Rwanda's lakes, including Kivu, Burera, Ruhondo and Muhazi, support both traditional local fishing and a small but growing visitor fishing scene. Tilapia is the most common catch, taken from wooden canoes or the shore, often alongside local fishermen. Visits are usually arranged through a lodge or operator rather than as a standalone commercial fishing industry.
Table of Contents
- Fishing as part of the landscape
- Where people fish in Rwanda
- What you can catch
- The singing fishermen of Lake Kivu
- Joining a local fisherman
- Fishing as part of a wider water-based day
- Fishing communities and conservation
- What to bring
- Combining fishing with hiking and cycling
- Eating what is caught
- Fishing etiquette and respecting a working fishery
- Combining a lake stay with the rest of your trip
- When to go
- Planning a fishing outing
- Frequently Asked Questions
Fishing as part of the landscape
Rwanda is often described by its hills and volcanoes, but water shapes daily life here just as much, and its lakes carry a long fishing tradition that most visitors never see up close. From Lake Kivu's western shore to the twin lakes north of Musanze, small wooden canoes work the water every morning, and a growing number of lodges now offer visitors a chance to join in, rather than only watch from the shore.
This guide covers where fishing happens, what you can expect to catch, and how a visitor trip differs from the working fishery you will see alongside you.
Where people fish in Rwanda
Lake Kivu, the largest of Rwanda's lakes, supports the country's most visible fishing tradition, including boats that go out at night with lights to attract small fish. Further north, Lakes Burera and Ruhondo near Musanze support smaller-scale local fishing from similar dugout canoes, set against a backdrop of terraced hills and distant volcanoes. Lake Muhazi, east of Kigali, and several smaller lakes around the country also support local fishing communities, though with less visitor infrastructure than Kivu or the Musanze lakes.
| Lake | Fishing style | Visitor access |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Kivu | Traditional canoes, some night fishing with lights | Well established, several lodges arrange trips |
| Burera and Ruhondo | Canoe fishing, smaller scale | Developing, usually arranged locally |
| Lake Muhazi | Local subsistence and small-scale fishing | Limited, mostly informal |
What you can catch
Tilapia is the most commonly caught fish across Rwanda's lakes, and it also appears widely on local menus, often grilled whole. Smaller fish, including sambaza, a small sardine-like species associated with Lake Kivu, are caught in large numbers and are a familiar sight both on the water and at the table. Do not expect trophy sport fishing here: this is a food fishery, not a catch-and-release sport industry, and visitor trips are shaped around that reality.
Sambaza fishing on Lake Kivu is often done at night, using bright lights suspended over the water to draw the fish toward the boats, a technique visible from the shore as clusters of lights on the water after dark.
The singing fishermen of Lake Kivu
One of Lake Kivu's better known traditions is the practice of fishermen singing together as they paddle, coordinating their strokes and passing the time on long nights out on the water. Some lodges arrange evening boat trips specifically to see and hear this, distinct from an actual fishing outing. Our detailed piece on the singing fishermen of Lake Kivu covers where and when to see it.
Joining a local fisherman
A number of lodges around Lake Kivu and the Musanze lakes can arrange for visitors to join a local fisherman for a morning or evening on the water, using the same wooden canoes and simple gear used for the working fishery. This is less about guaranteeing a catch and more about the experience: paddling out before sunrise, watching nets or lines set by hand, and seeing the lake from the perspective of the people who depend on it.
Set expectations before you go. This is a cultural and scenic experience built around a working fishery, not a curated sport fishing charter, and the value is in the experience rather than in the size of your catch.
Fishing as part of a wider water-based day
For travellers who enjoy being on the water without necessarily fishing themselves, canoeing on Lakes Burera and Ruhondo offers a similar wooden-canoe experience focused on scenery rather than a catch. Both activities use the same boats and the same skilled local paddlers, so combining a short fishing outing with a scenic canoe trip on a following day is an easy way to see the lakes from two angles.
