This study was conducted to investigate the concentrations of some trace elements (Cd, Ni, Zn, Pb, and Cu) in the water of two sites at Lake Burullus (Balteem and El-Borg) and one site at the River Nile (at ElTebeen). In addition, the bioaccumulation of these metals was addressed in the liver, gills, and muscles of four cichlids (Oreochromis aureus, O. niloticus, Sarotherodon galilaeus and Tilapia zillii) and the potential health risk from consuming these fishes was assessed. The results clarified that the concentration of these elements in water did not exceed the permissible limits prescribed by EOS and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA). The results of geometric mean metal accumulation showed a significant variation (P ≤ 0.05) among metals, with,  a sequencing order of Zn> Cu> Ni>Pb> Cd, while cadmium was not detected in Lake Burullus. A significant variation (P ≤ 0.05) between the collection sites and species was recorded. Bioconcentration factors (BCF) for different metals showed low to moderate values in muscles and gills, and moderate to high values in the liver. The highest values were related to the presence of Cu and Zn in the liver, using the maximum consumption rate (62.25 g/person/day) of fish muscles. The estimated daily intake (EDI) did not exceed the permissible tolerable daily intake (PTDI) in μg per kg of body weight per day as recommended by US EPA for adults and children. The target hazard quotient indices for Cd, Ni, Zn, Pb, and Cu in the investigated sites were lower than those of US-EPA criteria (>1). Hazard indices (HI) were higher than the US-EPA criteria (>1) for children consumers of Oreochromis aureus, Sarotherodon galilaeus and Tilapia zillii collected from the Nile River. Moderate lifetime cancer risks were attributed to the presence of Ni in adults and children ( 6.9E^-03 and 9.8E^-04, respectively).