Lake Muhazi

A few weeks ago, I embarked on an expedition to discover a new biking tour around Lake Muhazi in the Eastern Province. I set out on one of our bicycles to find a new tour. I am very pleased to report the search was a failure!

Let me explain...

I was hoping to find a nice, flat biking tour.  Something suitable for someone like me, who spends most of her time behind a computer screen, rather than in the saddle.  Something without the ups and downs of some other tours.  And something that would allow our visitors to combine a couple of days’ cycling with a trip to Akagera Game Park. 

So I set off on my bike, and Fidens followed on behind, in the car, with supplies – water, money, etc.  I reached the top of a long stretch, with wonderful, panoramic views over Lake Muhazi stretching out in front of me. I sat in the warm sunshine, mesmerised by the beautiful views.  I needed to drink in the sight, but I also needed to drink some water.  And it was at that point I realised Fidens was nowhere to be seen.

After a while, I heard Fidens driving towards me.  But he wasn’t alone – he now had a passenger.  He handed over the water, while apologising and then explaining where he had been.

Fidens had noticed a tiny signpost at the side of the road, pointing towards “Maison du Lac” and decided to investigate.  He followed the sign down a long drive from the main (mud) road, past some unusually tall trees, eventually emerging at the shore of the lake and a charming, old colonial house. 

At the house, Fidens was warmly welcomed by Jacques, the owner. Jacques' Belgian father had worked in Rwanda where he met and married Jacques’ mother, a Rwandan woman.

Jacques was Fidens’ passenger in the car when he came to pick me up.  We went back to the house and spent a wonderful afternoon, drinking tea in Jacques’ garden and listening to his stories of the past in both Rwanda and Belgium.
Jacques takes visitors for really authentic trips to Akagera, camping with his guests and making sure everyone has the most wonderful bush experience, helping guests to track down animals. 

So we had failed to find a new biking tour at Lake Muhazi – but we couldn’t be more pleased with what we did find.  Because now, when you book a trip to Akagera with us – your guide will be Jacques himself. 
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And, when you book the Lake Muhazi Tour, we will take you down a long drive from the main road, past some unusually tall trees towards the shore of the lake, and have a picnic in the shade, in a the garden of a beautiful colonial house – the House on the Lake.