Fishing communities and conservation
Rwanda's lake fisheries are managed with an eye toward sustainability, since overfishing has been a concern on some lakes in the region historically. Visitors joining a fishing outing should follow their local guide's lead on where and how fishing happens, since local knowledge reflects both tradition and current management practice.
What to bring
Dress as you would for any boat outing: closed shoes with good grip for a wet canoe floor, sun protection, and a light layer for cooler mornings or evenings on the water. If you plan to fish rather than simply observe, ask your guide whether basic gear is provided or whether you should bring your own, since arrangements vary by lodge and location.
Combining fishing with hiking and cycling
Travellers drawn to Rwanda's quieter, active side often build a trip around several of these lower-key activities together. Our guides to cycling in Rwanda and the Congo Nile Trail both follow routes that hug the Lake Kivu shoreline, making it easy to pair a fishing outing with a day on two wheels or on foot in the same region.
Eating what is caught
Fish caught on Rwanda's lakes rarely travels far before it reaches a plate. Tilapia is grilled whole and served with staples such as rice, plantain or cassava, often at simple restaurants along the Lake Kivu shoreline within sight of the water it came from. Sambaza is typically fried and served as a snack or side dish, small enough to eat whole, and it pairs with the same lakeside setting that makes watching the night boats worthwhile in the first place. If food is part of what draws you to a fishing outing, ask your guide to point you toward a restaurant known locally for its fish rather than one aimed mainly at passing tourists.
Fishing etiquette and respecting a working fishery
Remember that the fishermen you are joining or observing are working, not performing. Follow instructions about where to stand or sit in the canoe, avoid handling nets or lines without being invited to, and ask before photographing individuals closely, particularly at night fishing sites where lights and equipment need careful handling. A respectful, curious visitor is welcomed far more warmly than one who treats the outing as a photo opportunity alone.
If you enjoy the outing, a modest tip for the fisherman or boatman who hosted you, on top of any fee paid to your lodge or operator, is a welcomed and customary gesture.
Combining a lake stay with the rest of your trip
If a fishing outing is only one part of your interest in Rwanda's lakes, consider building a few nights around Lake Kivu into your wider itinerary rather than a single afternoon detour. A slower pace on the water tends to reveal more of the daily rhythm of these fishing communities than a rushed stop between other activities ever can.
When to go
Early morning and early evening are the most active times for fishing on Rwanda's lakes, both for the working fishery and for arranged visitor outings, since these hours avoid the heat of midday and align with when fish are most active near the surface. Weather on the lakes can shift quickly, so check conditions with your guide before heading out, particularly during the rainy months.
Planning a fishing outing
Because arranged fishing experiences are informal and locally run rather than a fixed commercial product, the best approach is to ask your lodge or operator directly once you know which lake you will be near. Building the activity into a wider itinerary that includes Rwanda's hiking tours or a Lake Kivu stay gives your guide the flexibility to fit it around weather and daylight.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can visitors go fishing in Rwanda?
Yes, several lodges around Lake Kivu and the Musanze lakes can arrange for visitors to join a local fisherman on the water, usually in a traditional wooden canoe.
What fish are found in Rwanda's lakes?
Tilapia is the most common catch across Rwanda's lakes, along with sambaza, a small sardine-like fish particularly associated with Lake Kivu.
Is fishing in Rwanda more of a sport or a food source?
It is primarily a working, food-based fishery rather than a sport fishing industry, so visitor outings are best approached as a cultural and scenic experience rather than a chance at a trophy catch.
What is the singing fishermen tradition on Lake Kivu?
It refers to fishermen who sing together to coordinate their paddling and pass the time during long nights on the water, a tradition some lodges arrange evening boat trips to see and hear.
Do I need my own fishing gear?
Arrangements vary by lodge, so ask in advance whether basic gear is provided or whether you need to bring your own before booking an outing.
What is the best time of day to go fishing on Rwanda's lakes?
Early morning and early evening are generally the most active times, avoiding the heat of midday and aligning with when fish are closer to the surface.