Rwanda · LAKE KIVU EXCURSIONS

The 12 Best Lake Kivu Boat Trips and Days Out

12 tours  ·  from $50 a head

The lake runs ninety kilometres down the western border and the two towns worth basing in, Rubavu and Karongi, sit three hours apart. These 12 compare the island runs, the fishermen’s evening boats and the full days, with departure points that matter.

Lake Kivu Boat Trips & Experiences - Rubavu and Nyamyumba Hot Springs
Cruises & Boat Tours, Lake Kivu Excursions, Tour Reviews

Lake Kivu Boat Trips & Experiences

1.Lake Kivu Boat Trips & Experiences

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 29 reviews · from $50Our pick

Review of Lake Kivu boat trips from Gisenyi, with island hikes, hot springs, sunset views, night fishing, price, and practical booking advice.

“Simply amazing! The landscape is stunning all around , Giselle is a very talented girl, she knows everything we needed to know, also Ja (?), the captain is a very nice guy. Not a easy hiking on Napoleon Island but, then, already at the first stop, the view at sundown is breathtaking! Ending with the fishermen boats was like the cherry on the cake!!!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

One-day Kivu Lake Adventure - Leaving Kigali for Kibuye
Kigali Tours, Lake Kivu Excursions, Tour Reviews

One-day Kivu Lake Adventure

3.One-day Kivu Lake Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 15 reviews · from $175

Review of the one-day Lake Kivu Adventure from Kigali, with island boat trips, a Napoleon Island hike, lunch, guides, costs, and practical tips.

“Kivu lake is wonderful. But also the trip from Kigali to the lake and back is awesome. You’ll see half of Rwanda with gorgeous landscapes, numerous towns and villages and a colourful street life. Never a dull moment if you’re interested in how Rwandan people live!”

Check availability →Read our full review

1 day Cultural Adventure Tour in Lake Kivu - Reaching Gisenyi through Rwanda’s hill country
1-Day Tours, Kigali Tours, Lake Kivu Excursions, Rwandan Cultural Experiences, Tour Reviews, Tours

1 day Cultural Adventure Tour in Lake Kivu

4.1 day Cultural Adventure Tour in Lake Kivu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 13 reviews · from $480

Review of Rwanda’s private Lake Kivu day tour, with a boat ride, hot springs, Iby’iwacu culture, volcano views, and Kigali pickup.

“My husband and I had a great time! Our 1 day Curtual Adventure Tour in Lake Kivu began with a drive to Lake Kivu where we experienced wonderful scenery of Rwanda. Aves, our guide was friendly and he were very knowledgeable which he sRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

Coffee Experiences, Hiking & Trekking, Lake Kivu Excursions, Rwandan Coffee Experiences, Tour Reviews

Lake Kivu Trip with a Hike and Coffee plantation experience

5 Days Volcanoes National park and Lake Kivu - Why this Rwanda tour works as a five-day trip
5-Day Experiences, Kigali Tours, Lake Kivu Excursions, National Parks, Tour Reviews, Volcanoes National Park Trips

5 Days Volcanoes National park and Lake Kivu

6.5 Days Volcanoes National park and Lake Kivu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 11 reviews · from $6,500

Review of Rwanda’s 5-day gorilla, Golden Monkey, Kigali, and Lake Kivu tour, with practical advice on cost, pace, lodging, and value.

“My friends and I had a wonderful trip indeed! It was fun and we had a good experience with Shalom safaris! Good car, smooth drive, and hiking bisoke was not easy but seeing the final step at crater lake you feel the victory!!! Thanks shalom Read more”

Check availability →Read our full review

Three-day Nyungwe Canopy and Kivu Lake Adventure - Day 1: From Kigali to the Uwinka canopy walkway
Kigali Tours, Lake Kivu Excursions, Nyungwe Forest & Canopy Walk Trips, Tour Reviews

Three-day Nyungwe Canopy and Kivu Lake Adventure

7.Three-day Nyungwe Canopy and Kivu Lake Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · from $1,165

Three days from Kigali to Nyungwe and Lake Kivu, with a canopy walk, island boat trip, night fishing, meals, and a guide.

