Tchegera Island Camp

Set on the exposed ridge of a collapsed volcanic caldera, Tchegera Island sits in the middle of Lake Kivu inside Virunga National Park. Its crescent shape traces the old crater rim and forms a natural harbour, so the water it encloses stays calm enough for paddleboarding, kayaking and snorkelling. Six tents ring the shoreline, two twin and four double, each with an en-suite bathroom, hot water and solar power. On clear nights, guests watch lava from Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira glow red against the sky, with Mikeno and Karisimbi visible across the water. It is a quiet spot for birdwatching. The lake holds 301 recorded bird species, among them African fish eagles and pied kingfishers, and short-clawed otters sometimes fish in the bay at dusk. A restaurant and bar sit in the main area, open to the lake breeze, and charging points are available there and in each tent. Most visits pair a night here with time in the gorilla sector, making Tchegera a stop to unwind before or after trekking rather than a stay in its own right. The setting is remote: reaching it means transport organised through Virunga's park office, not a private booking.