Lake Kivu

Lake Kivu, in Western Rwanda, Rwanda, earns its place on an East African itinerary — a stop that adds texture between the big parks and makes the journey feel like the destination.

It sits within one of Africa's great travel countries — Rwanda: A thousand hills, four different worlds. Most travelers weave Lake Kivu into a longer route taking in Gorilla trekking, Nyungwe canopy walk and Akagera Big Five.

The operators on SafariSuite run Lake Kivu regularly and price it from their live rate sheets — park fees, seasonal lodge rates and transfers included — so any itinerary you see here reflects what the trip actually costs.