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Island hopping Lake Kivu

The largest lake in Rwanda. Mountains everywhere you look and endless blue waters. Lake Kivu dominates the border with Congo and lies in the heart of Africa’s lush Great Rift Valley.

African Great Lake

Lake Kivu is one of the African Great Lakes. Covering an area of 2,700 km², it borders the Democratic Republic of Congo. The lake is dotted with small islands perfect for island hopping, such as Napoleon’s Island, Mpembe Island, or Amahoro Island. Spend two days crossing the lake in a traditional dugout canoe and set up camp on one of these stunning islands. With a campfire, monkeys swinging through the trees, and otters along the shoreline, you’ll be completely off the beaten track! Or, if you prefer to stay active, try sailing, boating, fishing, surfing, or even waterskiing.

Destinations at Lake Kivu

But there are also several nice places to visit around this lake. For example, Gisenyi (Rubavu) in the north, Kibuye (Karongi) in the east, and Cyanungu (Rusizi) in the south. Gisenyi is a lovely, relaxed town to chill in and stroll along the promenade, definitely not to be missed. Kibuye is particularly interesting to visit, as from here you can explore many islands. Go night fishing with the local fishermen and you might just reel in a big, tasty fish!

If you drive a bit further than Kibuye, you’ll pass by Urutare rwa Ndaba, the Ndaba Rock, and waterfalls. The place itself isn’t particularly remarkable, but the story behind it is! The story, which the local kids are eager to tell you, carries a moral. I’m not going to spoil it, go there yourself and ask the kids in the area!

The local culture

Many people forget that the southern part of Lake Kivu is also really chill! Cyanungu is not only the end of the Congo-Nile trail, but also a super beautiful place. Immerse yourself in the local culture and visit the hot springs, which, according to locals, have healing properties. A trip to this area is super healthy. You’re also close to Nyungwe Forest, where you can spot chimps. This area is also home to many coffee and tea plantations, so take a cultural and informative tour and discover where your daily coffee comes from!

Explore Lake Kivu by boat

The best way to view Lake Kivu is by boat! Travel from island to island on this beautiful lake. Look around and take in the surrounding mountains, volcanoes, and lush green landscape. Lake Kivu has several spots where you can visit islands by boat or dugout canoe.

For example, from Kibuye, there are 5 great islands to visit. One of them is Munini Island, also known as Napoleon’s Island. It’s not named after Napoleon because he visited, but because the island is shaped like his hat. Don’t be surprised by the residents of this island… they’re bats! Hundreds of bats hang in the trees like bunches of bananas. It’s a pretty cool island to visit, with plenty of beautiful birds and other animals to spot!

Mpembe Island

Of ga naar Mpembe Island, vanaf hier kun je je met een brug naar Mpembe peninsula. Op dit deel kun je een lekkere wandeling van ongeveer 4 kilometer maken en mocht je dit eiland met zijn vele vogeltjes nou echt tof vinden, kun je hier ook gewoon je tentje opzetten. Ga je morgen weer lekker verder met eilandhoppen. Of je kiest ervoor om je tentje op te zetten op de campsite bij Amahoro Island. Hier vind je iets meer luxe zoals een bar, restaurant en een zwembad. Slaap lekker!

Kumugongwe Island

The next day, you'll head to Kumugongwe Island, where you can spot swimming cows. You might think, "Swimming cows?! Are you kidding me?" But no, this farmer, who keeps his cows here, made them swim across the water because there was not enough space on the mainland for grazing. And yes, cows can swim really well!

You'll find plenty of unique things around Lake Kivu! On this tour, you’ll also come across monkeys, spot eagles, and find otters around the islands. All that wildlife! It’s a great reason to hop into a boat. And if you bring along some snacks, you can float around and enjoy a beautiful sundowner on the water — the perfect end to your days on the water!

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1. Africa is our home

We know it inside out, and that leads to amazing trips. We put them together by going out and exploring ourselves. Trust us: these travel experiences can’t be found anywhere else!

2. Local Experiences

This means you'll visit the places where the locals live. Hike with the Masai, cook with your host family in your homestay, and fish with traditional fishermen.

3. You decide

So, what are you in the mood for? We’ll tailor the entire trip to your preferences. Along the way, you can always count on us, even in the middle of the night.

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While you enjoy your dream trip, you contribute to the development of local communities, economies, and the environment. That feels good!

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