Western Province
Lake Kivu
The quiet middle of a Rwandan itinerary
01The place
Lake Kivu sits along Rwanda's western border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, held in a deep trough between hills that drop straight into the water. Its shoreline is broken into bays and studded with islands, and its towns — Rubavu in the north, Karongi in the middle, Rusizi in the south — are where Rwandans go on holiday.
It has no crocodiles or hippos, which makes it one of the few large African lakes where swimming is simply part of the day.
For most itineraries Kivu is the hinge: it falls naturally between Volcanoes in the north and Nyungwe in the south, and it is the point where a trip stops being a series of early starts and becomes a holiday.
- Region
- Western Province
- Main towns
- Rubavu, Karongi, Rusizi
- From Volcanoes NP
- About 1.5 to 2 hours
- Known for
- Swimming, islands, fishing boats
- Recommended stay
- 2 nights
02Why visit
- 01
Somewhere to stop
After early briefings and steep forest, Kivu is where an itinerary breathes. Most travellers wish they had given it an extra night.
- 02
The singing fishermen
Wooden trimarans go out at dusk and come back at dawn, and the crews sing to keep time as they paddle. You can go out with them.
- 03
Islands and bays
Boat trips out to the islands, some inhabited, some given over to fruit bats, past inlets you cannot reach by road.
- 04
The Congo Nile Trail
A long-distance route along the lake's western edge, walkable or rideable in sections from a few hours to several days.
03Lake Kivu in pictures
04Things to do
- Boat trips to the islands
- Going out with the night fishermen
- Kayaking along the shoreline
- Cycling or walking sections of the Congo Nile Trail
- Swimming from the lakeside beaches
- Coffee plantation visits on the hills above the lake
- Hot springs near Rubavu
05Attractions
Rubavu (Gisenyi)
The northern lake town, with a sandy waterfront and the shortest drive to Volcanoes National Park.
Karongi (Kibuye)
The most scenic stretch of shoreline, a landscape of deep bays and islands halfway down the lake.
Napoleon Island
Named for its shape, and home to a very large colony of fruit bats that leaves at dusk.
The Congo Nile Trail
227 kilometres between Rubavu and Rusizi along the lake, through villages, coffee terraces and forest.
06When to go
Good all year. The drier months give the most reliable weather for boats and swimming.
- JanJan: best time to visit
- FebFeb: best time to visit
- MarMar: shoulder season
- AprApr: shoulder season
- MayMay: shoulder season
- JunJun: best time to visit
- JulJul: best time to visit
- AugAug: best time to visit
- SepSep: best time to visit
- OctOct: shoulder season
- NovNov: shoulder season
- DecDec: best time to visit
- Afternoon storms are common in the wet months, so boat trips are best taken in the morning.
07Getting there
- From Volcanoes National Park · Road
- About 1.5 to 2 hours to Rubavu
- From Kigali · Road
- About 3 hours to Rubavu, about 3.5 hours to Karongi
- From Nyungwe National Park · Road
- About 3 to 4 hours from Karongi
08Where to stay
- Lakeside hotels and lodges at Rubavu and Karongi, from simple to genuinely comfortable.
- A handful of small island and peninsula properties reached by boat.
- Ask for a room facing the water — it is the whole point of being here.
09What to do here
Experiences in Lake Kivu
Lake Kivu Experiences
Islands, night fishermen and somewhere to swim
Boat trips to the islands, going out with the singing fishermen, kayaking the shoreline, and the rare pleasure of an African lake you can swim in.
2 hours to several daysEasy
Cultural Experiences
Time with people, not a performance staged for you
Community cooperatives, Intore dance, craft workshops and village visits arranged so the money stays where the visit happens.
2 hours to a full dayEasy
Coffee Experiences
From the hillside to the cup, in one morning
Rwandan coffee is exceptional and mostly leaves the country. Washing-station visits and cuppings put you at the other end of the chain.
Half dayEasy
Nature Walks
Out of the vehicle, at walking pace
Guided walks in forest and savannah, from gentle hour-long loops to full-day hikes — the small things you miss entirely from a vehicle.
1 hour to a full dayModerate
10Journeys that go here
Tours including Lake Kivu
7 days · 6 nights
7-Day Rwanda Discovery
Gorillas, rainforest and the lake in between
Kigali, the Virungas for gorillas, down the shore of Lake Kivu, and into Nyungwe for chimpanzees and the canopy walk.
ClassicModeratePrice on request
10 days · 9 nights
10-Day Rwanda Complete Experience
The whole country, at a pace that lets you enjoy it
Kigali, Akagera's savannah, the Virunga gorillas, Lake Kivu and Nyungwe's rainforest — every landscape Rwanda has, without a forced march.
ClassicModeratePrice on request
Lake Kivu has no crocodiles or hippos, and swimming from the lakeside hotels and beaches is a normal part of a stay. Swim from recognised spots and follow local advice, as you would anywhere.
Plan Lake Kivu
Build a trip around Lake Kivu
Tell us roughly when you want to travel and what you want to see. We will come back with an itinerary built around it, not a package pulled off a shelf.