Nyamunini – the island of a thousand mice (8 photos)

This incredible island on Lake Kivu in Rwanda is home to thousands of fruit bats.





Nyamunini Island, jokingly referred to as "Napoleon's hat" due to its similar shape to Bonaparte's distinctive headdress, has become a holiday destination for Rwandans and foreigners alike. Nestled on the eastern shores of Lake Kivu on Rwanda's shared border with Congo, Nyamunini is home to thousands of fruit bats. The island is home to up to 50,000 mice of the species Eidolon helvum. This is the largest colony of its kind in Rwanda.



Lake Kivu

Nyamunini is the most diverse of the seven small islands located in Lake Kivu, according to a biodiversity study conducted by the local Environment Agency.





Nyamunini Island

This may be partly due to its sad past: during the 1994 genocide, a fire was set here that killed dozens of Tutsi fugitives. And the subsequent absence of human settlements provided plants and animals with favorable environmental conditions for reproduction and growth.



Beauty of Kibuye

For a nominal fee of about $10, anyone can go on a tour of Nyamunini and walk along the winding paths under a canopy of real, live bats.



Eidolon helvum – palm fruit bat

When they fly in a group, they fill the sky, creating a truly fantastic, breathtaking spectacle. Of course, the soundtrack is no less impressive.



If you follow the hiking trail, you can reduce the likelihood of direct contact with winged eared beetles. Therefore, visitors to the island are prohibited from leaving it.



Mice over the island

The Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association visits Nyamunini monthly to monitor bats. Its experts have developed recommendations for ecotourism. The hike takes about 30 minutes depending on the speed and endurance of the hikers. From the highest point of the island there is a stunning panorama of Lake Kivu.



Nyamunini is located in the Karongi region, also known as Kibuye, an area renowned for its beauty. Naturally, a visit to this piece of paradise is only indicated for the brave of heart, as people who are afraid or wary of mice in any form will clearly not be able to enjoy the excursion for obvious reasons and will not allow others to do so.