The Congo Nile Trail extends 227 kilometres of breathtaking landscapes all the way to Rusizi in the south of Lake Kivu. The Congo Nile trail gently curves back and forth as it weaves through hills and mountains beside the lake with eucalyptus trees lining the road and every inch of the hills seemingly terraced with bananas with an outstanding view of Lake Kivu and DRC. The communities along the trail are so welcoming and are used to the presence of hikers and bikers in their areas. The Congo Nile trail is a network of matted trails and road routes that starts from north of Lake Kivu in Gisenyi to the south in Kamembe. You can start to hike it from Gisenyi or Kamembe, the order, does not matter.
You can choose to hike/ bike the whole of the trail, or cut it short by a day (s). You will need roughly 5 days to be able to complete the Congo Nile trail by biking, and roughly 7 – 10 days by hiking. However, shorter hikes of 2 – 3 days along the Congo Nile trail, can as well as be organized.
Attractions along the Congo Nile Trail.
There are a number of things to watch and observe on the Congo Nile trail. Whether you hike or biking, you will experience the same thing along the trails, however, by walking across the trail, you have more time, at a slow pace, to observe more, and interact with your guide, as you stroll around the community leads.
Some of the things you can spot along the way- coffee plantations; people working on their farms (banana, cassava, yams, mangos, avocados, carrots and more); more than 60 kinds of birds; small villages; fishing boats- it feels like some of the real Rwanda, as your experience an authentic Rwanda village experience. You can as well as combine your Congo Nile trail with a boat ride on Lake Kivu or with other activities such as Kayaking on Lake Kivu and fishermen experience on Lake Kivu
A guide or No guide on Congo Nile Trail Hike
You may be experienced hikers and travelers, but we do recommend hiring a guide, who are locals and have mastered the routes. In case you do not hire a guide, you may end up taking several wrong turns. The paths are fairly easy walking, but there are lots of intersections and side paths and it seems like they change according to conditions. At One More Adventure Safaris, all our Congo Nile Trails hiking / cycling trips, we take with us an experienced local guide, as a way of supporting the local community, also having great security and company to our guests. The guide will educate you about local village life, as well as taking you through local markets, and helping you navigate sometimes rocky trails.
Accommodation along the Congo Nile Trails.
There are a number of guest houses suited at each stopover point. The guest houses are standard and rustic, so do not expect a 3 star or 5 star kind of setting here. You’re experiencing and exploring the trail like a local, so you will have to sleep like a local as well. Meals like breakfast and dinner can be provided at the guest houses. Some guest houses do have hot showers, while some do not.
How to get to the Congo Nile Trail.
The Congo Nile Trail is located in the western side of Rwanda, roughly 3 hours’ drive from Kigali. You can access the area through hiring a private taxi or using a public bus to Gisenyi or to any starting point. If you have booked with One More Adventure Safaris, do not worry, we have you covered, all your transportation, shall be arranged at ease.
How to book an adventure on Congo Nile Trail.
Do you wish to hike or bike along the great Congo Nile Trail, why not get in touch with our team at One More Adventure Safaris, and have the Congo Nile Trail biking or hiking arranged for you, as part of your Rwanda gorilla safaris. We can include the Congo Nile trail adventure on your Rwanda trip.
Walking the Congo Nile trail is wonderful joy, breathtaking and colored with smiles from the locals, who will occasionally wave back at you, even if they do not get what you speak. Sometimes in life, you need to get out of your usual daily routine, the comfortable cars, and just put your body, and feet on a real off beaten adventure test. Your soul will be rewards, you will have a real feeling of this is Africa, as you walk under the scorching sun, eating the fresh organic juicy fruits like it be sugarcanes, mangoes, pineapple, yellow bananas or avocado, just like a real African – welcome home, where our feet, are the only options to carry us to the next destination. With the sweet memories built, it will always be “One More Adventure Safaris”.
