Chillin’ on the Trail, Thanks to Mansuet

A good trekking guide can elevate your hiking experience no matter where you are. Here’s an example involving a group of British students on the Congo Nile Trail (CNT) …

Amri, Amy, Georgie, Kitty, Matthew and Ryan were guided by Mansuet Umugwaneza — simply because Ryan thought it was important to have an expert at the helm. CNT is actually signposted, so there is no pressing need to get a guide. But there are many benefits in obtaining one! Ryan felt it would be nice to have a local professional with them, making their experience even better. He reached out to us, we had a Zoom call with the rest of the Oxford gang listening in, and the decision for Mansuet was made.

Umugwaneza’s job was easier than usual. The group were active, kind and generous, he says. They were medical students at the end of their elective placement in Karongi, so any sickness or injury on the way would have been a piece of cake to attend to, giving a guide great peace of mind. Georgie had even done all the accommodation arrangements by herself — for the three nights between Rubavu/Gisenyi and Karongi/Kibuye — so Mansuet’s job was to entertain, educate and show a shortcut or two.

Ryan comments: “The big plus of taking a guide was that we did not need to stress about navigation, conditions, or locating supplies; these can be hazards for inexperienced hikers. Instead, we focused on enjoying ourselves and improving our understanding of Rwanda and its people. Mansuet speaks four languages and this came in very handy, for example, when figuring out safe river crossing points or organising boats and taxis. Finally, he is from the CNT founding group, so he’s an experienced guy who is also really kind and chill. Many thanks to him and the wider Gorilla Highlands team who helped us maximise the trip along the fascinating banks of Lake Kivu.”

photos by Mansuet Umugwaneza