugu

Pronounced something like "Tchangugu", this is a city right on the southern tip of lake Kivu, as well as Changugu proper the term also refers to Kamembe, a town a few km away just up a hill overlooking the lake. Primarily this town is used as a stopover to or from Bukavu in southern DRC, however it is a pleasant place to spend a few days.

There are regular buses and minibuses to Butare and Kigali in Rwanda. The town is right on the border with Bukavu and DRC. There is also a road south to Bugarama and from there to either DRC or Burundi. This is less frequented than the route east to Butare but it should be possible to arrange transport.

Taxi-moto (motorbike Taxis) are the main form of transport within Cyangugu (and between Cyangugu and Kamembe)

Nyungwe National Park is 54 km along the Butare road (not 20km as the sign in town says).

Cyangugu is a useful place to stock up if you're heading to Nyungwe national park.

All the usual Rwandan fayer is easily available from lunchtime buffets to brochettes.

There is a range of guest houses and hotels from around 3'000Francs upwards.

• Emeraude Kivu Resort

  phone: +250 787 010 900

• Hotel Du Lac

  phone: +250 7 88300518
  single/double rooms

• Peace Guesthouse

  phone: +250 7 88 52 27 27
  Run by the Anglican Church. A quiet place on a green patch above the lake where you can watch the fishermen going out at night and coming back in the morning. Basic rooms with lakeview are 20000 RWF. Breakfast is included and the restaurant serves cheap meals for lunch and dinner.