“This tour took us on a drive from Kigali to south-western Rwanda across the land which as its metaphor suggests, is indeed a land of thousands of hills. Nyungwe forest itself can be a hit or miss if you want to spot the elusive fauna. If animRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

One day Kivu Lake & Gisenyi Adventures - Key points to know before booking
1-Day Tours, Lake Kivu Excursions, Tour Reviews

One day Kivu Lake & Gisenyi Adventures

8.One day Kivu Lake & Gisenyi Adventures

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $243

Explore Rwanda’s Lake Kivu, Nyamyumba Hot Springs, Napoleon Island, Gisenyi, local fishing, lunch, and views of Nyiragongo.

“Excellent price for quality of tour. Had so much fun!! Darius was communicative and arrived on time. He was very personable and positive. We laughed a lot! He made me feel completely at ease. When we arrived in Kibuye our boat tour Read more”

Check availability →Read our full review

1-Day Lake Kivu Karongi Boat Cruise & Coffee farming with Lunch - Ndaba Rock and a story told by local children
1-Day Tours, Coffee Experiences, Cruises & Boat Tours, Farms, Kigali Tours, Lake Kivu Excursions, Lunch Experiences, Rwandan Coffee Experiences, Tour Reviews

1-Day Lake Kivu Karongi Boat Cruise & Coffee farming with Lunch

5 Day Rwanda gorilla and Lake Kivu Safari - Day 3: The twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo
5-Day Experiences, Gorilla Trekking Tours, Kigali Tours, Lake Kivu Excursions, Safari, Tour Reviews

5 Day Rwanda gorilla and Lake Kivu Safari

10.5 Day Rwanda gorilla and Lake Kivu Safari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $3,430

Trek with mountain gorillas, cruise Lake Kivu, visit Rwanda’s twin lakes, and explore Kigali on this private five-day safari.

“We had an amazing trip to Rwanda that was organized by Fred through East African jungle safaris. We did a gorilla trek and golden monkey trek and a day at lake kivu. They were so flexible and made our whole trip to Rwanda seamless and so enjoyable! Thanks for planning our trip of a lifetime!”

Check availability →Read our full review

From Kigali: 8 Hour Day-trip Lake Kivu Cruise Experience - Cruising among Lake Kivu’s islands
Cruises & Boat Tours, Kigali Tours, Lake Kivu Excursions, Tour Reviews

From Kigali: 8 Hour Day-trip Lake Kivu Cruise Experience

Boat cruise in Twin lakes and Lake Kivu - Island visits and a closer look at local life
Cruises & Boat Tours, Lake Kivu Excursions, Musanze Tours, Tour Reviews

Boat cruise in Twin lakes and Lake Kivu

12.Boat cruise in Twin lakes and Lake Kivu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $90

Cruise Rwanda’s Twin Lakes near Ruhengeri for volcanic views, island visits, birding, lunch, and a look at historic Ntaruka Power Station.

“With our guide Vincent we toured Lake Ruhondo by boat and it was magical. We were able to trek across two islands and meet islanders who live with so little but were so happy and very welcoming. We also tried archery and spear throwing on Read more”

Check availability →Read our full review

Keep browsing

Cruises & Boat ToursMusanze ToursHiking & TrekkingKigali Tours
Scroll to Top

Pick a park, a lake, or a morning in the capital

Where to start reading.

The parks

Gorilla TreksAkagera SafarisVolcanoes ParkNyungwe CanopyPark Entries

Kigali

Kigali City ToursDriver DaysWalking ToursCraft WorkshopsFood Tours

Water and hills

Lake KivuBoat TripsHikes and TreksMusanzeWildlife Days

Slower days

Coffee ExperiencesCoffee TastingsDays With LunchPrivate ToursDay Trips