It has been a while since Rwanda organized the World Cup 2025 was assigned. A first in many ways. Apart from the fact that it is a world championship on the African continent, it is also a developing cycling country. So no Scenes from the Middle East, where money was clearly the most important motivator. Images of the Tour du Rwanda We have already shown an enthusiastic crowd and more local races give a completely different picture. Speaking of images: when I think of Rwanda, I automatically think of 1994. An image that just won’t leave me alone. We took a closer look to see if we could turn that image around. I think we succeeded and cycling in Rwanda is a fantastic opportunity.
Rwanda is a wonderful cycling destination
A bit of topography. Rwanda is located in Africa in the southern hemisphere and is bordered by Tanzania, Burundi, Uganda, and Congo-Kinshasa. The capital of Rwanda is Kigali, and with 1.1 million inhabitants it is a fairly large city. With 26,338 km², Rwanda is also somewhat larger than the Netherlands. Due to the sometimes poor infrastructure, a trip from east to west is definitely a big undertaking. It’s quite different from the beautifully paved A12 or A1 in the Netherlands. Rwanda is known as the land of the 1000 hills. It is green, rugged, and you can see many species of wild animals in real life. Rwanda and Uganda are known for their gorillas. Although Rwanda does not actively promote it, it is still a logical stop on your journey. After all, gorillas in the wild are not something you see very often. Rwanda is an amazing cycling destination, and the World Championships are just around the corner!
Basecamp Kigali
The majority of travelers will enter Rwanda through Kigali Airport. This is also a stunning location for a base camp, because in the immediate vicinity you can already get your heart racing when it comes to beautiful routes and views. Tip for the experts: Don’t bring your fanciest bike, because the roads aren’t always as well-maintained. That said, you don’t necessarily need to wear 42mm tires to get a good ride.
The 2025 World Championships course
There has already been a lot written about it, among others on our website. partner platform It's Koers!The World Cycling Championships in Rwanda will take place on September 21-28, 2025. The course is no joke, among other things because of the famous Mur de Kigali The men's elite race will certainly be a brutal challenge. But rest assured, you can also cycle around the course that has been laid out. Of course, you can start the entire 267.5 kilometers, with just under 5500 meters of elevation gain, but just the small loop should be enough.
Mur de Kigali, Kigali, Rwanda
• Distance: 445 m, Elevation difference: 51 m, Average gradient: 11.4 %
The course can be found below. Highlights (literally) in the course are the ascent of the Mur de Kigali (short, powerful, steep) and Mount Kigali (longer, more gradual). It’s an absolute challenge to complete the entire course, but only the round itself will give you enough pain in your legs. Remember that the course starts at 1500 meters above sea level!
Rice Rice baby
What you may not know is that Rwanda has a good climate for growing rice and coffee. Like many countries in the southern hemisphere, so close to the equator. From Kigali you can make a nice tour of the rice fields, heading east towards Kabuga. If you’re on a gravel bike you can also go all the way into the interior, towards Lake Muhazi. That also offers stunning views. A round trip around the lake is quite a challenge. From Kigali, you are then about 160 kilometers away, traveling partly on unpaved roads. It is definitely worth the challenge.
Akagera National Park
Beyond the Muhazi Lake, near the border with Tanzania, you find the Akagera National Park. Although not recommended for cycling (there is plenty of wildlife around that would be a nice lunch option), a trip there is highly recommended. It is one of the few reserves where you can still see real animals in the wild, from giraffes to zebras and of course the real ‘game’. Just like across the border with Tanzania, but that’s for a later article.
Congo Nile Trail
On the west side of the capital you will find the magnificent Lake Kivu (Lake/Lac Kivu). The adjacent national park is also worth a visit. If you travel to Gisenyi, you can from there visit the incredibly beautiful Congo Nile Trail Pick up the trail. Note: an off-road bike is a must here. The 227-kilometer route along the lake and through the nature is one that’s worth circling with a thick pencil. This is a gravel paradise where Kenya can still add a few more points. You’ll pass by the lake, along tea plantations, and in the meantime you’ll also get a little bit of Nyungwe National Park. That’s already a destination in itself, with several beautiful routes crisscrossing it.
More info and tour operators
If you are considering going to Rwanda, local knowledge can come in handy. There are a number of good travel agencies, among others Spice Roads and Rwanda Bike Tours.
Especially for the World Championships, Cyclosportive is organizing a trip to Rwanda, where you will also be able to watch the World Championships. For all the information, check out the website of Cyclosportive Travel!
- Future Ride Rwanda with Cyclosportive
The organization AWOL is also organizing a trip, but that will return just before the big World Cup:
- With AWOL to Rwanda
Do you want to know more about how to get to Rwanda, visa rules, and just general information about the destination? Check the website of the tourism agency.
Want to know more about the Tour du Rwanda 2025? Here are the routes of the different stages.
The routes from this story
- Rwanda: Congo Nile Trail variation217.3 km · 5,888 hmGPX ↓
- Rwanda: Rice Baby67.3 km · 1,051 hmGPX ↓
- Rwanda: World Cup course Kigali 2025 (elite men)275.9 km · 5,145 hmGPX ↓
Questions & tips
Do you have any questions about this route, or have you been there yourself? Share them here. We read everything and usually respond within a few days.