A couple of days ago, I published a post highlighting my exhilarating ride from Nyagatare to Rukomo. From Rukomo junction, I spun my spokes to a village known as Maya, approximately twenty kilometers before Gatuna border post.
After branching off the tarmac, I had a tea break at Heroes View Lodge. While sipping my favorite aromatic beverages, I marveled at the picturesque northern hills and the sprawling Mulindi tea plantations.
Speaking of heroes, it is in this area where the National Liberation Museum Park is located. Since I featured the museum in a book titled Memories, I decided to skip a tour of Umulindi w'Intwari this time around. I will be back when the ongoing transformation of the site is complete.
My destination was Ikiraro k’Inyambo, a cultural site located in Kaniga Sector. The off-road trail from Mulindi to the said site was quite scenic. Along the seven-kilometer stretch, I had two water breaks at selected viewpoints. Upon arrival, I strolled around the site and soaked up the beauty of the hill and the surrounding landscapes.
From my vantage point, I saw the highway meandering all the way to Gatuna. Farther ahead, the misty-capped hills of Gicumbi, Rulindo, Gakenke, Burera, Musanze and southwestern Uganda looked like shuffled waves in the ocean. On a good day, one can see Muhabura soaring to the clouds, more than 13,000 feet above sea level.
As I got ready to spin my spokes back to Kigali, I couldn't help but reflect on the profound beauty of history embedded in Rwanda's northern highlands. This ride was more than a journey from Point A to Point B -- it was an experience woven with adventure, culture, and breathtaking scenery.