3 Days Lake Kivu Kayaking Excursion
Offered by - Kingfisher Journeys
Tour Features
Come on a journey to discover Lake Kivu’s spectacular ‘Bay of Islands’. Paddling through the deep azure waters we island hop past uninhabited islands – including Napoleon island with its famous bat colony. We spend the first Night at Cormoran lodge but the 2nd night camping on another beautiful, uninhabited island (Optional), which is still mostly covered with natural woodland and so teams with birdlife. We return to Kibuye, via the coast and call into Amohoro Island for lunch.
Mid-Range tour | This mid-range tour includes comfortable lodges and tented camps. |
Can be customized | You can request minor changes to the accommodations and destinations of this tour. |
Private tour | This tour will be organized exclusively for you and won't be shared with others. |
Solo travel available | Solo travelers can book this tour. |
Can start any day | If availability permits, this tour can start on any day. |
No minimum age | There is no minimum age for this tour. |
Transportation | This tour uses: Normal 4x4, Walking, Boat. |
Route & Activities
Rwanda
Activities Included
Accommodation & Meals
Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour can be arranged for an extra cost
Day | Accommodation | Meals |
1-2 | Cormoran Lodge No images available | All Meals Included with Drinks |
3 | Mid-Range Accommodation No images available | Breakfast & Lunch Included with Drinks |
Arrival (See Getting There for more details)
- A transfer from the airport can be arranged for an extra cost.
- Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.
- Day 1 - Transfer from Kigali to Karongi at Lake KivuThis afternoon, you driver will transfer you from Kigali to Karongi at Lake Kivu. The journey will take between 3.5 to 4hours. Reaching out into the deep blue waters of Lake Kivu, and built entirely of locally sourced wood, Cormoran Lodge's seven ensuite cottage rooms are perched on a lush hillside near Kibuye. It has a lovely restaurant and bar that serves up some great local fish, Rwandan and international cuisine with a distinctly French feel. A leisure day at Lake Kivu will be an opportunity to relax, enjoying beautiful views of the Lake, carry your swimming costumes for a good swim in clean waters of the Lake. Leisure afternoon at Lake Kivu - Swimming and Relaxing
Accommodation: Cormoran Lodge
Meals & Drinks: All Meals Included with Drinks
- Day 2 - Kayak from Karongi to Gishayu Island with a stop tSetting off from Kibuye, we soon approach Lake Kivu’s ‘Bay of Islands’ a beautiful setting unlike anywhere else in the country. We then ‘island hop’, stop off for lunch and a swim in the crystal clear and impressively clean, fresh water to cool off. In the afternoon, we visit Napoleon Island wh ere there is a remarkable (and noisy) colony of thousands of fruit bats that fight amongst themselves for the best roost. It’s then just a short paddle to our campsite, on another beautiful uninhabited island that is still covered with native trees that provide a rare haven for numerous species of birds dart in and out of the foliage. With exclusive access on the island, we set up camp, buy fish for dinner from local fishermen – so supporting a local community – and cook our own, simple but delicious meal, which we can provide for you, around a small open fire. There is an option of spending a Night at Cormoran Lodge in case you would not be okay with Camping.
Accommodation: Cormoran Lodge
Meals & Drinks: Breakfast & Lunch Included with Drinks
- Day 3 - Kayaking from Gishayu back to Karongi & Transfer bAfter a simple breakfast, we turn back towards Kibuye or end in Kinunu for a coffee tour before meeting your driver to proceed to your next destination, this time following the coast where we have superb views of the lush mosaic of crops on small farms that make Rwanda’s hills so special. Before reaching Kibuye, we call in for lunch on Amohoro (Peace) Island, where there will be time to contemplate just how special the past couple of days have been. Then, in the afternoon it’s just a short paddle back to where we began; was it only yesterday? Kayaking on Lake Kivu from Gishayu back to Karongi
Meals & Drinks: Breakfast & Lunch Included with Drinks
End of tour (See Getting There for more details)
- Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
- A transfer back to the airport can be arranged for an extra cost.
