Planning to hike or bike the Congo Nile Trail in Rwanda? No matter where you start or how far you go, be sure to include a coffee experience in your itinerary.
There are several on offer (and clearly signposted) along the Trail, but the leader of the pack is the Kinunu Coffee Tour. Here’s why we recommend it:
• Deeper, educational experience
• Fully operational coffee washing station
• Scenic views of Lake Kivu
• Great fit for short or long itineraries
• Easily accessible
• Memorable coffee
The Kinunu brand is Boneza Coffee, a premium 100% Arabica roast that is grown, processed, and packed entirely in the Kinunu area. From tree to cup, everything happens locally: farmers harvest the cherries, the washing station handles the processing, and the result is a rich, single-origin coffee known for its quality and traceability.
You’ll walk through hillside plantations, watch beans being pulped, fermented, and dried on sunlit racks, then sip your brew right by the lake. You’ll see how coffee sustains communities here and how a small rural operation is scaling up — with plans to open coffee shops and export its beans abroad.
👉 Practical tip: If you’re hiking the CNT from the Rubavu/Gisenyi direction, Day 2 of the Trail (Cyimbili to Kinunu) is shorter and perfect for this slow-paced, immersive activity.
🖋️ text by:
Enock Musabyimana is a tour guide from Gisenyi who started his career leading hikers on the Congo Nile Trail. Over the years, Enock has expanded his networks and knowledge of East Africa, becoming comfortable in any environment. A passionate preacher and a proud father of three boys, he lives in Kigali, Rwanda. [bio updated: 2026-03]
📸 photography by:
ML Rwebandira — formerly known as Miha Logar — is an adventure and cultural tourism expert, writer and multimedia producer who co-founded Gorilla Highlands Experts. His most recent publication is the Pocket Treasure. A national of both Uganda and Slovenia, ML resides with his son Lan in Musanze, Rwanda. Click for his personality-infused quarterly newsletters. [bio updated: 2026-05]