Lake Kivu Serena Hotel

Lake Kivu Serena Hotel is a beautifully positioned five-star property on the shores of Lake Kivu in Gisenyi, northwestern Rwanda, the lake that forms the border with the DRC and one of Africa's most dramatic and underappreciated freshwater lakes. The hotel's rooms and suites look directly over the lake, with the volcanic mountains of the Virunga range rising on the Congolese side and the deep-blue lake stretching southward through Rwanda's hills.

For Rwanda gorilla trekking itineraries, the Lake Kivu Serena provides an exceptional overnight addition, particularly when the gorilla trekking is based in Volcanoes National Park (2.5 hours away) or when guests wish to include a Kivu boat trip, kayaking, or a visit to the Gisenyi fishing villages as part of a comprehensive Rwanda experience. The Serena's pool, restaurant, and lakeside terrace are genuinely beautiful.