A review of hiking the Twin Lakes trail in Rwanda, Musanze District
We meet our guide at Crema Cafe in Musanze and then we travel to the start of the hike (20 minutes drive).
Firstly the Twin Lake trail is approximately 6km long and a reasonably easy hike.
The hike is in the foothills of the Muhabura Mountain. Firstly the gently ascend the village trails and footpaths. Secondly you will walk past villages and gardens over flowing with fruit and vegetables. Expect towering maize, pumpkin, cabbage, banana trees, mango, passion, avocado trees and so much more.
Our guide Fabien teaches us so much about many local plants and their medicinal properties. Leaves that help with a sore tummy, leaves which help with a sore head. There are also plants whose sap was good for coagulating wounds.
Hiking the Twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo in Rwanda
Bird life is plentiful
wee wild adventures
Of course we see lots of bird life, including weaver birds, ibis, hammerkopfs.
The hike takes approximately 3 to 4 hours. It is a good idea to start early morning before 9am. Then you walk and avoid the strong heat of the sun. We start our hike at around 9am and by 12 noon we start to get hot and sticky as the strength of the sun increases.
Sunshine, plenty of water consequently the scenery is stunning. The villagers are friendly and shout “hello!”
In fact our guide Fabien stopped frequently to tell us something interesting about the route, the lakes, the mountains. Of course stopping frequently means that you can easily catch your breath.
About 2 hours into the hike you arrive at the stunning viewpoint. From here you can see Lake Burera and Lake Ruhondo. The two lakes were once one larger lake and became divided after an eruption of Mount Muhabura.
In another one hour we had descended to the lake side where Fabien has a boat waiting for us! You can either return to your vehicle immediately or alternatively, we went to an Eco lodge for a lovely fish curry and chapati lunch!
Because we got a little hot it was wonderful to have the short 15 minutes trip on the boat and a refreshing cold beer at the end of our amazing Twin Lakes Hike in Rwanda.
Highlights of hiking the Twin Lakes Hike in Rwanda
- Cool green pathways
- Friendly children and villagers
- Fertile valleys full of fruit and vegetables
- Amazing views of mountains
- Amazing views of the Lakes
Hence we highly recommend that’s great local walk
All you need to know about hiking the Twin Lakes Trail in Rwanda
Preparation for your Hike
How long is the hike?
6km (3-4 hrs)
What sort of footwear should I wear?
Walking shoes or trainers are sufficient for the Twin Lakes Hike in Rwanda (we wear trainers)
What sort of clothing should I wear?
We recommend you wear clothing for hot weather. T-shirts and shorts (or long trousers if you wish to avoid the sun). We also took with us sunhats and water proof jacket just in case of rain.
Is the path muddy?
The path might be little bit muddy. It rains most days in the mountain area. The path might get a little slippy when descending to the lake shore. For our hike on the Twin Lake Hike we had perfect conditions.
The trail was dry and not slippy or muddy.
What should I bring with me?
- water for drinking
- snacks
- rain jacket
- sun cream
- sun glasses
- sun hat
- camera
- backpack
Optional extras
- walking sticks
