A boat resting on a calm lake with volcanic hills rising in the background at dawn.

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Lake Kivu Honeymoon: Volcanoes and Water

A gorilla trek followed by three relaxed nights on the shore of Lake Kivu, with boat trips and island visits.

Enquire about this trip See the day by day

Duration5 Days / 4 Nights

Group size2 travellers

Best monthsJune – September, December – February

From$3,980 per person sharing

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The Trip in Short

This is built for couples who want one significant activity and then space to do nothing in particular. The gorilla trek comes first, while energy is highest, followed by the drive down to Lake Kivu – Rwanda’s largest lake and the sixth-largest in Africa – for three nights with no fixed plan beyond boat trips and sunset.

Kivu’s water is bilharzia-free, which matters if swimming is on the agenda, and the lakeside towns of Gisenyi and Karongi both run relaxed boat safaris out to small islands with names like Peace Island and Nyamirundi.

Park fees and gorilla permits in Rwanda are set by the Rwanda Development Board.

Highlights

Mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Boat safari on Lake Kivu with island stops
Swimming in bilharzia-free water
Sunset views over the lake from a private terrace
Visit to Nyamirundi Island's coffee plantation
Relaxed pacing with no fixed daily schedule after day two

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Where You Go, Stop by Stop

Day 1

Kigali – Musanze (Volcanoes NP)

Day 2

Gorilla trekking, transfer to Lake Kivu

Day 3–4

Lake Kivu: boats, islands, rest

Day 5

Lake Kivu – Kigali – departure

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Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1: Kigali to Musanze

The drive to the foot of the Virunga volcanoes takes about two and a half hours. The afternoon is free – a short walk, or simply settling into the lodge before an early start.

Day 2: Gorilla trek, then Lake Kivu

Morning trekking in Volcanoes National Park, then a scenic two-hour drive southwest to the shore of Lake Kivu, arriving in time to watch the sun go down over water framed by volcanic hills on the Congolese side.

Day 3–4: Lake Kivu

Two full days with nothing scheduled beyond what you choose. A half-day boat safari to Nyamirundi Island's small coffee plantation is worth building in, along with time on the beach or terrace and a sunset cruise. Kayaks are available from most lakeside properties for anyone who wants to paddle rather than be paddled.

Day 5: Return to Kigali

A relaxed morning before the roughly three-hour drive back to Kigali for departure.

From

$3,980

Enquire about this trip

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What the Price Covers

Included

Rwanda gorilla trekking permit ($1,500)
All accommodation, 4 nights, including one lake-view upgrade
Daily breakfast and three dinners
One guided boat safari on Lake Kivu
Private transport throughout
Bottled water

Not included

International flights
Rwanda entry visa
Lunches (available at extra cost at lakeside restaurants)
Spa treatments
Gratuities
Travel insurance

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Before You Book

Is this a good honeymoon pairing with the gorilla trek?

Yes – it front-loads the one physically demanding day and leaves the rest of the trip genuinely restful, which is the usual complaint about gorilla-only itineraries.

Is the lake really safe to swim in?

Lake Kivu is one of the few major African lakes free of bilharzia, unlike Victoria or Tanganyika, so swimming is generally considered safe near the shore.

Can we upgrade to a private villa?

Most Kivu-shore properties offer villa or suite upgrades with private plunge pools; ask when booking as availability is limited in peak season.

Do we need visas in advance?

Most nationalities can get a Rwandan visa on arrival or via the online East Africa Tourist Visa; check current requirements before travel.

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Where This Trip Goes

Kigali

Rwanda · City

Rwanda's capital and safari hub, unusually clean and walkable, with the Kigali Genocide Memorial as its central, essential stop.

Lake Kivu

Rwanda · Lake

Rwanda's largest lake, forming the border with DRC, used mainly for boat trips, swimming and a break between the country's more demanding trekking destinations.

Rwanda

Country

The most accessible mountain gorilla trekking in the world, a rainforest canopy walk in Nyungwe and a recovered Big Five park at Akagera, all within a…

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Lake Kivu Honeymoon: Volcanoes and Water