From my base at Rutete Eco-Lodge, I set off with no grand plan, just a curious urge to see where the hill behind Rwinkwavu would lead me. I headed toward Rwinkwavu Hospital but didn’t make it all the way there. Just before reaching the Rwinkwavu Community Library and Learning Center, I took a right turn and veered off the tarmac. The paved road gave way to a dusty trail that began to wind upward, tracing a quiet route behind some of the landmarks that define this small town.
With each step, I felt the rhythm of Rwinkwavu slow me down, in the best possible way. Children playing along the roadside waved and greeted me with wide smiles. Adults going about their day offered nods, warm greetings, and brief conversations that reminded me how deeply rooted kindness is in this part of Rwanda. The climb wasn’t steep, but it invited me to pause often, both to catch my breath and to take it all in.
As I ascended, Rwinkwavu unfolded behind me. The rooftops, the popular Akagera Road, and the patchwork of cultivated fields painted a picture of rural life shaped by resilience and progress. What struck me most was the transformation happening on top of the hill. I was told that just a few years ago, this hill was dry and largely bare. Today, it is draped in lush green forest, a quiet reminder of the landscape restoration taking place across Rwanda.
I’ve seen this greening drive in different corners of the country, an ambitious effort involving the government, communities, and development partners to restore degraded landscapes, protect the environment, and build resilience. But here, standing at the top of a once-dry hill now bursting with life, it felt more personal. More powerful.
My short hike had turned into a journey of reflection, a gentle reminder that change, like climbing a hill, happens one step at a time.
The importance of such efforts becomes even clearer in Rwanda’s Eastern Province, where Rwinkwavu is located. The region is more vulnerable to drought and land degradation than many parts of the country, and restoration efforts in districts including Kayonza are focused on reforestation, agroforestry, erosion control, and other ways of rebuilding resilient landscapes.
So, on this particular morning, I wasn’t simply climbing a hill. I was walking through a small example of what restoration can look like when it takes root.