VESSEL REVIEW | Kivu Queen Uburanga – Luxury houseboat for eco-friendly cruises in western Rwanda

Mantis Collection, the South Africa-based ecotourism-oriented hotel line under French hospitality company the Accor Group, has expanded its service offerings with the recent acquisition of a luxury houseboat for operation in Lake Kivu in western Rwanda.

Kivu Queen Uburanga will sail on two- and three-night itineraries in its namesake 90-kilometre-long lake, which is best known for its local fishing industry, its nature trails, and its broad range of local wildlife.

Built by Afrinest Engineering of Rwanda, the vessel has all-steel construction, a length of 33 metres, a beam of 12 metres, a draught of only 1.5 metres, and space for 20 guests, nine navigation crew, and 22 service staff. The propulsion deliver speeds of between five and eight knots.

The amenities are distributed across three decks and include ten guest cabins, a swimming pool, a restaurant, a bar, a wellness centre, storage for watersports equipment, and a viewing deck with whirlpool. Each guest cabin has an open-plan layout, an en suite bathroom, and floor-to-ceiling windows that provide unobstructed views of the lake while the vessel is underway. Design work on the interior spaces was provided by MI Designs.

Kivu Queen Uburanga is scheduled to commence operational sailings in January 2024.