From Kagano Sector, I twisted the throttle and pursued the Kivu Belt highway toward Tyazo. At some point, I pulled over and spent a few minutes marveling at Lake Kivu and the surrounding landscapes.

After crossing Kanjongo, I took a right turn somewhere in Macuba Sector. What followed was an exhilarating off-road gradient that grew steeper and steeper as I piled up mileage.

My destination was Gatare Tea Company found in Karambi Sector. Karambi area borders Nyungwe National Park. Its grandeur of hills, coupled with the view of the forest, not to mention the imposing appearances of Mount Muzimu, took my breath away.

There are currently 24,000 hectares of tea and 18 factories in Rwanda. The growth of the highly organized sub sector has led to the formation of 21 cooperatives and a couple of companies providing outgrowing services.

Tea is grown on highlands and well drained marshlands between 1,500 and 2,500 meters above sea level. Highlands and well drained marshlands describe the land of 1,000 hills pretty accurately. No wonder the famed green plants cover tens of thousands of hectares in Rwanda.

As the country positions herself as an investment magnet, more and more chunks of land are expected to be converted into tea plantations. Rwanda Mountain Tea is at the forefront of this expansion.

I will share my experiences in the factory through one of my upcoming posts. Today, allow me to reminisce about the beauty of the area in which this investment is set up.

When I showed up, I saw a number of newly cultivated hills and many more elevations covered by tender crops. Standing on the summit of the highest hill in the estate, I was awestruck by the vista of the best kept mountain rainforest in Africa.

On the other side, gleams of sun rays on the surface of the lake attracted my attention. During sunset, the gentle waves illuminate and the sky glows. Lake Kivu’s sunset is a spectacle you would want to witness one day.