How Safe Is the Congo Nile Trail in 2025?
In recent months there have been concerns about security in the area around Lake Kivu. News from DR Congo has cast a shadow over what are in reality the very peaceful Rwandan shores.
As a team of people who live just minutes from the border and who have guided countless travellers along the Congo Nile Trail, we feel it’s important to share a firsthand perspective. In short: the entirety of the trail is completely safe and open to visitors.
It’s easy, from far away, to blur the lines on a map. When conflict breaks out in eastern Congo the entire region can quickly be labelled unstable. But for those of us who live here the difference between the two sides of Lake Kivu couldn’t be clearer.
Despite its misleading name, the Congo Nile Trail lies entirely within Rwanda’s borders. There is also a large natural barrier: Lake Kivu itself. More importantly, the Rwandan government maintains a strong presence across the country. It runs a well-organised system of community policing and has spent decades building a framework of accountability, governance and development that values stability above all.
That’s why locals go to markets, attend church and walk their children to school without fear. Travellers quickly pick up on the calm, everyday rhythm of life. As you cross rivers, share local meals, sleep in remote guesthouses and hike through green hillsides, you never feel unsafe. In fact, you may forget there’s even a conflict on the other side of the lake.
Villagers along the trail see tourism as part of their daily lives and understand the value it brings. They’re used to welcoming travellers and are proud to do so — and they would be the first to raise an alarm if anything were amiss.
But fear spreads faster than facts, especially online. That’s why communication between guides, guests and locals is so important. Before each trip we make sure our clients have time to ask questions, share concerns and learn about the region. Once they hit the trail they begin to see the truth for themselves.
When you walk or bike through western Rwanda you’re not just enjoying the scenery; you’re experiencing a peaceful, functioning society. And that society welcomes you.
text by Enock Musabyimana; photo by Miha Logar
