Cleo Lake Kivu Hotel
Mantis Epic Hotel & Suites
Mantis Kivu Marina Bay Hotel: A Luxury Lakeside Retreat in Rwanda
Mantis Kivu Marina Bay Hotel is an elegant eco-luxury retreat overlooking the breathtaking waters of Lake Kivu in southwestern Rwanda. Set in a peaceful hilltop location near Kamembe, the hotel combines beautiful lake views, comfortable accommodation, exceptional dining, wellness facilities, and a variety of outdoor experiences. Its tranquil setting makes it an excellent choice for travelers looking to relax beside the lake, while its location also provides convenient access to the Nile Trail, Nyungwe National Park, tea and coffee plantations, and the cultural attractions of the Kivu region. Whether you are planning a romantic getaway, family holiday, business trip, or adventure-filled Rwanda safari, Mantis Kivu Marina Bay offers a comfortable and memorable base for exploring this beautiful part of the country.
Location of Mantis Kivu Marina Bay Hotel
Mantis Kivu Marina Bay Hotel is located in Ntemabiti Village, Kamashangi Cell, Kamembe Sector, in the Cyangugu area of southwestern Rwanda. One of the hotel’s greatest advantages is its proximity to Kamembe International Airport, which is only about 1 kilometre away, making arrival and departure particularly convenient for travelers flying into the region. Guests traveling from Kigali can reach Kamembe by a short domestic flight of approximately 20 minutes, while those choosing to travel by road can expect a journey of around five hours.
The hotel’s location also places guests within easy reach of the natural and cultural attractions of the Lake Kivu region. Cyangugu is a lively lakeside city and an important starting point for exploring the Nile Trail, with opportunities for boat cruises, hiking, swimming, cycling, and mountain adventures. The location is also particularly convenient for travelers combining a Lake Kivu holiday with a visit to Nyungwe National Park.
Accommodation
Mantis Kivu Marina Bay Hotel offers a range of accommodation options designed to suit different types of travelers, from couples and solo visitors to families and guests seeking an elevated luxury experience. The rooms and suites are designed around comfort and relaxation, with several categories offering different views of the surrounding landscape.
Guests can choose from Standard Rooms with Mountain Views, Standard Rooms with Pool Views, Standard Rooms with Lake Views, Family Rooms, Deluxe Rooms, and the Presidential Suite. The variety allows visitors to select accommodation according to their preferences, whether they want to wake up overlooking the surrounding mountains, enjoy views of the swimming pool, or admire the tranquil waters of Lake Kivu.
For travelers seeking additional space and exclusivity, the Presidential Suite provides a more luxurious accommodation option. Families can also benefit from dedicated family accommodation, making the hotel suitable for both leisure travelers and groups exploring southwestern Rwanda together.
Dining at Mantis Kivu Marina Bay
Food is an important part of the experience at Mantis Kivu Marina Bay, with the hotel focusing on hyper-local, organic, farm-to-table cuisine. The approach emphasizes fresh ingredients and flavors inspired by the surrounding region, allowing guests to enjoy meals that reflect Rwanda’s rich culinary traditions while maintaining a contemporary dining experience.
The hotel provides a choice of indoor and outdoor dining, allowing guests to choose between a more formal meal and a relaxed setting surrounded by the peaceful atmosphere of the property. The dining options include La Vue Restaurant, Pool Bar, and Rose Bar, providing spaces for breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks, and casual relaxation throughout the day.
Enjoying a meal or refreshing drink while taking in the surrounding scenery adds another dimension to the stay, particularly for travelers who appreciate combining good food with beautiful natural surroundings.
Swimming Pool and Wellness
For guests looking to relax during their stay, Mantis Kivu Marina Bay features a large 25-metre swimming pool, together with a separate children’s pool. The swimming area provides a peaceful place to cool off, enjoy the sunshine, or simply unwind after a day of exploring the region.
The hotel also features a steam room and sauna, providing opportunities for guests to relax and rejuvenate. A fully equipped gym is available for travelers who wish to maintain their fitness routine while away from home. Families traveling with children can also make use of the kids’ playroom, creating additional entertainment options for younger guests.
Recreational Activities
Mantis Kivu Marina Bay is well suited to travelers who enjoy active holidays as well as those who simply want to relax. The hotel offers kayaking excursions, providing an opportunity to experience Lake Kivu from the water and appreciate its peaceful surroundings from a different perspective.
Guests can also take advantage of bicycle hire to explore the surrounding area at their own pace. Cycling offers an enjoyable way to discover the landscapes and communities around Kamembe while experiencing the region beyond the hotel.
For travelers interested in exploring further, the hotel’s onsite tour concierge can assist with organizing excursions and activities in the surrounding area, including experiences connected to Lake Kivu, Nyungwe Forest, culture, coffee, and nature.
