Lake Kivu Serena Hotel

The Lake Kivu Serena Hotel stands on its own stretch of palm-lined shore outside Gisenyi, looking west across the sixth largest lake in Africa toward the Congolese border.

Why We Love It

After the trekking, Kivu is where Rwanda slows down. The hotel holds a private sandy beach, which is uncommon on this lake, and the water carries no bilharzia and is safe to swim, so the closing days of a trip can be spent doing very little.

The Experience

Sixty six rooms and suites, all of them facing the water, with balconies on the upper floors and patios at ground level. There is a free-form pool with a shallow section for children, two tennis courts, the Maisha health club and spa, and dining on the lakefront. Boat trips, kayaking and the bicycle route along the shoreline all start at the door.

Need to Know

Gisenyi lies 160 kilometres from Kigali, about three hours by road or twenty minutes by air. This is a resort hotel rather than a bush lodge, which is exactly the point at the end of a trekking trip. It closes our Grand East Africa route. Read our Lake Kivu guide.