Includes
- Park fees (for non-residents)
- All activities mentioned (unless clearly labeled as optional)
- Meals (as specified in the day-by-day description)
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation mentioned (unless clearly labeled as optional)
- All Taxes/VAT
Excludes
- All accommodation mentioned (unless clearly labeled as optional upgrade)
- International flights (from/to the client's home country)
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- Tips: tipping guideline of $6 per person per day for the guide and crew
- Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees and other personal items)
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
Rates Per Person
Oct 8, 2024 - Oct 8, 2025
*n/a = not available. This tour is unavailable for solo travelers.
Includes
- Park fees (for non-residents)
- All activities mentioned (unless clearly labeled as optional)
- Meals (as specified in the day-by-day description)
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation mentioned (unless clearly labeled as optional)
- All Taxes/VAT
Excludes
- All accommodation mentioned (unless clearly labeled as optional upgrade)
- International flights (from/to the client's home country)
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- Tips: tipping guideline of $6 per person per day for the guide and crew
- Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees and other personal items)
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
Getting There
Kigali International Airport (KGL), on the outskirts of Kigali, would most likely be your point of entry point into the country. There are currently no direct flights from any North American city to Kigali. All require at least one stop, with most major cities, including New York, Toronto, Sao Paolo and Montreal only requiring one stop. Direct flights are available from Amsterdam and Brussels. There are also direct flights on Turkish Airlines, from Istanbul, and from Dubai on Rwanda Air. There are no direct flights from Doha and Qatar. Flights from major cities in Asia, such as Hong Kong and Singapore, also require one stop. Flights from Sydney, Australia presently require two stops.
Rwanda is quite tiny, and most people travel inside the country by car. Rwanda's speed limit is 60 kilometres per hour on all roads. Akagera Aviation, on the other hand, provides charter helicopter transfers to and from any place in the country.
This tour starts in Kigali and ends in Kigali, Rwanda
A transfer from and back to the airport is included
Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour can be arranged for an extra cost
Travel Requirements
- All foreign visitors need a passport that is valid for at least six months
- Passports must have a clean and a full visa page for endorsement.
- When arriving from a yellow-fever-infected country in Africa or the Americas a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required.
- As of January 2018, citizens of all countries are now eligible for visas on arrival at US$30 for 30 days. More details at www.migration.gov.rw
- For people visiting Rwanda in conjunction with Kenya and/or Uganda, it is possible to buy a joint visa for all three countries with advance application. See www.migration.gov.rw for details.
Getting There
Kigali International Airport (KGL), on the outskirts of Kigali, would most likely be your point of entry point into the country. There are currently no direct flights from any North American city to Kigali. All require at least one stop, with most major cities, including New York, Toronto, Sao Paolo and Montreal only requiring one stop. Direct flights are available from Amsterdam and Brussels. There are also direct flights on Turkish Airlines, from Istanbul, and from Dubai on Rwanda Air. There are no direct flights from Doha and Qatar. Flights from major cities in Asia, such as Hong Kong and Singapore, also require one stop. Flights from Sydney, Australia presently require two stops.
Rwanda is quite tiny, and most people travel inside the country by car. Rwanda's speed limit is 60 kilometres per hour on all roads. Akagera Aviation, on the other hand, provides charter helicopter transfers to and from any place in the country.
This tour starts in Kigali and ends in Kigali, Rwanda
A transfer from and back to the airport is included
Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour can be arranged for an extra cost
Travel Requirements
- All foreign visitors need a passport that is valid for at least six months
- Passports must have a clean and a full visa page for endorsement.
- When arriving from a yellow-fever-infected country in Africa or the Americas a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required.
- As of January 2018, citizens of all countries are now eligible for visas on arrival at US$30 for 30 days. More details at www.migration.gov.rw
- For people visiting Rwanda in conjunction with Kenya and/or Uganda, it is possible to buy a joint visa for all three countries with advance application. See www.migration.gov.rw for details.
Offered By

Kingfisher Journeys

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