Rwanda is known as Land of a Thousand Hills thanks to the endless mountains in this scenically stunning little country. Nowhere are the mountains more majestic than the Virunga volcanoes in the northwest, and hidden among the bamboo forests are some of the world’s last remaining mountain gorillas. For a change of scene, the shores of Lake Kivu conceal some of the best inland beaches on the continent, while Nyungwe Forest National Park protects extensive tracts of montane rainforest, and is home to many primates. Looking for a more metropolitan experience? Kigali, the capital, is one of the loveliest cities in Africa.
We arrived in the afternoon at this one-stop border. We drove straight to the main building and went to the Ministry of Health’s window. They issued us a health certificate, which nobody ever requested (they did not check any vaccination certificate or temperature). For the truck...
Situated along the border with Tanzania in the country’s northeast, Akagera is one of East Africa’s most scenic parks and features a stunning diversity of landscapes, ranging from open savannah and forested woodlands to a vast network of lakes and wetlands. Not to mention Rwanda’s other...
We had a great meeting in the well-manicured capital city of Rwanda, Kigali, with Mr. Jean Malic Kalima, a leading entrepreneur in Rwanda and Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic to the Republic of Rwanda. We got a warm welcome and received helpful information about business...
Once we arrived in Kigali, we realized that if Rwanda is the Land of a Thousand Hills, then Kigali’s setting right among rolling green vistas makes this a fitting choice of capital. It is a contender for Africa’s most scenic capital and the cleanest, safest, and most relaxed...
Located 92km southwest of Kigali, Nyanza is the former royal capital and home to the King’s Palace compound (🎟️13000 RWF). Before colonial rule, the monarchy was scattered across 50 or so residences in Rwanda; it was only in 1899 that they set up camp permanently in Nyanza. It was...
Rwanda’s ‘second city’, Huye, is a relaxed and sprawling town. It was the nation’s former capital. Butare, as it was known (and Astrida before that, in tribute to the 29-year-old Swedish wife of Belgium’s King Leopold III, who was killed in a car accident), was established under Belgian...
We arrived late in the afternoon at the Gisakura Gate Information Centre; we found out that they would like to charge 25 USD for the Tea Plantation visit without visiting the factory, so we skipped it and went back to the Gisakura Guesthouse in the little village Colline Ruvumbu. Next to...
Today, we were lucky and had lovely weather. We drove from Karongi towards Nyungwe Forest National Park. The road was perfect tarmac with some occasional bumpers. We made many photo stops and really enjoyed great views of Lake Kivu and local villages dotting steep hills. The road was...
Our next stop was the relaxed lakeside town of Karongi (commonly known by its old name, Kibuye), another good place to enjoy Lake Kivu. We hired a boat (50 USD / 4 hours) and visited the lake’s islands. Most famous is Napoleon Island, named for its resemblance to the pint-sized French...
Rwanda may be landlocked, but it didn’t stop us from enjoying a day at the beach. Kivu’s gently lapping waters and soft sands do the trick – throw in a few beach bars and palm trees to add that tropical feel. Rubavu (which most locals still call Gisenyi) is a sprawling town...