Discover the beautiful Rwanda with your friends or family on a 2 to 5-day cycling tour along Lake Kivu. The Congo Nile Trail is one of the most scenic cycling routes in Africa. Despite its name, the trail remains entirely within Rwanda (not crossing into Congo). The name refers to the water divide in the region (“Congo-Nile Divide”). To the west, all rivers flow to the Congo River, and to the east, all rivers flow to the Nile.
This is not just a cycling trip; it’s an adventure… You can choose between a regular or electric mountain bike. The route was specially designed by the Rwandan tourism office to avoid as much road traffic as possible. You’ll mostly ride on unpaved roads through coffee and tea plantations and stunning nature. The route is constantly going up and down, and you’ll enjoy beautiful landscapes with views of Lake Kivu.
You can sign up as of 4 people. If you are traveling alone or with fewer than 4 people, please contact bruno.peelman@mytrail.be for a personalized quote.
Plan Your Adventure
You can ride the Congo Nile Trail year-round, but be aware that it may rain in the afternoons during March/April/May and October/November. These rains usually pass quickly but add a bit of a challenge to the trip. The best months are June to September and December to February.
Plan Your AdventureWe take care of all logistical aspects during your cycling trip.
Let us know how many days you want to continue traveling after the cycling tour and we will plan a program for you that you can then complete on your own. We will be happy to give you all the necessary tips and good addresses. Do not hesitate to contact us for advice.
Bike rental 
Local guide 
Accommodations 
Daily luggage transport 
Airport pickup 
Breakfast The complete Congo Nile Trail covers approximately 250 km and takes 5 days. You may choose to ride only a portion of the trail. You decide the number of days in the registration module. The starting point is always Gisenyi.
CongoNileTrail.com is an initiative by Bruno Peelman, a passionate cyclist and Africa expert. Bruno has cycled the Congo Nile Trail several times, including once with his 22-year-old daughter. He was inspired to offer this adventure to other cycling enthusiasts who don’t have time to handle all practical details themselves. With his excellent local connections, you can embark with peace of mind, knowing that everything is well-organized. This cycling tour has been developed with local partners, contributing to the local community.
Bruno holds a law degree, has worked as a communications manager for various organizations, and has a background as an international aid worker with the Red Cross (missions in Rwanda, Congo, and former Yugoslavia).
Would you like to organize an adventurous cycling tour with colleagues?
Contact us, and we’ll arrange a customized program.
CongoNileTrail.com is not a "traditional" group trip where individuals join strangers. Instead, you form your own cycling group (4-10 people) and choose your departure date. You can opt for a 2-to-5-day trip starting in Gisenyi. Flights are not included and must be arranged separately. Most participants explore the rest of Rwanda on their own before or after the bike tour (e.g., Akagera Park, gorillas, Nyungwe Forest). Non-cyclists in your family or group can join you afterward for a road trip through Rwanda. We can help design an itinerary based on the length of your stay.
During a visit to Kigali, we happened to meet Bruno. We had long dreamed of cycling through Rwanda. When he told us about the Congo Nile Trail, we were immediately hooked.
So, during Christmas 2024, we spent almost a week in the saddle during the day and spent the nights in relaxing accommodations, enjoying Rwandan hospitality. Bruno had organized the whole package for us, including equipment, a guide, and accommodations—it was well structured down to the last detail and worked perfectly.
On our year-long trip around the world, these days cycling in the mountains by Lake Kivu were one of the most memorable experiences!
Had the pleasure of cycling the Congo Nile Trail together with a couple of days with Albert, couldn’t wish for a better guide! He knew everything in terms of history, culture, customs & had wonderful stories to tell. Time flew by very slowly (in a good way that is) as we cycled past villages where we (mostly me haha) were visited with friendly and curious faces. Accomodation was perfect for my standard and I really enjoyed the incredibly well arranged organisation of this trip. For me it was definitely an unforgettable experience which I’ll forever cherish. Thank you again Albert & Bruno for allowing travellers to experience the beauty of Rwanda in this way!
I cycled the trail solo (e-bike). Albert, the guide, was fantastic. He knows everything about the trail and in case of a breakdown (a broken chain), he quickly got me back on track! The transportation to and from Kigali was also well organised! Thanks Bruno and, of course, Albert for this amazing adventure.
I did the five day bike tour from Gisenyi to Kamembe last summer and loved it. It was easy to set up the trip through company owner Bruno. Albert was a great guide. The mountain bike was in good condition. The route was beautiful and hilly – sometimes I walked my bike up short steep sections. One day we opted for tarmac because I was sick, but, as is the case with all paved roads in Rwanda, there was a wide shoulder and very little traffic so it was very pleasant. There was road construction in a couple of places; it wasn’t a problem, but it means that the CNT may need to be re-routed some day or succumb to some paved sections. I don’t view this as a problem because, as I said, the tarmac in Rwanda is very interesting and pleasant to ride on – these thoroughfares are teaming with local pedestrians and bike riders. We usually ate a simple lunch (brochette and skewered potatoes or soup) at a local eatery during the day and had a big delicious dinner at the hotel at night. Swimming in the lake at the end of the day was divine. Albert organized a boat ride to a beautiful island one afternoon outside of Kibuye which was very interesting. I’m a solo female and never felt unsafe; Rwanda is a very safe country, but the kids follow you in droves and can be a little overwhelming – I brought hackie sacks and other gifts for them. I highly recommend this trip and this outfitter.
It was a great trip. I did the full 5 days with 3 friends. Thank you Bruno for the smooth organisation.