








3 Days Lake Kivu Adventure & Culture Tour – Rwanda
Tour Overview – 3 Days Lake Kivu Adventure & Culture Tour
The 3 Days Lake Kivu Adventure & Culture Tour offers a perfect blend of relaxation, exploration, and cultural immersion along Rwanda’s most scenic waterfront. Lake Kivu, one of Africa’s Great Lakes, is a stunning destination surrounded by misty hills, coffee plantations, and charming lakeside towns like Gisenyi and Kibuye. This adventure allows travelers to unwind along sandy shores, enjoy peaceful boat rides to local islands, and engage with communities that showcase Rwanda’s rich cultural traditions and creativity.
Beyond its serene landscapes, Lake Kivu holds deep cultural and historical significance. You’ll visit local fishing villages, coffee farms, and experience traditional Rwandan music and dance. From the vibrant city of Kigali to the tranquil waters of Kivu, this 3 Days Lake Kivu Adventure & Culture Tour captures Rwanda’s beauty, authenticity, and hospitality. It’s ideal for couples, families, and solo travelers looking for a balanced mix of adventure, culture, and relaxation in the Land of a Thousand Hills.
Book for this 3 Days Lake Kivu Adventure & Cultural Tour Rwanda.
Day 1: Kigali City Tour & Transfer to Lake Kivu (Gisenyi)
After breakfast, begin your journey with a Kigali City Tour, visiting landmarks such as the Kigali Genocide Memorial, Kimironko Market, and Inema Arts Center. Learn about Rwanda’s history, culture, and remarkable transformation. After lunch, depart for Gisenyi (Rubavu) — a 3-hour drive through scenic hills, tea plantations, and rural countryside. Upon arrival, check into your lakeside lodge and relax by the beach. In the evening, enjoy a walk along the lake promenade or watch fishermen sing as they paddle their traditional wooden boats into the sunset.
Accommodation: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel / Paradise Malahide / Inzu Lodge
Meal Plan: Lunch & Dinner
Day 2: Lake Kivu Boat Ride, Island Visit & Cultural Experience
Wake up to the calm rhythm of Lake Kivu and enjoy a hearty breakfast with panoramic lake views. Embark on a boat ride on Lake Kivu, exploring scenic islands such as Napoleon Island and Amahoro Island, home to exotic birds and local fishing communities. During the ride, you’ll have a chance to interact with fishermen and learn about their traditional techniques.
Later, visit a nearby coffee plantation, where you’ll discover the journey of Rwandan coffee — from bean to cup — and enjoy a tasting session. In the afternoon, experience a local cultural performance featuring Rwandan music, drumming, and traditional dances. Return to your lodge to unwind or take an optional sunset swim in the warm waters of Lake Kivu.
Accommodation: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel / Paradise Malahide / Inzu Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 3: Morning Visit & Transfer Back to Kigali
After breakfast, take a leisurely stroll through Gisenyi town, visiting local craft shops or the Congo border point (Petite Barrière) for photo opportunities. Depending on your schedule, you may also visit Niramba Hot Springs, known for their natural healing properties. Later, begin your return journey to Kigali, enjoying beautiful roadside scenery. Arrive in the afternoon for lunch or transfer to Kigali International Airport for your departure.
Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch
What’s Included
- All transportation in a private 4×4 safari vehicle
- Professional English-speaking guide/driver
- Accommodation and meals as per itinerary
- Kigali city tour and cultural visits
- Boat ride on Lake Kivu
- All park and community entry fees
- Bottled drinking water throughout the trip
What’s Excluded
- International flights and visas
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses (laundry, tips, phone calls, drinks)
- Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary
- Hotel meals before arrival or after departure
End of Tour 3 Days Lake Kivu Adventure & Culture Tour
The 3 Days Lake Kivu Adventure & Culture Tour is a relaxing yet enriching escape, offering a glimpse into Rwanda’s culture, nature, and people. It’s an experience that rejuvenates the body and soul while connecting you with the essence of Rwanda’s beauty.
