Discover Lake Kivu’s real beauty and culture in a single unforgettable day. Sail across peaceful water, explore volcanic islands, taste fresh local coffee, and join local fishermen at night. This tour blends nature, local life, and unique sights into a day you’ll always remember.
Tour Plan
1. Islands Exploration by Boat
Start your adventure with a scenic boat ride, visiting some of Lake Kivu’s most interesting islands:
Napoleon Island ;Hike to the top for panoramic lake views and see a large colony of fruit bats.
Nyenyeri Island; Spot velvet monkeys from the boat as they move freely among the trees.
Mbabara Island; Discover local plants and crops like banana and macadamia trees on this quiet, uninhabited island.
Amahoro Island ; A calm, green island perfect for relaxing and taking photos.
Along the way, you will see the special swimming cows tradition, where cows cross between islands guided by farmers. You’ll also spot some of the unique birds that live around Lake Kivu.
2. Lake Kivu Coffee Tour
Visit a local coffee washing station to:
Walk through coffee fields and see how the coffee trees grow.
Meet local farmers and learn how they harvest and dry beans.
Watch traditional roasting methods.
Taste fresh Rwandan coffee right at the farm.
3. Lunch at Rushel Kivu Resort(optional)
Enjoy a fresh local meal by the water at Rushel Kivu Resort, with views over Lake Kivu.
4. Local Night Fishing Experience
After lunch, join local fishermen on the lake:
Watch them preparing the nets, lamps, and wooden boats.
Listen to the songs they sing to guide and encourage each other.
See how they catch sambaza fish using old fishing methods under the stars.
This peaceful night experience connects you to the local culture and traditions of Lake Kivu
Starting Point & Pricing
Kibuye (shorter & better price)
Gisenyi (Cost go higher)
Buick Contact & Booking
Phone / WhatsApp: +250789474864
Email: visitlakekivu@gmail.com
Come and experience the real nature, stories, and culture of Lake Kivu all in one perfect day.
Posted on Raouf LeeraarTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Amazing 3 hours trip with Felix! We did 1,5 hours of hiking and 1,5 hours boat tour. I enjoyed it a lot. The hike is perfect for beginners and Felix was such a nice, welcoming and knowledgeable guide! I would recommend this activity to everyone! Thank you so much!Posted on ChoiTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. As a 12 year old explorer, I liked how informative and helpful our guide, Mr Aimable was. The tour was about 2 days. We first went on the fishing sightseeing and the atmosphere was very friendly because the fishermen were hardworking. They also sang and it was very cheerful. We also saw swimming cows. It was very interesting. Then we went to see monkeys on an island. Next we hiked on Napoleon island. Lastly, we went to a very fancy chateau called the Chateau or Marara and it was beautiful. We had lunch there. Overall, my experience was very nice.Posted on Kieran CuffTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The tour was very nice. Aimable had lots of great information that he shared with us during the boat ride and during the hike. The hike was very comfortable and within our range of fitness. He and the driver were very nice to us and were very informative throughout the trip. I'd highly recommend his services to anyone coming to Gisenyi.Posted on john orisanwoTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Absolutely beautiful tour, we went monkey spotting, bird spotting, hiked on an island and also went swimming. Would recommend 💯Posted on Vince M.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had a great day on the water with Igiraneza. He is a very knowledgeable guide and has great positive vibes! Would highly recommend to take a tour with him!Posted on Mike MessingerTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We did a night fishing boat tour here, and it was such a great experience. Our guide was wonderful - super knowledgeable and genuinely nice, which made the trip even more enjoyable. The highlight was definitely watching the local fishermen. It felt like a truly authentic experience you can’t really find anywhere else. Seeing their way of life up close was both fascinating and special. Overall, if you’re around Lake Kivu, this is a must-do for a unique, off-the-beaten-path kind of adventure.Posted on Karoline BrunswickerTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had a great time and experience on the lake Kivu. The boat trip with hike over Napoleon's island was superb, our guide knew a lot about plants and animals, also we took some time to watch birds and see a monkey on monkey Island. Also we could plan everything individually. We hired kayaks the other day, which was so easy! I would highly recommend kayaking on the lake, it was great 😊Posted on Michèle MartiTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Wir hatten einen wunderschönen Ausflug mit Aimable. Wir fragten sehr kurzfristig am Abend vorher an und konnten am Morgen bereits los. Er war zeitlich sehr flexibel und holte uns sogar am Bootssteg des Hotels ab. Wir genossen die gemütliche Fahrt, die Erzählungen zum Lake Kivu und den Tieren. In 2.5 Stunden sahen wir viele Kormorane und auf der Star Island Affen und die Fledermäuse auf der Napoleon Insel. Es war eine wunderschöne Zeit auf dem Lake Kivu und hat auch den Kindern gut gefallen. Herzlichen Dank Aimable für die wunderschöne Tour!Posted on Martina LansTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great boat trip and excellent guide!Posted on Todd PTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had a great island boat trip around the lake Kivu. The guide was very engaging and upbeat and honestly he made the whole trip. Highly recommend as nothing to fault it at all. 5* experience.