Lake Kivu
Swimming, boats out to the islands, and the fishermen rowing home at dusk.
227 km of lakeshore track. Walk a morning of it or ride the lot in five days.
Rwanda is an excellent country for off-the-beaten-track cycling and walking, with almost endless trails and roads criss-crossing the hills. Arguably the greatest route of them all starts on our doorstep.
The Congo Nile Trail is a 227 km itinerary running roughly parallel to the eastern shore of Lake Kivu. It starts in Rubavu and ends in Rusizi, and takes about five days on a bike — though it is quite possible to ride or walk a single stage for those with less time, or less dedication.
The track climbs away from the water and drops back to it, through hills terraced with banana plantations, past fishing villages, coffee washing stations and tea estates. The first stage north of Karongi is the one to take if you have a morning: it leaves from town and the lake is in sight almost the whole way.
Guides, bikes and luggage transfers are easy to arrange locally, and we are happy to make the calls for you.
Words and photographs on this page: Visit Rwanda · credits
Swimming, boats out to the islands, and the fishermen rowing home at dusk.
Gorilla and golden-monkey trekking in the Virungas. Permits go months ahead.
Rainforest, chimpanzees and a canopy walkway sixty metres above the valley.
Savannah, lakes and the Big Five, on Rwanda's eastern border.
Stay on the lake and drive out from here — most of this is a day trip from your room.