The last few days have been very exciting

The last few days have been very exciting. In Kibuye, we visit a coffee cooperative and learn everything from the seedling to the coffee cup.

A very interesting tour, and in the future, I will have much more respect for every cup of coffee. In addition to coffee, Rwanda also cultivates a lot of tea, which we will get to see in the next two days of cycling.

We cycle from Kibuye to Gisenyi (91 km, 2127 meters elevation gain), and the next day from Gisenyi to Musanze (70 km, 1316 meters elevation gain). On both tours, we pass through many villages where we were warmly greeted and admired once again.

My admiration goes especially to the many cyclists who transport all sorts of things: potato sacks, egg cartons, corn sacks – we even witnessed someone carrying a live pig! No idea how they brake!!! In any case, it is clear to us how crucial bicycles are in Rwanda.

In Gisenyi, we camp at a very beautiful spot by the lake. Shortly after I set up my tent, a thunderstorm hits, practically a downpour with lightning and thunder!!!

The tent is waterproof, but it still has to be packed up wet in the morning. Fortunately, the next day is not quite as challenging, and we arrive at the Africa Rising Cycling Center in Musanze in the sunshine. Here, young Rwandan cycling professionals train, as well as professionals from other nations; currently, there is a French team on site.

We stay two days in Musanze. On the first day, a group of six people, including myself, hikes to the summit of Mount Bisoke (3711 meters) in the Volcanoes National Park.

It is a very challenging hike with an elevation gain of 1200 meters. The "trail" is steep, rocky, and muddy (at times, we find ourselves knee-deep in mud), but we manage to reach the summit and are rewarded with a view of a beautiful volcanic lake. Bisoke is located on the border with Congo, meaning there is a significant military presence, and the hike must be completed by a certain time of day.

The next day, a few people and I embark on a tour in the same national park to observe gorillas in their natural habitat.

In this area, there are 22 gorilla families, with ten accessible to the general public, while the others are only open to researchers. Each family is given a name, and all are closely monitored by trackers. A truly unique experience!!! We encounter a family with 13 members.

It's incredible how close we can get to the animals. Suddenly, a second family joins. In no time, a fight erupts between the leaders of the two families...indescribable and a very rare event!!!

Never would we have imagined experiencing something like this. Tomorrow, we move on, crossing the border into Uganda.