Skip to content

CONGO NILE TRAIL

BACKGROUND INFO

Get lost along the lake in Rwanda’s wildest corner.

The Congo Nile Trail is a trail along Lake Kivu that extends from Rubavu, continues through Rutsiro via the Karongi, Nyamasheke districts and ends at Rusizi District. 227 km (141 miles) of beautiful landscapes, including rolling hills and clear water. The entire trek can be completed in a 10- day hike. However, the trip can be done in sections if travelers do not have the time to complete the entire trail. Trails give stunning views of the Lake Kivu coastline and offer adventurous travelers an exciting way to discover Rwanda. Biking the Congo Nile Trail can be completed in 5 days, with rich views and immersive cultural experiences along the way. This trail appeals to adventure travelers and is a great way to experience Rwanda. The trail can also be split up if visitors do not have the time to commit to the 5 day journey. However, it is an experience worth selling to those who crave an off the beaten path adventure.

DESTINATION MAP

Click to view larger version

WHAT TO SEE & DO

Biking

Allowing you to see more trail in less time, and with the added thrill of tackling its countless hills, valleys, and overlooks on two wheels, biking is a fantastic way to get out and explore the Congo Nile Trail, and you’ll have no shortage of fellow cyclists, bicycles piled high with produce, joining you as you pedal from village to village. For ambitious travellers who might be short on time but don’t want to miss a metre of the Congo Nile’s spectacular 227kms of undulating lakeside trail, doing the trip on a bike cuts the 10 day hiking time by more than half, and any RDB office can work out an itinerary with you. If you don’t have a bicycle of your own, they’ll refer you to one of several specialized mountain biking outfitters. For riders who are shorter on time, it’s of course equally possible to tackle any section of the trail in short stages that will either have you back at your hotel by nightfall, or pitching a tent under the stars at one of the eight serviced campsites along the way.


Hiking

With twelve coffee-washing stations, three tea plantations, three cities, dozens of villages, and more beaches, coves, waterfalls, valleys, and vistas than we can count, the winding path of the Congo Nile Trail is a true rambler’s paradise, and offers some of the finest hiking to be had anywhere in east and central Africa. Winding its way along the fringes of the lake through the peaks of Rwanda’s endlessly verdant mille collines (thousand hills), a through-hike of the Congo Nile Trail is as challenging as it is rewarding, and with a peak elevation of 2630m, it’s a serious workout to boot. The full 227km route takes 10 days to complete on foot (including a rest day to soak up the beaches around Karongi), but can be approached in sections based on your ability and interests.


Camping

With eight serviced and well-marked campsites spaced out along the Congo Nile Trail, as well as basic accommodation at some of the coffee washing stations and a full range of guesthouses in the major towns, there’s no shortage of accommodation options along the trail. Most visitors prefer to camp when possible, and six nights on the classic 10-day through-hike are spent under the stars in a series of picturesque campsites on the fringes of local villages and plantations. (Some of the sites are affiliated with local schools and orphanages, so you’re practically guaranteed a royal welcome when you arrive.)

Wildside Recommended Picks

11 Days Tanzania Photography & Discovery

Nairobi – Tarangire – Ngorongoro Serengeti – Arusha – Depart

11 Days Tanzania Photography & Discovery

Nairobi – Amboseli – Masai Mara – Serengeti – Kigali – Volcanoes National Park – Kigali – Depart

9 Days East Africa Migration Extravaganza

Nairobi – Tarangire – Ngorongoro Serengeti – Arusha – Depart

11 Days Tanzania Photography & Discovery

Nairobi – Tarangire – Ngorongoro Serengeti – Arusha – Depart

11 Days Tanzania Photography & Discovery

Nairobi – Amboseli – Masai Mara – Serengeti – Kigali – Volcanoes National Park – Kigali – Depart

9 Days East Africa Migration Extravaganza

Nairobi – Tarangire – Ngorongoro Serengeti – Arusha – Depart

ABOUT WILDSIDE

About us
Frequently Asked Questions
Travelling Tips?
Operational Terms
Contact Us

Wildside Kenya Safaris
P.O. Box 50329-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
Tel: +(254) 724 710699, +(254) 755 648655
E: info@wildsidekenyasafaris.com
W: www.wildsidekenyasafaris.com

IMPORTANT LINKS

Our Indian Office:
The Traveller Holidays
04, Ramesh Marg, C Scheme
Jaipur, Rajasthan, Indian 302004
dinesh@thetravellerholidays.com
info@wildsidekenyasafaris.com
+918955777880
+254 724 710699

STAY UP TO DATE

Receive great travel package offers and discounts on your African Safari.

© Wildside Kenya Safaris 2022. All Rights Reserved

Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Site Map

© Wildside Kenya Safaris 2022. All Rights Reserved

Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Site Map

Facebook