African Safari Trails · Travel Guide
Sport fishing in Rwanda is a relaxed affair on its inland lakes, chiefly croc free Lake Kivu, the Twin Lakes near the volcanoes, and Lake Shakani in Akagera. African Safari Trails arranges fishing trips, boats and the permits around them, alongside the wildlife. From catching tilapia to joining Lake Kivu’s night fishermen, angling pairs easily with a lakeside rest after the gorillas.
Rwanda is not a trophy fishing destination, and that is rather the point. Fishing here is calm and scenic, a line over the side of a wooden boat on a still lake ringed by green hills, or a night out with the local fishermen on Lake Kivu. The main waters are croc free and safe, the targets honest tilapia and catfish, and the pleasure is as much the setting as the catch, a gentler take on sport fishing in East Africa. It pairs naturally with a Rwanda safari and a lakeside rest after the gorillas. African Safari Trails arranges the boat and the trip.
A sport fishing experience in Rwanda is a gentle, relaxed outing rather than a competitive pursuit, usually a half or full day on a calm inland lake with a local boatman. You fish by line from a wooden boat for tilapia and catfish, or join the traditional fishermen, with the scenery and the quiet a large part of the appeal.
There is no big game or deep sea fishing here, and the mood is unhurried, suiting families and casual anglers more than trophy hunters. Boats and basic gear are arranged locally. It is an easy way to slow down between the parks. African Safari Trails arranges the boat, the boatman and the day.
Lake Kivu offers the best fishing experience in Rwanda, a vast lake along the western border, notably free of crocodiles and hippos so the water is safe, ringed by the resort towns of Rubavu, Karongi and Rusizi. You can fish by line from a boat for tilapia or head out after the small sambaza.
The lake’s calm waters and hill framed setting make it ideal for a relaxed day on the water, easily combined with a lakeside stay after the gorillas. Boats are simple to arrange from the resort towns. It is the natural home of Rwandan fishing. African Safari Trails arranges a Lake Kivu boat and the fishing.
The standout fishing experience on Lake Kivu is joining the night fishermen after the sambaza, a small sardine like fish caught only after dark. The fishermen paddle out in trimaran canoes, three dugouts lashed side by side, and sing in unison to keep their paddling in time, a tradition as old as the lake.
Visitors can go out with them, watching the lamps draw the fish and the nets come up, then taste the fresh sambaza fried crisp back on shore. It is more cultural than sporting, and all the better for it, one of the more memorable cultural tours in Rwanda. African Safari Trails arranges a night out with the Lake Kivu fishermen.
Near the volcanoes, the Twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo offer scenic, croc free fishing below the Virunga peaks. These quiet highland lakes, fringed by terraced hills and dotted with islands, see local fishermen out in dugouts, and visitors can fish or simply take a boat across the calm water.
Their location near Musanze makes them an easy add on to a gorilla trekking stay, a peaceful half day on the water with the volcanoes as a backdrop. The fishing is casual rather than serious, the views the main reward. African Safari Trails pairs the Twin Lakes with a Volcanoes National Park trip.
Akagera National Park adds fishing to a wildlife safari at Lake Shakani, a designated sport fishing spot run on a catch and release basis. With a permit from the park, anglers can fish from the shore or a boat for tilapia and catfish, surrounded by the sounds of the savanna and its birds.
It is a rare chance to fish inside a big game park, family friendly and peaceful, with hippos and birdlife for company at a safe distance. The catch goes back, the experience stays. African Safari Trails arranges the Lake Shakani permit and fishing within an Akagera safari.
The main fishing lake, croc free and safe, for tilapia by line and the famous sambaza night fishing from the resort towns.
Joining the singing fishermen in their trimaran canoes after dark, then tasting the fresh catch fried on shore.
Scenic, croc free Burera and Ruhondo below the volcanoes, an easy peaceful add on to a gorilla stay near Musanze.
Catch and release sport fishing inside a big game park, by permit, with savanna birds and distant hippos for company.
Closer to the capital, Lake Muhazi makes an easy fishing escape, a long winding lake about an hour east of Kigali popular as a weekend getaway. Its calm waters hold tilapia and catfish, and lakeside lodges make it a simple spot for a relaxed half day with a rod.
