Boat Cruise on Lake Kivu

With Standard Safaris, plan a highly recommended trip to Lake Kivu at the border of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo for an idyllic boat cruise tour experience. Lake Kivu, situated within the Albertine Rift and part of the African Great Lakes has a surface area of over 2,370 square kilometers. Lake Kivu stands at an altitude of 1,463 meters above sea level and a maximum depth of around 485 meters. Its major drainage is the Rusizi River which runs over 100 kilometers southwards to Lake Tanganyika. With approximate length and width of 90 kilometers and 50 kilometers respectively, Lake Kivu offers some of Africa’s best boat cruising adventures.

How a boat cruise is done on Lake Kivu

Visitors can experience boat cruises mostly at either Karongi or Rubavu on Lake Kivu. This starts with a briefing by an experienced boat crew. You will then wear life jackets and board a motorized boat/canoe, operated by the crew/local guides. From Karongi you will cruise towards Napoleon Island with magnificent views of the surrounding hills and green vegetation. During the boat cruise, you will spot many bird species, including the osprey and pied kingfisher. You will also see fisherfolk fishing in the lake. The boat cruise can be done in the morning or during sunset and usually takes 2 to 3 hours.

Traveling for a boat cruise

Traveling to Lake Kivu at Rubavu from Kigali city on the road is around 182 kilometers and the time taken on this scenic trip is between 4 to 5 hours. For people on a gorilla tracking tour in Volcanoes National Park, the distance from Kinigi to Rubavu is about 60 kilometers. This scenic trip takes 1 to 2 hours depending on traffic and road conditions. Book with a registered tour operator like Standard Safaris for a comfortable transfer on a safari vehicle driven by a professional guide. We also offer car hire services if you want a safari vehicle such as four-wheel drive, saloon car, or minibus.

Best time to travel for a Lake Kivu boat cruise

Visit during the dry season for a continuous boat cruise on Lake Kivu without the interruption of rainfall. The dry season at Lake Kivu runs from December to February and June to August. The driest months are June and July characterized by cool and dry weather conditions with minimal chances of rainfall.

Other activities to enjoy in and around Lake Kivu

Swimming

You can enjoy it since the serene waters of Lake Kivu are not inhabited by dangerous wildlife species such as hippos and crocodiles.

Birdwatching

You can spot a myriad of birds such as the yellow-throated greenbul, common bulbul, red-chested sunbird, scarlet-chested sunbird, cardinal woodpecker, hadada ibis, Egyptian goose, hamerkop, great cormorant, pied kingfisher, red-eyed dove and black kite.

Coffee tour

Visitors get a rare chance to witness the coffee-making process by Igoboka physically. Visitors also get to consume the coffee prepared by experienced people working on the coffee plantation at Igoboka cooperative.

Sightseeing

This offers the singular opportunity to view the serene Lake Kivu and the lovely backdrop scenery of rolling hills, and Islands including Amahoro, Mukondwe, Shegesha, and Napoleon. Take as many photos as possible of the gorgeous place to have equally lovely memories of Lake Kivu.

Fishing

Fishing allows visitors on a boat cruise to participate in this exhilarating activity where there is a huge chance of catching a tilapia. Other fish species that call Lake Kivu home include Lake Rukwa minnow, East African red-finned barb, and Barbus salmon. You can take memorable photos with your catch for your memories at Lake Kivu.

Other tour activities visitors can engage in besides a boat cruise on Lake Kivu include, mountain biking, kayaking, nature walks, and hiking the Congo Nile trail. With Standard Safaris you will have a curated itinerary that caters to your desired tour activities. Besides, your tailored itinerary will incorporate transportation, meals, accommodation, and more to enjoy your tour in East Africa.

What to pack for a Lake Kivu boat cruise

A boat cruise on the serene Lake Kivu is arguably one of the most exciting tour experiences, but planning for it requires you to pack the following items.

Light clothes, especially a long-sleeved shirt and pair of trousers for comfort and preventing bug bites.
Insect repellent to avoid bug bites
Hat or cap to shield your head from direct sunlight
Sunglasses to protect your eyes from UV radiations from the sun
Sunscreen to shield your delicate skin from UV radiations from the sun
Refillable water bottle for rehydrating your body
Extra cash for tips or souvenirs where necessary
Camera and extra batteries to take shots of birds, landscapes, and water
Binoculars to get clear views of faraway scenes and wildlife
Toiletries including towels, deodorant, toothpaste and lotion, etc.
First aid kit
Swimsuit in case you enjoy swimming
Light long-sleeved jacket in case it gets cold or rain falls
Light snacks in case you feel quite hungry

For more information about the essential items, you should consider communicating with Standard Safaris for guidance.

