There’s something about starting a new year with your boots on the ground and the city of Kigali sprawling beneath you that just hits different. January 26th was one of those mornings where you wake up, lace up, and remind yourself why you started moving in the first place.
The trail began with a walk through a rice farm, a grounding, humbling way to kick things off. There’s something beautiful about passing through land that feeds people, a reminder that nature isn’t just a backdrop for adventure, it’s a living, working thing. The air was fresh, the ground was earthy, and the city was slowly waking up behind us as we pushed forward and upward.
As the trail climbed, the views started revealing themselves. Kigali’s rolling hills unfolded in every direction, green valleys, terracotta rooftops, cypress trees standing tall like sentinels along the ridgeline. Standing at the top, arms wide open, with the whole city laid out beneath a clear blue sky, that’s the moment that makes every step worth it. No filter needed. Kigali does its own thing.
Then came the pine forest, and it felt like stepping into another world entirely. Tall, slender pines reaching for the sky, the ground carpeted in warm brown pine needles, sunlight filtering through the canopy in long dramatic rays. The group spread out naturally, some balancing on a massive fallen log, others leaning against the ancient trunks, everyone soaking in the stillness. It was the kind of place that makes you want to stay a little longer than planned.
After the hike, we didn’t just pack up and head home. We gathered in the forest clearing for stretches, proper cool-down time that somehow turned into a full vibe. Laughter, games, people loosening up both physically and mentally. It’s one thing to hike, it’s another to hike with a community that knows how to have a good time at the finish line.
Kigali, you never disappoint. Until the next trail.