During my recent two-day tour of Rubavu, I boarded a boat and sailed to Kivumu beach in the neighboring district of Rutsiro. On my way back to La Bella Lodge, at the foot of Rubona Hill, I was awestruck by the beauty of the said hill and made a decision to climb it before leaving the area.

When a mountain calls, you lace them up and answer the call. The sight of such a green swath of elevated heap of land is irresistible. It makes you wonder how it feels like to step on the summit and soak up the view.

I left Rubavu without fulfilling my plan to hike Rubona. However, I still visited the hill and went all the way to the top. This happened when I tagged along a sightseeing tour tailored for a potential investor. Instead of hiking, I joined his entourage and drove to the summit.

From the lake, I wondered if I would be able to find a hikable trail. Little did I know that one can drive to the summit from the other side of the hill. Driving wasn’t my ideal exploration plan but the journey was as exciting as the destination.

The narrow road to Rubona viewpoint is a rugged surface of holes and volcanic rocks. Driving to the summit was a bumpy affair but the journey was intriguing nevertheless. Standing on the highest point in the area, I saw the towering volcanoes and the twin cities of Goma and Gisenyi. In addition, I saw the Amashyuza Peninsula and the islands of Akeza, Kabakobwa and Kabakingi.

Details of my Rubona expedition will be shared tomorrow. Spoiler alert: posh properties are sprouting up on the hill.

The author is an adventurer on a tour of all 30 districts and 416 sectors of Rwanda. Follow his awe-inspiring expeditions on Twitter @GeoExposure.