Biking The Congo Nile Trail – Complete Guide

Bike travel is the most common method of completing the Congo Nile Trail. Any reasonably fit person may cycle the 280 km of the Congo Nile Trail from Rubavu to Rusizi in 5 days while traveling at a moderate pace and without exerting too much effort. The majority of cyclists who ride the Congo Nile Trail do so via a tour company, however it is also possible to finish entirely on your own using your own equipment. Here is the the complete guide to biking the Congo Nile Trail.

You can explore and learn about the numerous joys of Rwanda’s Western Province, including coffee, tea, and bananas, peaceful natural beaches, and breathtaking vistas of the stunning, frequently dramatic scenery, along the 280-kilometer Congo Nile Trail that runs from Rubavu to Rusizi.

You pass through rural communities on the route, participate in community-based excursions offered by cooperatives, and get to know the three largest Rwandan towns located along Lake Kivu.

The majority of the trail travels along narrow single tracks or unpaved dirt roads. It takes a good mountain bike to complete the track. You will continuously be pedaling uphill or downhill because Rwanda is known as the Land of a Thousand Hills. Along the Congo Nile Trail, there are options for fully serviced lodging as well as nice camping areas if you want to bring your own tent.

Visit Rwanda’s Interactive Map of the Congo Nile Trail can be found here

A downloadable PDF guide to the Congo Nile Trail can be found here

Biking the Congo Nile Trail, Stage 1, Rubavu – Kinunu

Distance: 36.5km – Elevation: Uphill ~1300m – Effective Riding: 4h

The Congo Nile Trail’s first bicycle segment starts around 7 km south of Rubavu (formerly Gisenyi), close to the Braliwra Brewery. You travel by land from the starting location after the Bralirwa Brewery to the farming community of Rwinyoni. Early risers delight at the lake coastlines being illuminated by morning.

Nkora Fishing Settlement is the next village, where you might witness fisherman coming in from the customary overnight fishing trip and kids having fun in the lake.

The route then passes through coffee and banana fields until arriving in Kinunu, where lodging options are available along Lake Kivu’s beach.

Accommodation: Kinunu Guest House or Rushel Kivu lodge

Biking the Congo Nile Trail, Stage 2 Kinunu – Bumba

Distance: 28.5km – Elevation: Uphill ~1250m – Effective Riding: 3h

Before reaching Musasa, where you may have lunch at Musasa Homestay, which serves meals to bikers and hikers, you pass a coffee washing station and enjoy the magnificent views while taking in the wonderful ride along the coasts and hills above Lake Kivu. Bicycle through the beautiful Coko Valley, which is known for its yams. The trail continues through the valley next to the Coko River.

As the day comes to an end, you sweat as you ascend a steep slope on the further side of the valley to Bumba and the Congo Nile Center.

 Accommodation: Bumba Base Camp or Dian Fossey Hotel Rutsiro

Biking the Congo Nile Trail, Stage 3 Bumba – Karongi (Difficult via Mukura Forest)

Distance 61.3km – Elevation: Uphill ~1700m, – Effective Riding : 7h

Between Bumba and Karongi, this is the more difficult section because it goes all the way upward to Mukura Forest. The stage is lengthy, thus it is strongly advised that you leave early. Visit Mary Mother of the Poor at the start of your journey while you’re still alert. Aloys Bigirumwami, the church’s bishop, is a pioneer and author on the Congo Nile Divide.

A dirt road leads up through the Rutsiro Tea Company’s tea plantations from the Parish’s Carvary hill. You have already ascended to a height of about 2450 m when you take the turnoff for the tea factory.

Reaching the Continental Divide, which gives the Congo Nile Trail its name, requires a succession of descents to cross rivers and ascents to ascend out of steep valleys. You have a beautiful view of the valleys to the east that drain into the Nile River and those to the west that drain into the Congo River from a height of 2600 meters.

Mukura Forest, a section of the brand-new Gishwati-Mukura National Park, crosses the Divide.

A long descent through Mukura Center and past the Ntaruko Waterfall makes you reach the Muhanga-Karongi main road in Rwimpiri.

 Rather than descending on the main road, the trail takes you through the irrigated lands of the Kwiperu community to Rubengera and – for some 2 km on tarmac – to Ryanyirakabano Center.

 Turn sharp left to join the alternative trail coming from Sure for the final 16 kilometers to Karongi.

Head towards Kibirizi, a small town with a large market and shops. From there, the trail descends to cross Musogoro River and climb along the northern flanks of the impressive Sakinnyaga mountain chain to reach Matyazo Center.

Lake Kivu welcomes you as you ride around the tip of Sakinnyaga. A 5km ride on the main road brings you to Karongi town – still referenced mostly by its old name Kibuye.

Accommodation: Karongi town offers different option for accommodation ranging from small guest houses to big hotels.

Biking the Congo Nile Trail, Stage 3 Bumba – Karongi (Easy via Sure)

Distance 31.2km – Elevation: Uphill ~800m – Effective Riding: 3.5h

This is the less demanding route to Karongi from Bumba. This stage of the Congo Nile Trail this beautiful alternative makes up for by-passing the Congo Nile Divide by bringing you much closer to the farming communities.

