Rwanda
Volcanoes National Park
We started with an early transfer to Volcanoes National Park, taking in the scenic 6-hour drive. Along the way, we stopped for lunch. We went mountain biking through the stunning countryside in "the land of a thousand hills".The challenging routes gave us a true taste of Rwanda’s cycling culture, especially with the 2025 UCI Road World Championships just around the corner. Our day ended at Kinigi Cottage, hands down the best stay of the trip.
Mountainbike experience in the Land of a Thousand Hills
The Rising Cycling Center is located near Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and is an important hub for cycling in the country. It was established as part of Team Rwanda Cycling, which supports and trains Rwandan cycling talent. The center aims to develop young cyclists and put Rwanda on the map as a cycling nation. They can come over for training, mechanical support, and sometimes accommodations. Additionally, it is a popular stop for bike travelers exploring the region, because of the stunning routes around the volcanoes and through Rwanda’s local villages. Since we were in the area, we decided to stop by and explore the surroundings by mountain bike. Especially with the 2025 UCI Road World Championships taking place in Kigali this year, it felt like the perfect way to experience Rwanda’s growing cycling culture firsthand. Quite a challenging route if you ask me! Countless elevation meters that truly lived up to Rwanda’s nickname: The Land of a Thousand Hills. Especially with the 2025 UCI Road World Championships taking place in Kigali this year, it felt like the perfect way to experience Rwanda’s growing cycling culture firsthand. Along the way, we passed the impressive bamboo gorilla sculpture, a tribute to the mountain gorillas that call this region home. This statue is linked to Kwita Izina, Rwanda’s annual gorilla naming ceremony, which celebrates the birth of new gorillas and promotes conservation efforts. It’s one of the biggest tourism events in Africa.
Kinigi Cottage: feel right at home in Rwanda
Kinigi Cottage is a charming country house in Kinigi village, near Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. Owned by Joachim, a Belgian who moved here and started this gem of a stay. The cottage and the people behind it were so warm and welcoming. It hasn’t been open for long, and the interior is way better than Google shows—a hidden gem that exceeded all expectations. This was by far my favorite stay during our whole week in Rwanda. We stayed in the suite, which was incredibly spacious. The bed, positioned right next to the large windows, was my absolute favorite spot. And the balcony? Perfect for enjoying the sounds and views of tropical thunderstorms. For dinner and breakfast, you simply let the staff know what time you’d like to eat, and they’ll have everything set up for you at a large communal table in the cozy living-room-style common area. On our first night, we happened to share dinner with two other guests—also from Belgium, but from the French-speaking part. It was so wholesome, switching between French, Dutch, and English in conversation, effortlessly connecting over travel experiences. We enjoyed it so much that we decided to have breakfast and dinner together again the next day. One last tip—check out the chess set in my photos. It’s the most beautifully designed table game I’ve ever seen!