Exploring Lake Kivu and the Kivu Region
The Lake Kivu region is one of Rwanda’s most scenic destinations, characterized by rolling hills, lush vegetation, lakeside communities, and spectacular views. Staying at Mantis Kivu Marina Bay provides an excellent opportunity to experience this part of Rwanda while enjoying the comfort of a lakeside retreat.
Visitors can participate in boat cruises, hiking, swimming, cycling, and mountain trekking, depending on their interests. The Kivu region is also known for its cultural heritage, nature trails, tea plantations, and coffee experiences. Travelers interested in Rwanda’s landscapes and local communities can combine their stay with excursions that reveal the diverse character of southwestern Rwanda.
Access to Nyungwe National Park
One of the major advantages of staying at Mantis Kivu Marina Bay is its location in relation to Nyungwe National Park, one of Rwanda’s most important natural destinations. The ancient rainforest is famous for its extraordinary biodiversity and offers some of the country’s most memorable wildlife and nature experiences.
Guests can explore Nyungwe through activities such as chimpanzee tracking, canopy walks, birdwatching, hiking, and other forest excursions. The park is particularly famous for its primates, making it an important destination for travelers interested in chimpanzees and other forest species.
The famous Nyungwe Canopy Walkway offers an especially exciting experience, allowing visitors to walk high above the forest floor while enjoying spectacular views across the ancient rainforest. For nature lovers, birdwatchers, photographers, and adventure travelers, combining a stay at Mantis Kivu Marina Bay with a Nyungwe excursion creates an excellent southwestern Rwanda itinerary.
Tea and Coffee Experiences
The Kivu region is also an excellent destination for travelers interested in Rwanda’s tea and coffee heritage. The area surrounding Lake Kivu is characterized by fertile landscapes and plantations that contribute to Rwanda’s agricultural economy and tourism experience.
Guests can explore tea and coffee plantations, learn about local production processes, and discover how these important crops are grown and prepared. These experiences provide an opportunity to interact with local communities while gaining a deeper understanding of Rwanda’s agricultural traditions.
For travelers who appreciate food, culture, and authentic experiences, a plantation visit can be a rewarding complement to the hotel’s lakeside setting.
Sustainability and Community Initiatives
Sustainability is an important part of the Mantis Kivu Marina Bay experience. The hotel operates an onsite organic community garden, supporting the property’s commitment to fresh and locally sourced ingredients while encouraging sustainable practices.
The hotel also participates in organic waste collection and donation to local farmers, helping useful organic material return to the agricultural cycle. In addition, grass cuttings from the property are provided to neighboring farms as feed for livestock.
Another community-focused initiative is the community hotel slipper project, demonstrating the hotel’s wider commitment to creating positive links between hospitality and surrounding communities. These initiatives help make sustainability part of the hotel’s everyday operations rather than simply an added feature.
Business and Conference Facilities
Mantis Kivu Marina Bay is not exclusively designed for leisure travelers. Its facilities also make it suitable for business meetings, conferences, corporate events, and private gatherings.
The hotel provides VIP meeting rooms and a convention centre, offering dedicated spaces for professional events. Its peaceful lakeside setting can provide an attractive alternative to traditional urban conference venues, particularly for companies looking to combine business activities with relaxation and team experiences.
The combination of accommodation, dining, recreational facilities, and meeting spaces allows business travelers and organizations to host events while enjoying the natural beauty of Lake Kivu.
Why Stay at Mantis Kivu Marina Bay Hotel?
Mantis Kivu Marina Bay Hotel offers a distinctive combination of luxury, nature, sustainability, and adventure. Its location just 1 kilometre from Kamembe International Airport makes it exceptionally convenient, while its proximity to Lake Kivu and Nyungwe National Park provides access to some of southwestern Rwanda’s most remarkable attractions.
The hotel is particularly appealing to travelers who want more than just accommodation. Guests can spend their mornings exploring the lake, afternoons relaxing by the pool or enjoying wellness facilities, and evenings dining on locally inspired cuisine. Those with more time can venture into Nyungwe Forest for chimpanzee tracking and the canopy walkway or explore the region’s tea and coffee plantations.
For families, couples, business travelers, and adventure seekers alike, Mantis Kivu Marina Bay provides a peaceful and comfortable setting from which to experience the beauty of southwestern Rwanda.
Final Thoughts
Mantis Kivu Marina Bay Hotel is an ideal choice for travelers seeking a refined lakeside escape in Rwanda. With its beautiful location, varied accommodation, farm-to-table dining, swimming pool, wellness facilities, recreational activities, and strong commitment to sustainability, the hotel offers a well-rounded experience for both relaxation and exploration.
Its convenient proximity to Kamembe International Airport, Lake Kivu, and Nyungwe National Park makes it especially suitable for travelers planning a Lake Kivu and Nyungwe safari. From kayaking and cycling to chimpanzee tracking, canopy walks, cultural encounters, and peaceful moments overlooking the lake, a stay at Mantis Kivu Marina Bay provides an opportunity to discover a quieter and remarkably scenic side of Rwanda.

