Hiking Trails

The aim of Hiking Trails is to diversify tourism products in Rwanda and adding more touristic value at Heritage sites and linking them to the community around through daily cultural activities and lives.

1. NYANZA CULTURAL TRAILS

Rwanda Cultural heritage Academy (RCHA) is currently involved in promoting cultural tourism in the country with a pilot project in Nyanza District, Southern province of Rwanda. The cultural trails, dubbed “Nyanza Cultural Trails” are unique in Rwanda as they are circular in nature and connect a variety of historical (heritage sites, museums) & natural landmarks (wetlands, hills) in the ancient capital of the Kingdom in Rwanda.

The project aims at diversifying tourism in Rwanda and adding more touristic value to Nyanza as a Destination Managed Area (DMA) and not just a transit hub as it has been before. These are premium certified routes with good security & in good condition.

I. ROYAL TRAIL

The ‘Royal Trail’ is a cultural route at the European premium level with maximum variety. The trail is a unique, outstanding 10 km route which offers hikers experience in a compact manner, combining history, culture and Rwandan rural life. 10% of the paths in the urban areas of Nyanza are on asphalt, 30% of the route is path and 60% of the route is on pleasant dirt roads.

The Royal Trail connects Nyanza with the sites of the historic Rwandan royalty in the surrounding area.

Cultural history: The former Royal Palace-now the “Home-Grown Solutions Museum” built in 1959 by King Mutara III Rudahigwa and the Kings’ Palace Museum built in 1932 are some of the outstanding landmarks along the trail. The replicas of the ancient historical royal palace, the traditional royal cows “Inyambo”, the Mausoleum of the Kings of Rwanda, Christ-Church built by Belgium missionaries in 1935, all offer a unique taste to hikers.

Cultural landscape:Visitorsexperience the authentic Rwandan town, village and country life with different houses, agriculture and livestock. They also see the centre of Nyanza with a market and the African Art Gallery.

Cultural ambience: Some houses are painted with traditional ornaments. This cultural beautification of the facades is great attraction for tourists.

Nature:There are two lakes, wetlands numerous stunning viewpoints.

II. BIG VIEW TRAIL

The ‘Big View’ trail is an 8km long trail that leads to Remera hill from Nyanza District. It extends the experience of the premium trails in Nyanza with impressive views from the hill over the surrounding countryside.

The trail leads around the top of the hill and hikers can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view over more than 50 km. For the first kilometre, the route runs parallel to the Royal Trail, however, at the beautiful Nyamagana Lake, the Big View Trail branches off to the right and leads to the mountain community path between houses and agricultural land. The ascent of about 100m leads hikers through a small forest.

Both the two trails (Royal & Big-view) were launched and certified as premium trails by the president of German Hiking Institute 4th/12/2019. The project is directed towards community empowerment in social-economic welfare. Local communities and investors are mobilized and trained to tap fully into tourism related products that attracts the tourists/hikers. The economic impact to this benefits directly the local people in the District, especially the service providers.

III. GATAGARA TRAIL

The Gatagara trail is a 15km long trail that passes through a long and wide valley without community’s houses, the valley is characterized by small –scale agriculture with horticulture and livestock in individual farms.

The trail offers a mix of wide dirt roads and narrow paths leading through agriculture land, with numerous intermediate views. Half way there is the largest facility for persons with disabilities in East Africa with work-shops, schools, hospitals, homes, a church, a pottery as well as a gastronomy open seven days a week. This facility other an idea resting place. The trail is a very quit path with a relaxing effect. 

2. RICHARD KANDT TRAIL

Richard Kandt trail link all historical places covered by Richard Kandt during his research on the source of Nile and other places He visited during his stay in Rwanda from 1907, All places are marked and located using GPS. Richard Kandt Mobile App helps you to visit Rwanda by showing you all these beautiful locations.

Download the App via Google Play store through your android smartphone and book your trip with available guides! They're just a call away!

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=rw.museum.rktrailrwanda&hl=en_US