One of the great things about multi-day trekking is that whilst the scenery around you changes, the rhythm of the days tend to remain pretty similar.
We did a piece a while ago about what an average day trekking in Nepal looks like (you can read it here) so we thought we’d do the same for one of our other favourite destinations – Rwanda, specifically the Congo Nile Trail.
Where is and what is the Congo Nile Trail we hear you ask?
Well, it’s a relatively recently constructed trail made up off the myriad paths connecting the villages that sit along the shores of Lake Kivu. The lake separates Rwanda from the Democratic Republic of Congo and the starting point of Gisenyi sits just across the border from Goma – the largest city in the east of the DRC. The trail itself is 227km between Gisenyi in the north and Cyangugu in the south but the trekking takes places mainly along the 80km unpaved section between Gisenyi and Kibuye.
It’s possible to hike short sections of the trail or do the whole thing. There’s villages with accommodation along the route and there’s always relatively easy access to the road. Whilst trekking is still the most popular way to explore this part of the country, mountain biking the trail is also increasingly popular and the paved section after Kibuye provides relief from the dusty, bumpy and sometimes very muddy section of trail to the north.
So, what to expect from a day’s cycling or hiking along the trail?
Firstly, hills. And lots of them. It’s the country known affectionately as the Land of a Thousand Hills after all. Whilst you’ll almost always be able to catch a glimpse of the lake, you’ll constantly be getting vantage points from different elevations as you walk up and down the trails.
We reckon there’s somewhere in the region of 8,500m of elevation gain/loss along the full trail. That’s pretty much the height of Mount Everest!
What about the food and accommodation?
Most days will start off with a simple breakfast. There’s plenty of fresh seasonal fruits, sometimes porridge and always bread to get the day started. And of course, tea and coffee!
A packed lunch of bread, boiled eggs and fruit will be taken along the way. Pick your place depending on the views and how you’re feeling!
Dinner is usually a mix of rice, beans, vegetables and possibly some chicken or freshly caught fish from the lake.
There’s no real rush to most days on the trail. Distances each day aren’t that great so there’s no crack of dawn start (unless you are so inclined!). Accommodation most days is simple but always immaculately clean and with friendly Rwandan hospitality.
What about the weather?
One thing that we recommend people to be prepared for, almost regardless of the time of year, is a spot of rain… In the wet seasons, this normally means an almighty downspout each afternoon. It makes the trail trickier to navigate and some of the downhill sections downright treacherous!
What are the views like (spoiler – they’re spectacular!)?
Whether it’s to keep out of the worst of the rain, catch your breath or simply take in the views, there’s plenty of opportunity to stop along the way. There’s small coves along the shores of the lake to find a nice spot for a lie-down, plenty of villages along the trail where you can find a snack to refuel and there’s even the occasional banana beer ‘factory’ (someone’s home) that you might be tempted to stop at to sample the local fare!
There might be the odd river crossing where you’ll need to wade across (at the time of writing, bridges were being constructed in places where land slides had caused damage to crossings) and there will often be the opportunity to take a dip in the lake (Boneza was our favourite spot) to cool down.
One constant is how incredible the views are. From dense jungle through banana plantations, the shores of the lake and hilltop views. You’ll also be able to gaze across at the mountains in the DRC whilst the lake’s various islands provide some stunning photo opportunities.
Reminders about the past.
There are some more sombre moments along the way however with the occasional memorial or reminder of the past horrors that the country faced in the 90’s.
Back onto the road.
Once you hit the road to continue the cycle or finish up after trekking, you might find yourself amongst a peloton of lycra-clad serious cyclists. It’s a big sport here and with more and more people coming over to train and the Tour du Rwanda, there’s plenty of cyclists on the roads.
We love this route, whether cycling or walking, as it allows you to travel at a leisurely pace through remote villages, rural areas and all against a beautiful backdrop provided by Lake Kivu. You’re not going to be bumping into many other travellers and will still be a bit of a novelty for the kids as you pass their homes. So, if you’re looking for a multi-day active holiday in a place with sensational views and somewhere a bit different, we couldn’t recommend the Congo Trail highly enough!