Being so near Kigali, it suits a gentle outing at the start or end of a trip without a long drive, or a quiet pause on the way to Akagera. The fishing is casual and the setting restful. African Safari Trails can add Lake Muhazi to a trip near the capital.
A fishing tour in Rwanda targets the lakes’ honest, everyday fish rather than trophies. Tilapia is the mainstay across all the waters, caught by line and good eating, alongside catfish in the calmer lakes. On Lake Kivu the small sambaza are the night catch, netted rather than rod caught.
This is light tackle, relaxed fishing, and on Lake Shakani in Akagera it is catch and release, so the fish go back. The reward is a calm day and often a fresh fish supper. African Safari Trails sets expectations honestly and arranges the right water for what you want.
Fishing runs all year on Rwanda’s lakes, but the drier months make boating calmer and the lakeside more pleasant. The wet seasons can bring choppier water and afternoon storms, so mornings are safer then.
The long dry season, the best for a relaxed day on the water, with calmer lakes and reliable lakeside weather alongside the gorillas.
The shorter dry spell, also fine for fishing and easy to pair with a wildlife trip or a Lake Kivu stay.
The wetter months, when lakes can turn choppy and afternoon storms build, so morning outings are the safer choice.
Fishing folds into a wider trip rather than standing alone. Lake Kivu pairs with a lakeside rest after the gorillas in the west, the Twin Lakes sit by Musanze near the volcanoes, Lake Shakani is part of an Akagera safari in the east, and Lake Muhazi lies an hour from Kigali.
Boats and basic gear are arranged locally, with a permit needed for Lake Shakani inside Akagera, and most outings run a half or full day. The mood throughout is relaxed. African Safari Trails arranges the boats, permits and timing within your trip.
Fishing is not heavily commercialised, so costs are modest and vary by lake. A boat with a boatman on Lake Kivu or the Twin Lakes is arranged for a reasonable hourly or daily rate, while fishing at Lake Shakani inside Akagera needs a park permit on top of park entry. Basic gear can be hired or brought. African Safari Trails confirms the current rates and arranges the boat and any permit.
Lake Kivu is the main fishing water, croc free and safe, best known for the sambaza night fishing with the local fishermen. The Twin Lakes near the volcanoes, Lake Shakani in Akagera for catch and release, and Lake Muhazi near Kigali round out the options. African Safari Trails advises on which fits your route and arranges the trip.
Tilapia is the mainstay across Rwanda’s lakes, with catfish in the calmer waters and the small sambaza netted at night on Lake Kivu. This is light tackle, relaxed fishing rather than big game angling, and at Lake Shakani in Akagera it is catch and release. African Safari Trails sets honest expectations and arranges the right water.
On the main fishing lakes, yes. Lake Kivu and the Twin Lakes are free of crocodiles and hippos, which makes boating and fishing safe and relaxed. Inside Akagera, fishing at Lake Shakani is done with park guidance, keeping a safe distance from hippos and other wildlife. African Safari Trails arranges fishing on safe waters with local boatmen.
Yes, and it is the highlight. On Lake Kivu you can paddle out with the fishermen in their trimaran canoes after dark, watch them sing in rhythm and net the sambaza by lamplight, then taste the fresh catch on shore. It is more cultural than sporting and very memorable. African Safari Trails arranges a night out with the Lake Kivu fishermen.
Yes, and it is the usual way. Lake Kivu pairs with a rest after the gorillas, the Twin Lakes sit by Musanze, Lake Shakani is part of an Akagera safari, and Lake Muhazi is near Kigali, so a fishing half day slots easily into a wider trip. African Safari Trails weaves the fishing around the wildlife and the lakes.
Choosing the right lake, arranging a boat and any permit, and setting honest expectations for a country that fishes for pleasure rather than trophies all go more smoothly with someone who knows the waters, so a fishing day lands as the relaxed pause it should be. African Safari Trails has spent years building fishing into Rwanda trips, from the sambaza night fishing on Lake Kivu and the scenic Twin Lakes to catch and release at Lake Shakani in Akagera, with boats, permits and boatmen arranged. They will pair the fishing with the wildlife and the lakes, with the logistics handled quietly in the background.
Want a proper quote, or just a steer on a day on the water? Reach out to African Safari Trails and a real person gets back to you.
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