Lake Kivu, located on the border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, is the largest freshwater lake in the country. Dating back millions of years, this lake lies along the chain of African Great Lakes and has been affected by intense volcanic activity. In modern times, Lake Kivu is one of East Africa’s great exploding lakes, due to the high density of gases circulating in its depths.
Lake Kivu is a beautiful place in the travel world. It is one of Africa’s Great Lakes, and people love visiting it because it’s so beautiful. Lake Kivu is 2,700 square kilometres. It has views and lots of different plants and animals.
People can have fun on Lake Kivu. The lake is surrounded by hills and volcanic mountains, which makes it look really pretty.
Lake Kivu has been a special holiday destination for Rwandans and foreigners alike, which had relatively declined after the 1994 genocide. In modern times, the lake’s calm waters and beautiful shoreline make it a peaceful retreat. At the same time, the surrounding region boasts a rich history, including the colonial-era architecture in towns like Kibuyu and Gisenyi.
Explore the diverse terrain and scenic natural beauty, sheltering precious wildlife and rich biodiversity.
Watch iconic species up close in their natural habitats, learn about their survival challenges, and participate in an eco-friendly travel.
Engage in guided, adventure-filled safari experiences for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure in Rwanda.
The Best Time to Visit Lake Kivu is during the dry season, from June to September. This period offers pleasant weather with clear skies, making it ideal for outdoor activities such as boat tours, kayaking, and hiking. You will experience mild temperatures, which are ideal for enjoying the lake’s beaches and the surrounding towns.
From October to May, it rains a lot at Lake Kivu. This is called the season.. It is still a good time to visit Lake Kivu if you like it when everything is green and quiet. You can also see all the plants and animals that live in and around Lake Kivu. However, it might not be much fun to do things on the water when it is raining a lot.
Lake Kivu is known for its astonishingly unique fish species, as half of the lake’s 29 species are found nowhere else on Earth. Those 29 species are grouped into four classes (Clupeidae, Cyprinidae, Clariidae and Cichlidae). The most unique fish species involves the endemic Kivu Cichlid, known as the “pearl of the lake”, which thrives deep down in the rocky areas and is found nowhere else.
In addition to fish species, about 80 bird species, 52 invertebrate species, and over 142 plant species are indigenous to Lake Kivu’s biodiversity. This natural water body is generally considered free of hippos and crocodiles. The area around the lake, especially the nearby Nyungwe Forest National Park, is home to chimpanzees, Angola colobus monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, and golden monkeys. Marsh mongoose can also be spotted in broad-leaved (semi-)deciduous evergreen forests. Smaller antelopes such as bushbucks, waterbucks, and duikers are mostly found in the adjoining forest areas.
Location Rwanda
Location Rwanda
Location Rwanda
Location Rwanda
Location Rwanda
Location Rwanda
Safety at Lake Kivu depends heavily on which side of the lake you visit. While the Rwandan side is a popular and stable tourist destination, the side in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is currently considered dangerous due to armed conflict.
Lake Kivu can be best reached from Kigali, Rwanda, via a 3-4 hour road trip (approx. 134km) to lakeside towns like Gisenyi (Rubavu), Kibuye (Karongi), or Cyangugu (Rusizi).
Boat safaris are generally conducted in designated, safe zones, with experienced guides accompanying tourists. Follow the instructions, listen to your guide and have an adventure of a lifetime.
You do not have to worry about animals like lions or crocodiles when you are at Lake Kivu. Lake Kivu is a place to swim because there are no crocodiles or hippos in the lake. This is nice for people who want to swim in Lake Kivu. Lake Kivu is a place to visit if you like nature and want to have fun.
Yes, there are numerous accommodations near Lake Kivu, particularly in the towns of Gisenyi (north) and Kibuye (south), ranging from luxury resorts to budget lodges.
An awesome safari tour with La Pisada ! - With many choices of Kenyan safari tour companies, it can be difficult to choose one. La Pisada was the best decision I made!! Communication is key for me and... read more La Pisada did not disappoint. All of my inquiries were met with a prompt response & an itinerary was set which met our needs. Our experienced tour guide was prompt, professional, enthusiastic and quite informative (we had many questions about wildlife). The open roof-top vehicle was clean, comfortable & even had a charging port !! We saw rhinos and were so lucky to see lions twice during our safari. Our guide made sure we had the best views & stopped in order for us to capture the perfect photo. I will be certain to use La Pisada again !
Greatest experience in Kenya with Fred team - We spent 12 stunning days in Kenya. We are 2 families with kids 10-12 yo.
First if all, Fred designed for us the custom-made plan of the trip.... read more We added to the classical safari experience different activities - rafting, hiking, biking and even the horseriding and night safari! And All these providers were of very good quality.
Then Fred thought out the logistics to include all these activities in safari plan. We were in Masai Mara, Amboseli, Aberdare, Ol Pejeta, Lake Naivasha.
The choice of lodges was fabulous. We discovered so many beautiful lodges - tented camps, rooms, with views on nature, with animals, with observation points on animals, nature luxury lodges with no fences - sooo different impressions from our hotels. Wow!! And the lodges are very important in your experience, since you spend a lot if time there. All was great!
The guides Farah and Julias were so nice and friendly people and experienced professionals. They took care of us for our comfort and safety, and did extra effort for us to see animals. Kids were fans of Farah!
The safari in Kenya is just a MAGIC! 🪄 you need to come to experience it)))
Maruska_77
Thank you La Pisada - Our La Pisada driver showed up at our apt on time. He offered to drive us to get coffee, offerred us the use if his personal phone charger, and... read more gave us alot of personal attention and care. He explained alot about the different type of animals that we saw at Nairobi Game Park. You can tell that conservation of wildlife was a passion for our driver and we reallly connected and had a great time. Overall a great service by La Pisada.
Top quality Safari planner and an AMAZING trip! - Fred from La Pisada Africa Safaris planned two safaris for us in 2023: 3-days to Masai Mara, and 3-day in Amboseli. Those 6 days were amazing and every detail was... read more planned perfectly. Fred made the logistics smooth and simple so we could focus on just enjoying the safari. The driver guides were very knowledgeable and personable.
We were so impressed with how Fred arranged our trip that when we had the opportunity to visit Kenya a second time, we booked two more safaris through Fred. This trip had a small snag that was totally OUTSIDE of Fred’s control and NOT the fault of La Pisada Africa Safaris. As a true professional with years of experience, Fred jumped in to help solve the issue, even though neither he nor his company caused it! THAT is the quality customer service that Fred provides!
I highly recommend La Pisada Africa Safaris for anyone looking to have an awesome safari in East Africa.
Nairobi National Park Tour - Each time I visit Kenya, myself and family always make a point to enjoy a Safari tour. Of my many tours, this recent tour with La Pisada is without a... read more doubt the best! Our tour guide was passionate and a wealth of knowledge of Kenyan wildlife; they were on time and professional. I plan to return to Kenya in the near future and will be using La Pisada to book our next tour.
Wonderful holiday - Fred arranged a fly-in Masai Mara safari for us, followed by five days on the beach at Diani. All of the arrangements, flights and transfers went smoothly with no problems,... read more and it was a pleasure to meet Fred in person at the end of our trip.
We stayed at the Royal Mara in the Mara North conservancy which was superb, and Sands at Nomad in Diani, which has a great restaurant on the beach and wonderful service. We will definitely use La Pisada again for future bookings.














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