Sándor Jakubinyi

14:31 22 Feb 24

2019 megigazulás

12:45 21 Feb 24

We went on a two-week trip with my family, organised by Coleb from Standard Safaris.

I had my concerns about organised trips, but this one didn’t justify any of those. Everything went very smoothly, even when some problems arose with one of the cars it got fixed by next morning, the accomodations were clean and comfortable, the programs were exciting and well-balanced - everything was done to a truly high standard.

If you plan to visit Uganda and are looking for a guide, I warmly recommend Coleb and his team. In case you have a choice of drivers, go for Godwin, his presence made this trip even more enjoyable - cheerful, helpful, good sense of humour, generally a great person. Just look for the guy with a big smile and big heart:)

Bert Simoens

09:38 08 Jan 24

We recently embarked on a safari adventure with Standard Safaris in Uganda, which was truly exceptional. Our guide, Yonah, was outstanding - his kindness, knowledge, and discretion significantly enhanced our experience. He was the heart of our trip.

The local company's planning was offering a tailor-made journey that matched our interests. We saw an array of wildlife in Murchison, enjoyed rafting at Jinja, and experienced mountain biking at Sipi. A visit to Kidepo National Park was a highlight and comes highly recommended.

The vehicle provided was comfortable and reliable. We highly recommend Standard Safaris for anyone seeking an unforgettable safari in Uganda. Their professionalism and the exceptional guidance of staff like Yonah make them an great choice.

Michał Kostrzewa

00:41 15 Nov 23

We are all extremely grateful Standard Safaris for an incredible East Africa experience. I recently booked a custom trip for group of 8 people, including an 8-year-old boy, from Kampala through Queen Elizabeth National Park and on to Rwanda and Burundi. Coleb delivered on everything that was discussed and agreed upon beforehand.

The car provided was in great condition and our driver Meddy went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable, informed, and had the best possible time. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. All local services were inlcuded in (reasonable) price that we agreed, so there was no need to worry about payments during the 6 day trip. Also Standard Safaris agreed took care about safety and security by helping us organize armed ranger while in the park.

The whole trip was hassle-free and smooth. We saw amazing wildlife in Queen Elizabeth NP, took in the sights of Rwanda and Burundi, and made lifelong memories.

I would happily book with Standard Safaris again in a heartbeat and recommend them wholeheartedly to anyone looking for the best East Africa trip. They provide top-notch service while ensuring you have an incredible, customized experience. If you want a hassle-free, flawlessly organized African adventure, Standard Safaris is the tour operator to book with.

Ivan Nammanda

18:31 27 Oct 23

Very organized travel operator who chose awesome guide to make our trip wonderful.

We booked a nine days trip with Standard Safaris and all was perfect from start to finish. Coleb was very prompt at replying and easy to liaise with ahead of the trip. We had done a lot of research and had an itinerary in mind and Coleb helped us to put everything together to make this happen for a very reasonable price.  On the trip we had a private vehicle for the whole tour which was exactly what we wanted. Bryan was our driver and an amazing guide - really friendly and knowledgable, working hard to find the things that we wanted to see and quickly understanding what was of interest to us/how much information to give.

Would highly recommend a trip to Uganda with Standard Safaris. We are definitely coming back soon!

MUGAIGA KENNETH

18:01 27 Oct 23

The company has very courteous tour guides with wide knowledge of fauna and frola in the whole of East Africa.
The choice of safari Lodges is good with first class treatment.
Game drive security is assured.
Almost The whole of September I was traversing through DRC, Uganda,and Rwanda on a gorilla tour and wildlife expedition.
Everything was arranged and booked perfectly by Standard Safaris.
The owner, Coleb was always helpful whenever we needed to ask questions about this gorilla safari in Uganda and beyond.
It was a complex expedition but Standard safaris and Coleb made it look amazingly easy.
I’ll recommend Standard safaris 200%, for all gorilla safaris in Uganda, Rwanda and wildlife tours in east africa.

travel uganda

16:35 27 Oct 23

This is so far the best gorilla trekking company in Uganda, and africa, by far. I had a wonderful time with Standard Safaris as a solo traveler.
My guide was excellent and our safari planner, Coleb was quick with responses and the prices were very friendly.
I’ll definitely book with Standard safaris on my next gorilla tour in Rwanda and Uganda.

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