Lake Kivu Travel Guide: Rubavu, Karongi & Rusizi
The best place in Rwanda to slow down after gorilla trekking.
Eben Safari Tours Team2 min read
Choosing your base
Rubavu (Gisenyi) – lively, with a lakeside promenade, beaches and hot springs. Easiest to combine with gorillas.
Karongi (Kibuye) – the prettiest: a scalloped shoreline dotted with islands. Great for kayaking and boat trips.
Rusizi (Cyangugu) – sleepy and authentic, gateway to Nyungwe.
Top things to do
- Boat to Napoleon's Island and its fruit bat colony
- Swim from Amahoro Island
- Sunset with the singing fishermen
- Visit a coffee washing station
- Hike or cycle the Congo Nile Trail
Is it safe to swim?
Lake Kivu is generally considered free of bilharzia, and there are no crocodiles or hippos, so it is widely swum in. Swim at hotel beaches, with care, and ask locally about conditions.
See the 5-Day Lake Kivu & Congo Nile Trail.
Written by the Eben Safari Tours team
We are a Kigali-based tour operator, guiding travellers through Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania since 2015. Our guides trek with the gorillas, drive Akagera and climb the volcanoes every week, and we update these guides whenever rules or prices change.
