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Mantis Kivu Queen uBuranga

Lake Kivu, Rwanda · by Mantis Collection · also known as Kivu Queen uBuranga, Mantis Kivu Ocean uBuranga

Houseboat
Blue-toned layered hills and peninsulas reflected in calm lake water at duskElevated view over Lake Kivu with a green wooded shoreline curving into the bay under a bright skyWooden fishing pirogues lashed together with long eucalyptus poles, moored on green waterA man paddling a long wooden dugout canoe across the lake in early morning lightPhotos of Lake Kivu, not the lodge. Lodge photos coming with permission.
Rates
On request
Size
10 rooms
Children
Not published
Location
Lake Kivu
From Kigali
3.5 h by road
Best months
Not published

Mantis Kivu Queen uBuranga is a houseboat of 6 standard cabins, 2 deluxe cabins and 2 executive suites run by Mantis Collection on Lake Kivu, Rwanda.

Location

A 33 m, three-deck houseboat with 10 cabins that cruises Lake Kivu between Gisenyi (Rubavu) in the north and Nyamasheke in the south: 2-night southbound sailings from Saturday and 3-night northbound sailings from Tuesday. The lake lies between Volcanoes and Nyungwe national parks, and its shores are lined with fishing villages. Guests board at Rubavu Port or near Nyamasheke (Rwesero).

Lake

Cabins have floor-to-ceiling windows onto Lake Kivu; viewing deck with hot tub; itineraries visit Napoleon, Teddy Bear, Monkey and Peace islands.

PositionNot published
ElevationNot published
Nearest townRubavu (Gisenyi) / Nyamasheke (embarkation ports)
Helipad at the lodgeNot published

Rubavu Port about 1 h from Volcanoes NP and about 4 h by road from Kigali; Nyamasheke embarkation about 1 h drive from Kamembe airport.

Getting around

Three decks; no information on stairs or lift found.

Neighbours

Lake shores lined with fishing villages.

Approximate location. Pins show the lowest published rate per person per night.

Who it's for

Not enough verified facts yet to say.

Tags come from verified facts, not opinions. Each one shows why it applies.

What you do here

Activities at Mantis Kivu Queen uBuranga

ActivityCostMin. ageNotes
Canoeing——Kayaking on Lake Kivu (inclusion not stated)
Cultural / community visit——Guided village walks and hikes ashore (inclusion not stated)

When to go

Blue dots: rainfall

The long rains run March to May and the short rains October to November. Treks and drives go ahead in the rain, and lodges often charge less.

Rates

Mantis Kivu Queen uBuranga doesn't publish a rate sheet we can verify. Get a quote from the lodge or an agent; we're adding rates as operators share them.

Rooms and amenities

Rooms

  • 6 × Standard cabin
  • 2 × Deluxe cabin
  • 2 × Executive Suite

Amenities

Shared poolWi-Fi

Getting there

Fly into Kigali International Airport (KGL), then go by road or helicopter.

By road
3.5 h

Via Rubavu (Gisenyi). Your lodge or agent arranges the driver; there's no need to find one yourself.

Questions

How much does Mantis Kivu Queen uBuranga cost?

Mantis Kivu Queen uBuranga does not publish a rate sheet we can verify. Ask the lodge or an agent for a quote, then check it here.

How do you get to Mantis Kivu Queen uBuranga?

Fly into Kigali International Airport (KGL). Lake Kivu is about 3.5 hours by road from Kigali.

Before you go

VisasVisa on arrival available to citizens of all countries (since 1 Jan 2018) or in advance via Irembo; visa fee max USD 50 single-entry / USD 70 multiple-entry; fee waived for 30-day visits by AU, Commonwealth and Francophonie citizens; EAC citizens get a free 6-month pass; passport should be valid 6 months beyond departure.
Yellow feverCertificate required for travellers aged 1+ arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission; not required when arriving directly from non-risk countries (e.g. the US). Vaccine generally not recommended for Rwanda itself.
MalariaThe CDC says malaria is present in all areas of Rwanda, primarily P. falciparum, chloroquine-resistant; prescription prophylaxis recommended (atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine or tafenoquine). Visit Rwanda also recommends prophylaxis.
TippingTypical guidance: private guide USD 10 pp/day; park guide USD 5 pp per trek; rangers USD 5 each; trackers USD 5 per group; porter hire ~USD 10 plus USD 2-5 tip (Volcanoes Safaris suggests USD 20 pp/day for gorilla porters); lodge staff USD 5-10 pp/day; tip in cash USD or RWF.
MoneyRates are quoted in US dollars; the local currency is the Rwandan franc (RWF).
PlugsTypes C, E, F, G · 230V 50Hz

Rules change. Check official sources before you travel.

Sources

Every fact on this page is tied to a source. Facts checked 2026-10-21. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.

Operator website
mantiscollection.com/?p=3103
Supports: Activities, Amenities, Land type, Location, Operator, Rooms, Status, Style, Website, Wi-Fi
high
2026-10-21
Operator website
mantiscollection.com
Supports: Drive to activities, Setting
high
2026-10-21
Operator website
mantiscollection.com/hotel/mantis-kivu-queen/
Supports: Neighbours
high
2026-10-21
Park authority
rdb.rw/mantis-kivu-queen-uburanga-now-welcoming-guests/
Supports: Nearest town, Setting, Views
high
2026-10-21
medium
2026-10-21
Mapping source
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gisenyi
Supports: Map location
medium
2026-10-21

Photos show Lake Kivu, not Mantis Kivu Queen uBuranga: Photo: Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0; Photo: Ericnkurunziza, CC BY-SA 4.0; Photo: Adam Jones, Ph.D., CC BY-SA 3.0; Photo: Ludovic Hirlimann, CC BY-SA 4.0.