Starting from US $ 890 per person
Discounted prices per person as the number of people rises. Prices for children are fixed as $ 150 per child.
| No of People | Up To | Price per person |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | – | $ 890 |
| 2 | – | $ 680 |
| 3 | – | $ 630 |
| 4 | – | $ 510 |
| 5 | – | $ 450 |
| 6 | – | $ 400 |
| 7 | 15 | $ 395 |
Posted on Tripadvisor patty eVerified 100% recommended I was originally in Tanzania for a safari but decided to add the gorilla trek at the end of my trip because the flight was too long to fly to Africa from California again at my age. I booked through Viator. From the beginning, communication with Universal Adventures was positive. They were prompt to answer any questions. And a few days before the excursion, they sent me my driver's name and WhatsApp number. His name is Christian.We communicated through WhatsApp, and he was very prompt to reply back. He was early to pick me up at 4:30am. I had another person in the car. The car was clean. Its a long drive to the meeting place. We stopped for breakfast pastries at a local shop( they take credit cards and had a clean breakfast. We then drove to the meeting place where we met up with our group. There they had hot drinks like coffees, lattes, teas, etc. We then had to drive to the beginning of the mountain. It was a long drive as the roads are not paved. My group was assigned the Isimbi gorilla family and our guide was Jolie. My porter was Adolf. I was the least active one in the group but the crew never made me feel bad. After what I thought was a 4 hr hike (it was really 1 hr and 26 minutes) we found our gorilla family. We had plenty of time to take pictures with them. After we were done, Christian took us to a rooftop restaurant. The food was delicious! I recommend this excursion 100%. The company is awesome and very professional.Posted on Tripadvisor Juliet KVerified Gorilla Experience in Rwanda! Easy ride, the trip was one in a life time experience. The driver (Christian) was very nice and kind and made the trip smooth! Everything was great.Posted on Tripadvisor zoe457Verified Amazing experience seeing the gorillas of Rwanda! Amazing experience seeing the gorillas. Dodos picked me up in Kigali and was very helpful through the whole process. He even had cold drinks when I finished the gorilla trekking. Highly recommend!Posted on Tripadvisor Trevor BVerified Great way to see Kigali! Our guide Christian was knowledgeable and kind. He showed us all the highlights including the moving Genocide Memorial. His personal stories and insights into Rwandan society were invaluable. It was truly a pleasure to spend the day with him in Kigali.Posted on Tripadvisor Destination709424Verified Gorilla Trekking Me and my partner have always dreamed of doing gorilla trekking so when Christian helped this come to life it was surreal! As tourists we felt incredibly safe and welcomed with Christian he was super knowledgable and happy to share lots of description and reasoning with all our questions to help us learn and understand the culture. We also did a cultural village visit, Golden Monkey Trek, Diane Fossey Museum and women’s centre. All suggested and planned with Christian from Universal Ventures Rawanda. Any requests we had were never too much for Christian he was always happy to help. I would 110% recommend Christian to all my friends and family who I know want to come to Rawanda. Thankyou for making our dreams come true!Posted on Tripadvisor Geti LVerified 100% would recommend Amazing team and guide. I didn’t have to think about anything since they planned everything from airport pick up till drop off. Best value for buck but also great attitude and support. Got permission to visit the Pablo family thanks to our guide!Posted on Tripadvisor Yanis RVerified Thanks Kim for that wonderful day Kim was my guide for my experience with the gorillas. He made the day so comfortable. Everything was perfect! We also had many conversations about everything. I definitely recommend traveling with him!!Posted on Tripadvisor Aglaia OVerified Amazing Rwanda gorilla trek! Playful babies, calm silverback, great guides. Book permits well in advance. My gorilla trekking experience in Rwanda was absolutely incredible. We found the gorillas within about an hour of hiking, and seeing them up close was unforgettable. The baby gorillas were especially playful and entertaining to watch, constantly moving around and interacting with each other. In contrast, the silverback was calm, quiet, and completely self-focused — somehow both powerful and peaceful at the same time. The gorillas were not scary at all, and we never felt threatened during the experience. The guides were fantastic: experienced, knowledgeable, and very entertaining throughout the trek. One of our guides even shared stories about crossing paths with Dian Fossey, which made the experience feel even more special and connected to Rwanda’s conservation history. One important tip: make sure to secure your trekking permit well in advance, as spots are limited and can sell out quickly. A truly once-in-a-lifetime experience that I would highly recommend.Posted on Tripadvisor MARCELLE EVerified Gorilles Kigali Nous avons choisis la parcours long mais ca valait le coup. Nous en avons pris pleins les yeux les guides étaient top le trajet depuis Kigali pas trop long avec le chauffeur de l'agence , NEZA qui a vraiment été super du début à la fin . Il nous été d’une grande aide.le responsable de l’agence et était super et disponible il nous a aidé pour toutes les démarches.Posted on Tripadvisor Teresa BVerified The trek was perfect! We saw a beautiful family of gorillas including two Silverbacks! The best experience of my life! Seeing gorillas in their natural habitat was incredible! A truly serene experience. The tour was well planned and could not have been more perfect. The entire team guided with professionalism and love. My porter, Jacqueline, was wonderful and took great care of me. My personal guide/driver, Kim, was a delight! I learned much about Rwanda from him on the drive. I was surprised he greeted me with champagne toast! The day could not have been better.
