The trail might seem as though its off the beaten track but the fantastic nature that consumes the eyes of the tourists spans along the Kivu Belt region in the country of a thousand hills. This 227km trail officiates its journey from the northern shores of Lake Kivu in Gisenyi to the Southern shores of the tantalizing lake in Rusizi District.
Uniqueness
This ranks as the best hiking trail in East Africa. Tourists get to experience a collection of wondrous nature that include coffee plantations, small towns, local market, waterfalls, shops and tourists get to experience the glittering environment of Rwanda while moving along this trail.
Tourist attractions
Lake Kivu
Straddling between two beautiful and naturally endowed countries, tourists on the shores of this lake enjoy the beauty that is contributed by both Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The thrilling views of the lake and a variety of birds like the common waxbill, African fish eagle, spotted cardinal woodpecker among others, watching the sun set and the clear blue skies reflecting on the precious waters of Kivu are an experience tourists live to remember.
Communities
The individuals living along the trail are welcoming and friendly with a will to entertain all their visitors and teach them more about the Kinyarwanda culture. The Banyrwanda have a tantalizing dance called ekitaguriro and their cultural food is overwhelming and one to die for.
Plantations
The countless islands on the Kivu offer proficient conditions for the well being and growth of vast coffee plantations. While enjoying the plantation’s thick lush green cover, tourists also get to learn more about harvesting, planting, drying, roasting and other activities connected with the preparation of coffee.
Tourist activities done along the hike of Congo Nile trail.
- Local tour community walks
Walking in the streets of Kampala renders white tourists as celebrities with glittering smiles given off by local kids as they wave to them saying “bayi muzungu”. Definitely, tourists attract the same attention while they are in Rwanda. Besides the endless attention tourists get from the community, there are a lot of endless memories that tourists collect while on this trial like learning a few basic words in Kinyarwanda, production of local beer, harvesting, how the locals prepare food, and enjoying spending leisure time with local people.
- Experience life of a fisherman
The stretch of the renowned Congo Nile rests majestically on Lake Kivu which assures tourists of enjoying any fish that is caught in the fresh waters of the lake. Tourists can join the fishermen on their fantasy of hunting for the isambaza fish using the moonlight and their brightly lit lanterns as they enjoy the night away with melodious songs they accompany themselves with. Tourists in love with spending the night on water should book a separate boat with the guide and be ready on the shores by 4:30 so that they don’t miss any of the captivating moments on water.
- Boat cruise
Relaxing on the deck of the boat while breathing in the purest and freshest of air is what tourists who flock the area miss if they don’t enjoy a boat cruise on Lake Kivu. While on the boat, scenic views of hills, plantations, and surrounding landscape excite the tourists and give them endless memories. Catching the sunset while on the boat is such a magical moment as it also gets tourists to watch a variety of birds as they head over into their nests. The climax of enjoying the boat cruise is visiting a variety of islands on the lake.
- Coffee plantation tours
The Coffee seeds from Rwanda are ten over ten in the whole world and this is evidenced by a variety of awards the Coffee has won. A coffee plantation tour gives tourists an experience on how the coffee is grown, harvested and processed until it is ready for consumption by all the coffee lovers in the world.
- Hiking and biking on the trail
The trail spans in over 5 provinces which offer about 141 miles of enjoyment to hikers and bikers. The entire stretch is completed in about 10 days depending on the number of stopovers and the physical fitness of the tourists. The trail can be enjoyed in sections with a few stopovers for refreshments and re-energizing.
Best time to visit
The sky is so bright and clear in the dry season of June to early October and December to early March. This period offers dry and passable trails to tourists.
