Rwanda

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Lake Kivu

Rwanda's deep, mountain-ringed Great Lake

Visa & entry checker Plan a trip to Lake Kivu Plan a trip around Rwanda

Best time to visit: Jan, Feb, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Currency: RWF
Time zone: UTC+2
Country: Rwanda

Photo: NicyK20, CC0

Lake Kivu is one of Africa's Great Lakes, on Rwanda's western border with the DR Congo, with steep terraced hills and lakeside towns at Rubavu (Gisenyi), Karongi (Kibuye) and Rusizi (Cyangugu). People come to rest after gorilla trekking, swim, kayak, take boat trips to the islands and hike or cycle the Congo Nile Trail.

Largest cities

Kigali
Gisenyi
Butare
Musanze
Rwamagana

Quick facts

Figures are rounded recent official estimates.

Country: Rwanda
Capital: Kigali
Region population: 2M
Population of Rwanda: 14.6M
Country area: 26,338 km²
Official language: Kinyarwanda, Swahili, English, and French
Currency: Rwandan Franc (RWF) · 1 USD ≈ 1,478 RWF
Time zone: UTC+2
Calling code: +250
Drives on the: Right
Elevation: 1,461 m
Plugs: C / J · 230V
Emergency numbers: 112 · 113 · 114
Best time to visit: Jan, Feb, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Temperatures through the year

Average daily high and low for each month in °C. Months marked with a drop are often rainy.

Temperatures through the year

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High	23°	23°	24°	24°	24°	24°	24°	25°	24°	24°	23°	23°
Low	18°	19°	19°	19°	19°	18°	18°	18°	19°	19°	19°	18°

Best time to visitOther months

Approximate daily cost

Per adult per day: food, local transport and half a double room, without activities or flights.

ConservativeSimple stays, free and low-cost sights first.$33
HighComfortable hotels, a balanced mix of sights and trips.$100
LuxuryLuxury hotels, more paid experiences and day trips.$330

Plan a trip to Lake Kivu

Top things to do

Free
Rubavu lakeshore and beachfront
Walk the former colonial resort waterfront, lined with old mansions, hotels and lakeside bars, and arrive late afternoon to catch the sunset over the water.
- Half day
- Rubavu (Gisenyi) and the northern shore
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
≈ $5
Rubavu Hot Springs
See the volcanic hot springs on the lakeshore south of town, an easy moto-taxi or taxi ride away, where the water is too hot to touch in places.
- Half day
- Rubavu (Gisenyi) and the northern shore
- Good for kids
Free
Kigufi lakeside and Paradis Malahide
Spend a quiet afternoon at the small beaches and restaurant decks of Kigufi near Rubavu, such as Paradis Malahide; take a taxi there and back, as the road is rough.
- Half day
- Rubavu (Gisenyi) and the northern shore
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
≈ $45
Kayaking on Lake Kivu
Paddle a guided route along the shoreline and between small islands, and go in the morning, when the water is usually calmest.
- Half day
- Rubavu (Gisenyi) and the northern shore
≈ $30
Karongi boat trip to the islands
Take a boat cruise from Karongi past the pine-covered shoreline to the nearby islands, and agree on the price and duration with the boat operator beforehand.
- Half day
- Karongi (Kibuye) and the central shore
- Good for kids
Free
Karongi beach and fishermen at dusk
Relax on the beach below the pine- and eucalyptus-covered hills, then stay until dusk to hear the fishermen singing as they paddle out in unison.
- Half day
- Karongi (Kibuye) and the central shore
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
≈ $50
Congo Nile Trail stage
Hike or mountain-bike one stage of the 227 km trail through terraced hills above the lake, and book a guide or bike hire in advance through kivubelt.travel.
- Full day
- Karongi (Kibuye) and the central shore
≈ $100
Nyungwe National Park day trip
Drive into the montane rainforest of Nyungwe, home to chimpanzees, other primates and birds, for a guided walk or the canopy walkway, and book permits ahead.
- Full day
- Rusizi (Cyangugu) and the southern shore

Before you go

Entry and visas

Most visitors need a visa for Rwanda; citizens of Commonwealth countries and many other nationalities can get a free 30-day visa on arrival, while others can apply online for an e-visa before travel. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond arrival and have one blank page, and a yellow fever certificate is required if arriving from a country with transmission risk. Check the latest rules on Rwanda's official immigration website before you travel.

Official website

From the airport

The main gateway is Kigali International Airport, about 3 to 3.5 hours by road to Rubavu or Karongi, by private car or by public bus from Kigali. Rusizi in the south is a longer drive through Nyungwe.

Getting around

Buses link the lakeside towns, moto-taxis and private taxis cover short trips, and boats and bikes are common ways to explore the shoreline.

Local tips

June to September is the dry season, with the clearest skies for hiking and boat trips; October to December and May bring more rain.
Plastic bags have been banned in Rwanda since 2008 and can be confiscated on arrival, so pack with reusable bags.
The Congolese shore, including Goma and Bukavu, has been under M23 control since early 2025, so stay on the Rwandan side and check current travel advice.
Carry Rwandan francs in cash for moto-taxis, small restaurants and markets, because card payment is less reliable outside the bigger hotels.

Areas worth knowing

Rubavu (Gisenyi) and the northern shore
Rusizi (Cyangugu) and the southern shore
Karongi (Kibuye) and the central shore

Official travel advice

The UK Foreign Office last updated its advice for this country on September 4, 2026. The advice includes warnings against travel to some areas. Read it before booking.

Read the advice on GOV.UK