Sunset On Tchegera Island

Tchegera Island is a very beautiful, very small little island in Lake Kivu, a short boat ride away from Goma. The contrasts between the two could not be any greater. Goma, suffering widespread destruction from a 2002 volcanic eruption is slowly rebuilding itself, and is constantly patrolled by UN forces and has a heavy foreign aid presence.. Tchegera Island, the new relaxation getaway from Virunga National Park is serene and eco-friendly.

With the Virunga Mountains in the distance, you can see upwards of four different volcanoes depending on the conditions. While I only spent one night on the island, at the time, I was the only guest for the night! It was quite spectacular walking around and exploring. Small lizards would run off and birds flying around.

The whole island is just terribly beautiful. Wherever you look, it's so lush and green, and the staff was super friendly. The view of the volcanoes is something that will stay with me for some time. They seemed so far away, but when you see them up close, they're even more breathtaking.

A visit to the island is a great way to cap off a trip to Virunga. As the island is quite small, there's really not a whole lot to do. Spending one night seems to be the perfect balance between relaxation, exploration, and avoiding the boredom that a second night would have brought on. You can walk the island, kayak around it, or relax. I believe since my visit, they may have added stand-up paddle boarding as well. Either way, it's a great escape to add to the tail-end of your trip.

The blue hour was surprisingly blue.