Cleo Lake Kivu Hotel

The view is lovely, but the service was poor enough that I wouldn't recommend this hotel. I paid $250 to Cleo Kivu Hotel for a boat ride shown on its official instagram page. When I arrived, the boat was completely different from the one advertised. Only after I'd paid did I hear that the advertised boat was “under maintenance,” so I didn't get the service I had paid for as promoted. I asked for a refund, but none was given, and my follow-up messages got no response. It was disappointing and misleading, and I think future guests should know before booking similar services. I hope management improves its transparency and customer service.

The lake views and grounds are stunning, and the facilities are very nice. The food is mostly Western dishes, with some local options too.

I wish our tour operator had booked us more than one night at this beautiful hotel. The rooms are luxurious and have all the usual amenities, while the friendly staff are always smiling. We also really enjoyed the restaurant. Try the fried sambaza starter, it's excellent, and the view is just as beautiful as the hotel.

It was a relaxing stay, and the property was clean with a nice view. The food was good, though nothing felt amazing enough to justify the advertised price we paid. There was no hot water in our room on the first day because, we were told, the electric geyser wasn't switched on. The pool was average, and although the sauna worked, the steam didn't.