The Congo Nile Trail

The Congo Nile Trail, Many people think that the Congo Nile Trail is the most famous trail for climbing and biking in East Africa. However, the track does not go through a forest. Instead, it goes along the shore of Lake Kivu, which is shared by Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. While the trail isn’t as well known as some of Rwanda’s other game spots, like Volcanoes National Park, Akagera National Park, and Nyungwe Forest National Park, it is still a popular place to go on an adventure.

One of the newest improvements is the Congo Nile Trail, which was built in 2011 to make Rwanda one of the best places in Africa to go riding. Thanks to Rwanda’s government, which has worked hard to make sure that the country’s vacation spots are diverse.

The Congo Nile Trail is 227 kilometers long and goes along the shores of Lake Kivu in the tropical Kivu Belt Region. It is made up of single-lane roads, dirt paths, and climbing trails that connect to each other. The trail got its name from the mountain ridge that runs along the African Congo-Nile watershed. This watershed splits the Congo and the Nile, two of Africa’s Great Rivers.

As it winds along the beautiful shores of Lake Kivu, the Congo Nile Trail takes hikers through some of Africa’s last remaining tropical jungles, huge coffee farms, and remote beaches. The path goes from the northern coast of Gisenyi to the southern coast of Rusizi District. Along the way, people often offer up new experiences that haven’t been seen before. One can discover Rwanda’s Congo Nile trail on foot, by bike, or by kayak if they want to go on a real, safe hiking or biking trip in Africa that isn’t as popular with tourists.

What to Expect Along the Trail of the Congo Nile

The Congo Nile Trail is one of the best bike paths in East Africa. It’s also the best way to enjoy the fresh air and natural beauty of Rwanda. There are parts of the trail that are only available by hiking or mountain biking, like dirt roads and single dirt tracks.

At different points, the two paths meet and cross. While walking the path, tourists can enjoy the natural beauty of Nyungwe Forest National Park, Rwanda’s famous green hills that rise and fall, beautiful farmlands, Lake Kivu’s sandy beaches, and other bodies of water. Beautiful views of the faraway DR. Congo are also possible.

Experiencing rural life in remote Rwandan towns, visiting craft markets, meeting locals in marketplaces, and seeing the many landing spots on Lake Kivu are also interesting things to do. You’ll also hike and ride your bike through small towns, hills, waterfalls, fishing villages, and small local markets. There, you’ll meet friendly kids and curious adults.

You could even stop at Mugonero Orphanage to help kids who don’t have much by giving them school tools. When people go to the orphanage, they always do culture things like music, dance, theater, and stories. The Kiziba refugee community, which is home to about 17,000 Congolese refugees, is also close to the Congo Nile Trail and can be visited as well.

How to Get Around on the Congo Nile Trail?

There are many ways to explore the Congo Nile Divide Trail, such as by bike, motorbike, car, or just by hiking or walking. However, walking and cycling are the most common activities because they let you enjoy the natural surroundings of the trail more. Tourists can get to know the people better and see how they live by following one of the two marked paths along the trail. On the other hand, walking and cycling may be tiring because they need a lot of energy.

You can ride your bike the whole way in five days, from the trendy town of Gisenyi in the north to Kamambe in the south. From Gisenyi to Kibuye, on the other hand, you can take one or two days to walk along the most beautiful part of the road. Also, the most difficult part of the tour is the 4–6 hour stretch between Kinunu and Kibuye, which is also the most beautiful.

The Congo Nile trail, on the other hand, takes about ten days to hike. People who don’t want to ride or hike back along the trail can rent a boat from Kibuye to Gisenyi for three hours for about 2,000 RWF. The Congo Nile Trail is different from many other trails in the area because it is well-marked and has towns along it where you can eat, rest, and camp.

Only 10 kilometers separate the path from the next town, so it’s never too far from people. There are convenience shops and ducas that aren’t always marked with big signs or billboards, but they’re just around the corner. You can mostly get things you need here, like water, fruit drinks, Kleenex, soap, bread, and some fresh veggies.

