Rwanda: 5-Day Congo Nile Trail Cycling Tour

Discover the Congo Nile Trail on this 5-day cycling tour from Kigali. Cycle through rural settlements, small fishing villages, and tea plantations, and enjoy a boat trip to Amahoro Island.
Cycle the Congo Nile Trail, a scenic route that follows the divide between the vast Nile River water basin and the Congo River water basin in the western chain of mountains in Rwanda. Follow the trail along Lake Kivu from Gisenyi to Kibuye through rural settlements, many small fishing villages, banana and coffee washing stations, and tea plantations.

Day 1: Kigali to Gisenyi and Gisenyi City Tour
After arriving in Kigali and spending a night there, transfer from Kigali to Gisenyi, driving for about 154 kilometers in 4 hours. After checking in and eating lunch at your hotel in Gisenyi, in the afternoon, do a warm-up ride to Gisenyi City, including the borders between Rwanda and the DRC, to see how the local community carries out their daily life activities. Spend the night in Gisenyi.

Day 2: Cycling from Gisenyi to Kinunu
Start the ride from Gisenyi, heading to Kinunu. The ride is a mixture of ups and downs from the starting point. The total distance is 41 kilometers. Spend the night at Kinunu Guest house.

Day 3: Cycling from Kinunu to Bumba
Start off with an early breakfast and your packed lunch. Begin your cycling expedition along Lake Kivu, exploring fishing villages and interacting with local communities along the way. Spend the night at Bumba base camp.

Day 4: Cycling from Bumba to Kibuye
After eating your early breakfast at Bumba base camp with a packed lunch, start cycling very early in the morning because this is going to be a more challenging day ride between Bumba and Karongi as it goes uphill all the way to Mukura Forest. At an elevation of 2600 meters in Mukura Forest, enjoy a wonderful view of the valleys to the east, which drain into the Nile River, and those to the west, which drain into the Congo River.

From Mukura Forest, there is a long descent through Mukura Center, and passing the Ntaruko Waterfall makes you reach the Muhanga-Karongi main road in Rwimpiri. From Rwimpiri, cycle about 21 kilometers on the Tarmac Road to reach Kibuye. Spend the night at home, Saint Jean.

Day 5: Boat Ride and Transfer to Kigali
After breakfast, in the morning, do a boat trip to Amahoro and Napoleon Hat islands in Lake Kivu. After having lunch, check out of the hotel in Kibuye and drive for about 132 kilometers to Kigali airport to be dropped off for your flight.

To guarantee availability book as soon as possible. Early booking is worth consideration especially if you planning the trip during high season like public holidays or weekends.

This excursion you can cancel with no cost up to 24 hours before the start of the trip. If you cancel it after 24 hours or not show up on the excursion you will still be charged the full price of the activity. Being late on pick-up or departure will be considered as not showing up.