Take a different route to Sure than you did the day before as you descended from Bumba. Continue on past banana fields to reach Musaho’s sandy valley. Take a suspension bridge across the Muregeya River, then ascend gradually out of the valley to the main road at Ryanyirakabano. The remaining 16 kilometers to Karongi are on the main trail that descends from the Congo Nile Divide and Mukura Forest.

A small town with a sizable market and stores is Kibirizi. The trail then climbs over the northern sides of the spectacular Sakinnyaga mountain series to reach Matyazo Center after descending to bridge the Musogoro River.

As you ride around the tip of Sakinnyaga, Lake Kivu greets you. 5 kilometers on the main road will take you to Karongi town, which is still frequently referred to by its former name, Kibuye.

Accommodations: Karongi town offers a variety of options for lodging, from modest guesthouses to sizable hotels.

Biking the Congo Nile Trail, Stage 4 Karongi (Kibuye) – Gisovu

Distance: 29.5km – Elevation: Uphill~ 1375m – Effective Riding: 4-5h

The trail’s longest continuous elevation begins near the roundabout in Karongi Town. As you ascend the muddy road, you can see gorgeous Lake Kivu in the distance.

You are almost at the summit of Mount Karongi, as indicated by tea plantations and cool breezes. The trail leads you towards the center of Gisovu, one of Rwanda’s most well-known and expansive tea gardens, by bearing right through alternating rocky descents and sharp ascents.

Accommodations are accessible about 6 to 9 kilometers further out from the Nile’s source. The Gisovu Tea Factory Guest House welcomes guests for a wonderful stay with sunbirds fluttering in the fresh air, while the Catholic Church Guest House in Twumba has rooms for travelers on a tighter budget. Both are situated in a tranquil tea heaven.

Accommodation: Gisovu Tea Eactory or Twumba Catholic Church

Biking the Congo Nile Trail, Stage 5 Gisovu – Mugonero

Distance: 11.5km – Elevation: Downhill ~675m (Uphill ~100m) – Effective Riding: 1h

The fifth day is 95% downhill after four days of arduous climbing. Enjoy the long descent through the farms and woodlands of the neighborhood to Mugonero. Cool Lake Kivu winds blow, and fruit, eucalyptus, and pine trees provide shade. This brief stage comes to a close at Mugonero at the asphalt road.

Accommodation: L’ Esperance Orphanage Mugonero or Kivu Lodge(+8km).

Biking the Congo Nile Trail, Stage 6 Mugonero -Tyazo

Distance: 56.6km – Elevation: Uphill ~1800m – Effective Riding: 6h

On day six, you can either start the day with a boat trip from Kivu Lodge to Ku Rukunda or an exhilarating asphalt descent around the renowned Dawurimwijuru corner.

Whichever route you take, you eventually arrive to Dukoni Center, where you continue your journey via banana plantations before descending to the rice fields in the Gisuma River Estuary. The trail then ascends to Muhombori and Mukamina before returning you to the Lake for a lovely section along the shore to Mu Gakoma.

To reach Ryadomori’s main road, you must ascend a rough slope. You can unwind and catch your breath for 9km on tarmac to Kadehero before circling back on dirt roads and single trails through hills and over community-built bridges to reach Tyazo.

Accommodation: Plan A Motel, Tyazo Guest House, or Ishara Beach Hotel 5.5 kms further. Ibigabiro Hotel in Nyamasheke Town is also a good option.

Biking the Congo Nile Trail, Stage 7 Tyazo – Kigaga

Distance: 34.2km – Elevation: Uphill ~1175m – Effective Riding: 4-5h

The lovely descent to Kinini back on the main road will warm you up for the good ascent to a center called “Kigali kwa Sebujangwe.”

Choose between continuing on the main trail to Kigaga from Kinini or turning left to ascend to Gisakura to visit Nyungwe Forest (8.8km).

Continue past a string of towns on the opposite side of the main road toward Kigaga to finally descend into a broad valley. After crossing the rivers, you reach the so-called “Olympic climb,” a brief but extremely steep ascent that even Tour of Rwanda cyclists find difficult.

You will descend and ascend your way to Bushenge market, where it is advised that you stop for refreshments. The final stretch of this stage before Kigaga

Captain Berthe established the first German Post here, on the beaches of Lake Kivu, in 1896. After discovering what he initially thought to be Caput Nili, the Nile’s source, in 1898, Richard Kandt chose to reside here and gave the place the name “Bergfrieden.”

There are lodging options at Shangi St. Martin Parish. As an alternative, you can continue with Stage 8 and arrive in Kamembe the same day.

Accommodation: St. Martin Parish

Biking the Congo Nile Trail, Stage 8: Kigaga – Kamembe

Distance: 20.2km – Elevation: Uphill ~475m – Effective Riding: 2.5h

This brief final section of the route puts an enjoyable cap to your ride because there isn’t much elevation to gain. Descend to Cyunu Valley’s lovely rice farms. You reach Rusizi, the final of the five Districts you visit on this journey, after crossing the bridge. Similar to the Eastern DRC, Nkaka and Gihundwe are settlements with wooden dwellings that line the road.

The Congo Nile trek comes to an end in the center of crowded Kamembe Town, where lodging of every kind and transportation back to Kigali are offered.

Formerly known as Cyangugu, Kamembe has always had a significant impact on Rwandan history. Today, there is a frenzied interaction with Bukavu at the border station near the Rusizi River.

Accommodations: The town offers a variety of options for lodging, from modest guesthouses to substantial hotels.