Three days of slow time on Lake Kivu: boats, coffee, quiet beaches and hills, with no early alarms.
Lake Kivu is Rwanda’s place to rest. The shore is lined with small bays and green hills, there are no hippos or crocodiles in the water, and the pace of the day is set by the light.
This short escape is built for travellers who have just finished a trek, or who simply want a few days beside a lake, with a boat trip to the islands and a visit to a coffee washing station.
Luxury safari
Handpicked luxury lodges and camps, chosen for their setting, service and guiding.
Private safari
Your own vehicle and guide for the whole journey, never shared with other travellers.
Made to measure
Change the pace, a lodge or an activity and we rebuild the itinerary around you.
Start any day
Travel on the dates that suit you, subject to lodge and permit availability.
Solo travellers welcome
Priced for one on request, with the single supplement shown under Rates.
Pace and fitness
Relaxed, fitness: easy.
Drive north-west from Kigali through the hills to Gisenyi and settle in at Lake Kivu Serena Hotel, on the shore of the lake. The rest of the day is for the garden, the water and the sunset.
Overnight
Lake Kivu Serena Hotel (opens the property’s website in a new tab)
A classic resort on a sandy beach at Rubavu, at the northern end of the lake.
Take a boat out to the islands in the morning, with time to swim or paddle. In the afternoon visit a coffee washing station to see how Rwandan coffee goes from cherry to cup, and taste the result.
Overnight
Lake Kivu Serena Hotel (opens the property’s website in a new tab)
A classic resort on a sandy beach at Rubavu, at the northern end of the lake.
A slow breakfast beside the lake, then the drive back to Kigali, arriving in the afternoon.
Lake Kivu Serena Hotel (opens the property’s website in a new tab)
A classic resort on a sandy beach at Rubavu, at the northern end of the lake.
Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Important to know
Rates per person
| Season | Solo | 2 people | 3 people | 4 people | 5 people | 6 people | 7+ people |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High season (Jun to Oct, Dec to Feb) | US$1,270 | US$1,080 | US$1,015 | US$1,015 | US$1,015 | US$1,015 | Get quote |
| Low season (Mar to May, Nov) | US$1,120 | US$950 | US$893 | US$893 | US$893 | US$893 | Get quote |
Prices are per person, in US dollars, and depend on the number of travellers sharing the vehicle and guide. They are sample rates for planning and will be confirmed when you enquire, as lodge and permit prices change each year.
Best time for this trip All year
Pack light, neutral colours for game drives, a warm fleece for early mornings, a sun hat, good sunscreen and insect repellent. Binoculars are provided in the vehicle, but bring your own if you are a keen birder or photographer.
Made to measure
Every Uwera safari is private. Slow the pace, add a night by a lake, swap a lodge or bring the children: tell us in your request and we will rebuild the itinerary around you.
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