Photo Michael Starkie / UnsplashWhy you go
Why go to Lake Kivu
Lake Kivu lies along Rwanda's western border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, one of Africa's Great Lakes and the country's favourite place to slow down. Its shore is a string of easy-going towns — Rubavu in the north, Karongi at the centre, Rusizi in the south — backed by steep green hills and scattered with islands.
For most travellers Kivu is the exhale after the volcanoes: quiet beaches, calm swimming and boat trips out among the islands. Chief among them is Napoleon's Hat, a high, hat-shaped island off Karongi whose ridge shelters a large colony of fruit bats that lift off in clouds at dusk. The lakeshore Congo Nile Trail draws walkers and cyclists, and the surrounding hills are coffee and tea country.
Signature experiences
Napoleon's Hat island
A boat trip to the bat-crowned island off Karongi, with a climb to its ridge for the view back across the lake.
Lakeshore relaxation
Beaches, swimming and sundowners — the natural counterpoint to a hard day's trekking.
Congo Nile Trail
Walking and cycling sections of the long-distance trail that follows the shore.
Getting there
Getting to Lake Kivu
The northern town of Rubavu (Gisenyi) sits close to Volcanoes National Park, making Kivu an easy add-on after gorilla trekking; Karongi, more central, is around three hours from Kigali by road.
Safaris that visit
2 journeys go here
8-Day Rwanda Gorillas and Chimps Safari
An eight-day Rwanda journey that pairs chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe with gorilla trekking in the Volcanoes, alongside Lake Kivu and cultural stops. It runs from Kigali across the south and northwest of the country.
16 Day Uganda Rwanda Safari
A sixteen-day journey across Uganda and Rwanda combining gorilla and chimpanzee tracking with savanna game drives, the Nile, Lake Kivu, Nyungwe Forest and Akagera. The route ends in Kigali with a city tour and Genocide Memorial visit.
Good to know
Lake Kivu: questions travellers ask
- What is Napoleon's Hat?
- A small island off Karongi (Kibuye) shaped like a bicorne hat, home to a large colony of fruit bats. Boat operators run trips out to it, often timed for the bats' evening flight.
- Is it safe to swim in Lake Kivu?
- Yes — the lake is one of the few in the region considered safe for swimming, free of bilharzia and large aquatic wildlife. As anywhere, follow local advice on conditions and entry points.
Build Lake Kivu into your safari
Tell us your dates and interests and we'll shape an itinerary around it.