T 3.1 Lake Gitakuzi and down Kajevuba Valley - 65kms (700m) , 4.5h

http://esri-rw.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Solutions/s2.html?appid=a6b7a1bc1c3541dfa4680482985aa299
Download the GPX tracks from: http://bit.ly/1Jk1smH
Author: Kaspar Kundert, k.kundert@esri.rw

After climbing to Bumbogo and staying on the ridge you descend into a beautiful and completely
rural valley. On tracks and single trails you’re passing brick makers and two lakes.
: Very beautiful ride leaving the Kigali city life far behind you.
GPX-Reference
GPX-Reference: T_3.1, A_3.1.1 and A_3.1.2
Distance (km) and Duration (hours)
Distance: ~65 km; Duration: ~4-5 hours
Elevation Gain (m)
Elevation Gain: ~700 meters
Road Surface
~ 25% Paved Road, 40% Dirt Road, 25% Track and 10% Single-Track
Difficulty
Intermediate: Be careful when descending into Kajevuba Valley, otherwise there are no major
difficulties.
Start and End
Type: Roundtrip (done counter clock-wise)
Starting Point: KBC Roundabout
Endpoint: KBC Roundabout
Description
Start at KBC Roundabout and climb to Bumbogo (see 4.1 “Workout: To Bumbogo”, page 305).
Instead of turning left to the King’s Trees at the Bumbogo T-Junction, turn right towards
Gikomero (Picture 1: farmers dry their sorghum on the road which is not frequented by many
cars).
Lake Gitakuzi and down Kajevuba Valley
Biking in Rwanda: Page 29Follow the dirt road for some 6 Kilometers to enter a (Picture 2) with few houses and shops.
Just after the settlement, in patch of not very dense forest, take the rough track descending
steeply into Kajevuba Valley (turn off at: -1.896786, 30.195462, picture 3, the new signpost
placed in 2015 points to a VI Agroforestry project, do not go straight at the first switchback after
250 m at -1.897064, 30.197672). While descending, you’ll already see your track down in the
valley on its left side (Picture 4)
When you are almost at the bottom of the valley, turn left just after a little house on your left side
(Picture 5, -1.893912, 30.199414); continuing straight which seems more obvious would have
you end in some brick production site.
Follow the track on the left side of the valley floor (Picture 6). On your right side you’ll first be
passing a large brick production site (Picture 7), then Lake Gitakuzi (Picture 8). The track
narrows sometimes to a single trail. Do not miss to turn right onto another trail to cross a small
bridge and reach the other side of the valley (-1.847034, 30.166746, picture 9) continuing
straight would lead you eventually uphill again towards Bumbogo).
Descending further on the right side of the valley you will reach the artificial (dammed) lake
(probably called Kajevuba, pictures 10 and 11) and some houses. Continue down the valley on
a good track. Quite likely you are “invited” to race against the many bike-taxis travelling on the
same track. You will reach the Kigali – Gatuna main road in Kajevuba. Turn left onto the main
road and stay on it until Nyacyonga. The traffic is not too bad, the road is fast and so are the
local bike riders transport milk large milk cans.
Ride back to town using 4.2 Out of Town: To Nyacyonga Junction (see page 309) in the
opposite direction. Safe some energy for the very steep climb back to Kacyiru on KG 550 St.
Alternatives:
A_3.1.1 () , 17,2 km: Do not use the main road but climb back onto the ridge, to
return to Kigali via Rutunga, Kayenga and Gikomero Sectors. The though climb to Rutunga
– which you’ll most likely do in the midday heat – starts right outside the small settlement at
Kajevuba Lake (-1.829423, 30.160512). Turn sharply right (if your riding T_3.1 counter
clock-wise) to start gaining a good 300 m in elevation on the next 3.5 km.
Turn right again in the small settlement on the ridge and follow the main dirt road in South
Eastern direction, passing Kayenga to reach Gikomero. Enjoy the views of Lake Muhazi.
The last 1.5 km of dirt road before you reach Gikomero is also travelled by 3.18 Ruben’s
Lake Muhazi Trip (85 km,  1200 m), page 103 – indicated by a dotted line on the map.
Continue downhill bearing right at the junction of the (planned) new settlement of
Rudakabukirwa (-1.896233, 30.218700) and right again at the next junction (-1.902420,
30.204423). Thus you’ll reach the point where you started your descent into Kajevuba
Valley (-1.896786, 30.195462). Return to Kigali via Bumbogo.
For more on the accidental discovery of A_3.1.1 see 1.4 Topography, page 9
A_3.1.2 7.4 km: Enjoy the smooth length of Kajevuba Valley before you climb to the Rutunga-
Gikomero ridge, shortly before you’d have otherwise reached the main road (the right turn
is at -1.808494, 30.130536 near the collection center for some agricultural produce). Up in
Rutunga, continue on A_3.1.1.
Climbing to Rutunga on A_3.1.2 and continuing on A_3.1.1 makes a great outing in a car
with your visiting relatives whom you want to show some rural Rwanda, not far from Kigali.