Nyanza Big View Trail Hike & WasteWise Farm

Discover how the Dufatanye Organization is restoring dignity in Nyanza through sustainable farming. Meet locals turning hardship into hope with organic gardens, shared meals, and resilient community spirit.

The Big View Trail, as its name suggests, offers breathtaking panoramic views along the entire hike, with an uninterrupted vista extending up to 40 kilometers from the summit. This cultural trail weaves through significant heritage sites, as Nyanza was once the capital of the kingdom, passing through hills once home to various kings. The hike also immerses you in local life, guiding you through farms all the way to the summit. Bird enthusiasts will find this trail rewarding, as the wetlands host over 20 documented bird species, with a guide providing a catalogue. Highlights of the hike include a visit to a local cooperative and the WasteWise demonstration farm at Dufatanye, where you’ll see how waste has been transformed into a tool for restoring dignity, creating the "Village of Hope." At Dufatanye, you’ll interact with women who recycle waste into beautiful souvenirs and learn how to craft using plastic bottles.

Tour itinerary

1. 1

   Nyamagana wetlands & heritage sites

   Walk past Christ-Roi Church, Mu Gakenyeri kwa Musinga and Icyuzi cya Nyamagana. The wetlands host over 20 documented bird species, and your guide carries a bird catalogue.

2. 2

   Remera Hill summit

   Pass the Girimpuhwe Center on the way up to Remera Hill, with 360-degree views across more than 40 km of the old royal capital’s hills.

3. 3

   WasteWise demonstration farm, Dufatanye

   At the Village of Hope, cooperative members show the farming methods that improved their nutrition and income. Join a cooking class and eat a farm-to-table lunch cooked on an earthen stove.

4. 4

   Recycled art with Women Environment Action

   The women of Dufatanye turn waste into souvenirs. Learn to craft with plastic bottles (including the ones you drank from on the hike) and keep what you make.

5. 5

   King’s Court, Nyanza

   Start at the restored royal court across from the Heritage Hotel, first modern court of the Rwandan kingdom under Kings Mutara III Rudahigwa and Kigeli V Ndahindurwa. It now houses exhibits and the tourist information centre.

Hiking sticks, ponchos and boots are provided if you need them. Not recommended for pregnant travellers or people with back or heart conditions. Find Kigali stops on the tourist map of Kigali.