The best time to hike the Congo Nile Trail is during the dry season, which lasts from June to early October and from December to early March. When it rains a lot, the track gets slippery and muddy, which makes it take longer to finish. If you choose to walk or ride a bike, you may have to find shelter when it rains, which can mess up your plans. But no matter how you finish the path, the Rwanda Tourism Board has free maps for visitors.

How to Get to the Danube Trail

Gisenyi is where the Congo Nile Trail begins. It takes about three hours to drive there from Kigali. The towns of Karongi, Rusizi, and Rubavu are also good places to start or end the Congo Nile Trail. You can take a public bus or hire a local tour guide, who will usually take care of your transportation from Kigali.

As far as speed and dependability go, Ritco is the best. Their buses are big, well-kept, and new. The Nyabugogo Taxi Park in Kigali is where most cars leave from. You can buy tickets ahead of time at Nyabugogo’s ticket offices, or you can use cash or mobile money to pay for them on the bus.

When you’re done with the Trail, the operator will pick you up at Kamembe and drive you back to Kigali. If you choose to take the local bus, make sure there is room for your bike. But because it’s cheaper, hiring a bike in Gisenyi or maybe Kigali is the best choice. Some lodges, like Inzu Hire, may be able to help you rent a bike for a fee. The bikes you can rent are all in good shape and come with water bottles, helmets, kneecaps, extra tires, and a pressure pump. You can even rent riding gear if that’s what you want to do.

How Hard Is It to Walk the Congo Nile Trail?

The Congo Nile Trail is over 227 kilometers long, and it might be hard for people who aren’t mentally or physically ready for it. There is a lot of gravel on the road, and it goes through mountainous areas, so it might be hard to walk on wet days. Trekkers may need to stop and rest for a day or two in order to finish the path. Still, many hikers and riders keep going because of the beautiful scenery and farmland. There are beautiful waterfalls, forests like Nyungwe, exotic beaches on Lake Kivu, and communities, among other things.

Taking care of the Congo Nile Trail

The Rwanda Development Board is in charge of the Congo Nile Trail and all the tourist events that happen along it. Anyone who walks or rides a bike along the path that goes by its buildings gets a free map from the Board. The maps show information, directions, and famous places to visit. They also show how far and how long it will take to get to each point on the path.

The Congo Nile route is good for both individuals and groups. On the other hand, people who are traveling alone will need a map, their own supplies, and the courage to do it on their own. Also, people who are traveling alone should hire a local guide or helper to go with them on the hike or bike tour. In Rwanda, your tour company will help you get a bike and everything else you’ll need for your trip.

Places to stay along the Congo Nile Trail

Along the Congo Nile Trail, there are a number of places to stay. Travelers can pick from fancy hotels, basic cabins, or simple, low-cost campsites. There are also campgrounds on farms, in schools, orphanages, communities, and in the grounds of some hotels and lodges.

If someone wants to camp, they can either bring their own gear or ask their tour guide to set things up ahead of time. The Rwanda Development Board runs parks and charges a fair price to rent camping gear. Along the Congo Nile Trail, these are some places to stay:

It is one of the most well-known hotels on the Congo Nile Trail, and it is in Gisenyi. There is a bar, a restaurant, free WiFi, and a souvenir shop at the camp, which has a view of Lake Kivu. There is also a campground at Inzu Lodge where people can set up their own tents or rent ones. Guests can ask the hotel to set up traditional music, dance, and theater for the evening.

The Hotel Paradis Malahide in Gisenyi is another great high-end lodge that is right on the beaches of Lake Kivu and perfect for unwinding and relaxing. The lodge has rooms for both high-end and average visitors.

The Lake Kivu Serena Hotel is the most well-known high-end hotel on the shore of Lake Kivu. This hotel in Lake Kivu has large rooms, a bar, a restaurant, an exercise center, a pool, and beautiful grounds.

Home Saint Jean is a cheap hostel in Kibuye that is hidden behind a church on the side of the road. It is just a short walk down a steep hill to Lake Kivu.

Bethanie Guesthouse: The Bethanie Guesthouse in Kibuye is one of the best and most reasonable places to stay along the Congo Nile Divide Trail. There are also boat rides and other fun things to do at the guest house to see the different islands in Lake Kivu.