This is for the booking starting from Karongi (Kibuye) and is about 3 hours drive from Kigali
Description
Boat ride experience on Lake Kivu is mostly done in Karongi and Rubavu (Gisenyi) mostly. Enjoy the tranquility of Lake Kivu's hillside views, by undertaking a boat ride in Karongi to see islands or Rubavu for lake shores sightseeing tour, and you may pair the boat ride with coffee tour, the hike of the Congo Nile trail, the night fishing experiences and more.
A full safety briefing will be given prior to departure, and throughout the trip.
Tour Options
Gisenyi Boat Ride-Triton boat 1 hour
The hot springs
Duration: 1 hour
Starting point:
New Tam-Tam Bikini, Ave de la Production, Rwanda
Half day boat & Coffee tour 4 hours
Coffee Tour from crops to cup: You will have the opportunity to learn hands on about coffee growing processes from the farmers to cup..
Duration: 4 hours
Wooden motorboat
Starting point:
New Tam-Tam Bikini, Ave de la Production, Rwanda
Boat Transfer Kibuye -Gisenyi
KIbuye Islands boat tour 2 hours
Napoleon (Nyamunini) Island: Napoleon Hike is always a client’s option: 1,2 Km return distance hike, 113m as elevation to gain, and max altitude is 1583m
Duration: 2 hours
Starting point:
Museum of Environment, N/A, Kibuye, Rwanda
Gisenyi Boat Ride-Wooden boat 2 hours
The hot springs
Duration: 2 hours
Starting point:
New Tam-Tam Bikini, Ave de la Production, Rwanda
Itinerary
Nyamyumba Hot Springs
Admission included10 min
Visit the hot spring and expect local massage from only in Rubavu
What's included
Included
WiFi on board
Life Jackets
Snacks
All Fees and Taxes
Pickup Locations & Times
As you may have a specific location near Lake Kivu, you let us know.
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.9
34 reviews
5
32
4
2
3
0
2
0
1
0
Important Information
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Lake Kivu Boat Trips & Experiences take?
Lake Kivu Boat Trips & Experiences lasts about 1–3 hours. The itinerary has 1 stop.
How much does Lake Kivu Boat Trips & Experiences cost?
Prices start at $50 per person for this Gisenyi experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There are 5 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
Can I cancel Lake Kivu Boat Trips & Experiences for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, pickup is offered. As you may have a specific location near Lake Kivu, you let us know.
What languages is Lake Kivu Boat Trips & Experiences offered in?
The experience is available in EN, FR.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a private experience: only your party takes part. Up to 15 travellers can book together.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Lake Kivu Boat Trips & Experiences worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.9 out of 5 across 34 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Ames Boat Tours.
Reviews(34)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
K
KatherinaF1
September 6, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Lake Kivu Boat and Island Tour Experience
Julius and Jan were really friendly and very capable. Both my husband and I had a really good time. Julius picked us up from our hotel on time, and delivered everything you promised and more. Julius didn't just guide us, he volunteered information about the culture and the environment we were hiking in. A true guide!! Would recommend him and your tour to anyone.
Operator response
Thank you so much for your wonderful review Kat! We’re delighted that you had a great experience with Julius and Jan. Your kind words and recommendation mean a lot to us. We hope to welcome you again for another memorable experience in Rwanda!
T
tjsouthard
February 7, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Beautiful easy way to see Lake Kivu and learn about all the local lake activities!
A great way to see the coast of Lake Kivu and learn more about the lake and the surrounding areas! Also a quick stop at the hot springs! Be sure to wear shorts or pants that can roll up or even a bathing suit for a hot spring soak!
T
Trek20189617492
November 2, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Great trek and boat trip
Yusuf, Giselle and Jean brought out the best of Lake Kivu. The visit to Napoleon Island - with the great views from its peak - was memorable
Jeff - Malta
M
martina_ferracane
July 20, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Lovely boat trip
I had a lovely boat trip starting from Kibuye with a stop for hiking Napoleon island. Gisela was a lovely guide and explained a lot of interesting facts about the lake and the fisherman. I recommend this experience
E
E9226FTkeving
July 7, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Wonderful - Giselle is a great guide
Amazing views. Knowledgeable guide. Great captain and smooth sailing. Many animals. The lake is enormous and can’t really be captured in photo.
F
FrequentFlier788776
February 16, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Fishing on the lake like I’ve never seen before.
We truly enjoyed the night fishing experience with Salama!
We thought we were only going to get to observe the fisherman going out, but we actually got to sit on board their fishing and help all the nets in! Is hard to beat the beauty of Lynn key, but it is even more magical when you get to be on the lake at dark.
G
Gianlucabisco
January 5, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Something we didn’t expect!
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!!!!
J
jianh780
January 2, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
RWANDA HOLIDAY
The lake is beautiful with some islands and birds. The captain and the tour guide miss Giselle was wonderful, very friendly and experienced, her passionate commentary was so impressive
N
Navigator564932
July 26, 2024 · via Tripadvisor
Beautiful and informative
Sheba was a great guide. They met me at my desired location, Lakeside Bar and Restaurant and then we went around the lake and she pointed out all the cool spots and explained some of the history. The fishing village was cool. I took the trip from Gisenyi, but apparently Kibuye has more stuff to do.
X
X6803TNkarinel
July 22, 2024 · via Tripadvisor
Not to be missed!
An outing not to be missed with many discoveries: the walk on Lake Kivu, the magnificent view from Napoleon Island, the fishermen of Sambaza, the animals: monkeys, bats, swimming cows...
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