The plan was to spend a night in Nyabihu and head to Rubavu the next morning. But the allure of Lake Kivu proved irresistible. With Rubavu just thirty minutes away, I gave in to the temptation and hit the road.
Don’t get me wrong—I love Nyabihu. Who doesn’t? But on a Friday night, I’d rather be in Rubavu. Besides, a few Kigali-based friends had already escaped to the lakeside town. After traveling solo for over a month, the social animal in me was craving company.
Although I didn’t end up using my room at Volcano Gate Motel, this tour’s publication will still feature it. Before I left, I inspected the entire property, took photos, and gathered all the information I needed.
After bidding farewell to the good people of Nyabihu, I cruised toward the northern flank of Lake Kivu. First stop: Saga Bay Restaurant, where I joined the aforementioned friends on one of those decks suspended above the water. After dinner and an hour of catching up, I made my way to Nyamyumba Beach and checked into Galaxy Kivu Hotel. I would have lingered longer, but the grind of this long expedition was finally catching up with me.
During the first few weeks of this grand tour of Rwanda, my rhythm was steady—two nights in every district. Then my travel site, crucial to the fulfilment of sponsorship obligations, was hacked. The interruption led to a three-week hiatus. When I resumed the tour, I picked up the pace, determined to cross the finish line within the timeframe etched in stone.
I arrived in Rubavu earlier than scheduled—and stayed longer than planned. While dining above the lake’s shimmering surface, I felt the shift—this wasn’t just another stop on the tour. It was a moment to slow down, reconnect, and recharge.
Rubavu marked the 18th stop on my journey through all 30 districts of Rwanda—a milestone that came with both pride and fatigue. After weeks of hitting the road hard, riding from district to district, leading book club sessions, and donating books to community libraries, I finally allowed myself a breather. There is no better place to rejuvenate both the body and mind than Rubavu.