Adventure on The Congo Nile Trail.

Lying in the south Eastern part of Rwanda, is the Congo Nile Trail, which stretches for over 227 kilometers along the Lake Kivu, with great spectacular view of the Lake, and the country side of Democratic Republic of Congo. The Congo Nile trails, cuts across the Kivu belt as it extends from Rubavu, continues through Rutsiro, then Karongi, up to Nyamasheke and ends at Rusizi District, next to Nyungwe National Park. Adventure on the Congo Nile Trail is awesome, with great counteracting moments, full of surprises, as one goes up and down hills, which Rwanda is well known of. The lowest hill is 1,460m and the highest is 1,887m.

If you’re a pedal lover, and always wish to go about the country side, there is nothing more, worth, that Rwanda, can offer to you beyond the Congo Nile Trail, you experience the countryside in full gears, as you go about the narrow village routes, cutting across the verdant farm yards and plantation, meeting children and the local community goes by their daily activities.

Both hikers, and bikers, often use the same village natural routers, to go about their visit into the countryside. The beautiful view of Lake Kivu, and the backdrop, has made the trail enjoyable and much rewarding, as you take beautiful pictures of the lake, and its people.

At a point as your hike or cycle on the Congo Nile Trail, you will meet your school village children, who will jubilate and call out “Muzungu” slogan, with a lot of chanting smiles on their faces.

The experience, is very authentic, unspoilt, as tourism starts to grow in the area. Many tourists have now started to book their trips to Rwanda, which includes short day excursion alongside the Congo Nile Trail, to have partly experience of the Congo Nile Trail. Some may take a day excursion on Congo Nile Trail, while others can opt for 2 or 3 days Congo Nile trail hike or biking. Some may take on the entire trail challenge, for 5 and more days enjoying the beautiful scenic trail. A full biking experience is 5 to 6 days Congo Nile Biking, while a full hiking experience is 7 to 10 days Congo Nile Hiking.

You can join the trail from any point of your choice, a day excursion is as well possible in case you would wish to have a partly experience of the adventure on the Congo Nile Trail. The trail, has three stopover towns, for relaxation, and there are beaches as well, in case you would love to have a taste of beach life.

Due to the growing demand and interest from many tourists, the trail has been worked on, and more signage are along the trail, to guide hikers, though local guides know all the details

Most bikers and hikers, kick it off, from Gisenyi, through Kinunu and some get off from Kibuye, and connect to Kamembe for a boat back to Gisenyi, while others will proceed with the trek or biking to Rusizi. Travelling along the congo Nile Trail, can give you a great view of the Three Fishermen boats on Lake Kivu, as you watch them parked during the day.

Around Kinunu, you can enjoy a local crop to cup coffee experience and get to learn how coffee is really prepared, have a test of a real organic freshly made coffee during the coffee tour at Kinunu.

There are road maps, to guide you, along the way, and in case of need of help, the locals around are always more than willing to assist, though majority hardly speak English, some however try to pick up in French.

Some part of the trail is very challenge, so you should not under estimate the Congo Nile Trail. You need to be in good physical state.

Biking or Hiking?

The Congo Nile Trail, is used by both bikers and hikers. Those who wish to go pedaling, or walking will enjoy the same path. It’s a matter of preference and budget, as biking attracts more coin on guide and bike renting.

Walking though Congo Nile trail, gives you more experience to get absorbed into the community, as you can easily mitigate through the tinny roads.

Biking on the Congo Nile trail is wonderful, as you pedal through the verdant countryside with great hill challenge that is so much rewarding, through the plantation and valleys.

Some have gone further to even use motor bikes and vehicle, as they make it easier to navigate within a short time through the trail, though some areas are not accessible by the vehicles which makes you miss out on some important authentic bits of the trail.

Guide or No Guide?

Adventure on the Congo Nile Trail, can be experience with or without a local guide. However, we recommend you taking a guide, a reasonable price, which will aid you, to quickly get through the trail and the local community, as some area do not have enough sign post, and majority of the locals do not speak English, which makes communication a little difficult in case you would like to ask around. A guide also helps to reduce the influence where the local kids always calls out and chant “Muzungu” upon seeing tourists, here a local guide will mitigate and reduce on this. The local guides, also know all the small leading trails, and some amazing adventure spot. They can easily give you companion, and make it easy for you, to easily interact with local, to avoid you, only walking around and eyeing, yet you can share some stories, and little communication with the locals. They have all the history, and back ground information of the area, which you won’t get when you hike alone minus a guide. You have a companion, who knows all the routes, and will share with you, some of the hidden treasures of the area. However, if you would like to explore and discover on your open, the tail, can still be achieved, as many have done so.

You can combine Congo Nile trail hike or biking with Rwanda gorilla safari, with a visit to Volcanoes National Park, and Nyungwe National Park, on your Rwanda Safari tour.

Do not miss out on this great authentic trail adventure on the Congo Nile Trail with a rewarding lake view, great hiking trail, patched with endless local community experience.

You can as well decide to experience Congo Nile trail, with coffee experience in Kinunu, where you can undertake coffee tour. The night fishing on Lake Kivu is authentic and magnificent, as it rewards you with great Lake Kivu Fishing Experience of the Fishermen. You can as well undertake a boat ride experience on Lake Kivu in Karongi, to visit the numerous islands, within the lake, as you wind up your adventure on the Congo Nile Trail.

At Karongi, you can well encounter the swimming cows, crossing the lakes, from one island to another, in search of feeding pastures.

Lots of fruits are sold along the trail, from sugarcanes, yellow bananas, and much more. You can decide to eat like a local, as you experience the trail.

Congo Nile Trail, has abundant experience that can online be experience in the countryside, once you take up this trail adventure, to have a real taste of authentic Rwanda cultural experience.