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5 REASONS WHY RWANDA NEEDS TO BE ON YOUR BUCKET LIST
I don't like to play favorites when traveling
because every country has something unique to offer. However, I can say with
certitude that some of my most "soul-fulfilling" trips have taken
place on the East African continent.
1. It's beautiful and clean
Rwanda is truly one of the most
beautiful and clean countries on this earth. Rwanda banned plastic bags in 2008
and they have taken a lot of measures to keep their country clean, including a
mandatory nationwide trash clean-up on the last Saturday of every month.
Rwandan's are proud of their country
and you need to look far and wide to find any litter -- even in far-off parts
of the country.
Speaking of the countryside, Rwanda is
known as the "land of a thousand hills" and throughout your weeklong
stay, you will truly never see an ugly landscape. Rolling tea and coffee fields
with a break for a eucalyptus forest here and there. You'll be hard-pressed to
find another more visually appealing country from top to bottom.
The main roads are paved (although to
trek with the chimps or access some tourist sites, such as coffee plantations,
you may find yourself on very bumpy mountain roads, so make sure you get a
comfy SUV if you plan to explore).
2.
It's safe
Per the U.S. government's 2019 Rwanda crime report: "Although violent crimes such as assault, robbery, rape and home invasion occur in Rwanda, they are rarely committed against foreigners. In 2018, however, the Embassy received several reports of late-night assaults and robberies involving pedestrians walking alone in poorly [lit] neighbourhoods."
Bottom line: Practice common sense and
you'll likely be fine in Rwanda. You will never feel unsafe from the time you
arrive until the time you will leave. There are many ways to judge the
"safety" of a country for a foreigner and most websites like NUMBEO report
low risk levels across the board in Rwanda.
3.
The animals!
Rwanda is one of three countries in the world you
can trek with the endangered mountain gorilla. It's expensive in Rwanda: $1,500
for a non-resident permit versus $800 in Uganda, plus visa fees in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo.
For tourists, Rwanda is the safest of those three
countries and the government is laser-focused on conservation and keeping the
national park pristine.
Rwanda also has so much more to offer
than the gorillas, including Akagera National Park that has some of the most
compelling safari animals: lion, rhino, elephant, cheetah and water buffalo).
Giraffe in Akagera Park. (Photo by Derrick Pare/ Nunda Safari)
Safari in Rwanda is also much cheaper
than in other African countries and many people self-drive through the park. I
highly recommend a lake safari where you can see the animals and numerous
birds, hippos and crocs from a small boat.
You can also trek with chimps in the
south of the country at the Nyungwe
Forest National Park and permits are only $100. Like the gorilla trek,
you get a knowledgeable guide who can tell you all about this beautiful species
that share nearly 99% of the human DNA profile. The park itself is gorgeous,
though watch out for the fire ants!
4.
Gorgeous hotels and
lodges
There are a lot of gorgeous hotels in Rwanda,
including eco-lodges and points hotels.
In Kigali, I stayed at the relatively new Marriott, which has a huge
pool and outdoor deck and clean, fresh rooms (that passed the TPG shower
test!).
Related: How to pass the TPG shower test
You can also stay at The Retreat when
you arrive, which is a luxury boutique hotel that has a new villa portion
scheduled to open in early 2021. Another good points option is the Radisson
Blu, which is close to the convention Center.
For ultra-luxury, there are two One
& Only properties – one at Volcanoes National Park and one at Nyungwe as well as
a Singita near Volcanoes. I stayed at the Rwandan-owned Amakoro Songa and LOVED
the hospitality and Rwandan vibe of the hotel.
Bisate Lodge just received Conde Nast Traveler's
"Best Of" award and gets amazing reviews.
5.
Friendly people!
Many people have an understandably dark impression of the Rwandan genocide of 1994, where more than 1million people were killed by opposing tribal factions (which was depicted in Academy Award-nominated movie "Hotel Rwanda").
A visit to the genocide museum in
Kigali is highly recommended, but the country has made huge progress since
those dark times. Kigali is an entrepreneurial hub of Africa and tourism is a
huge driver of growth. The future of Rwanda is bright and you'll sense great
pride from the people you meet across the country.
Fun fact: Rwandans are OBSESSED with
clean shoes and you'll be hard-pressed to find someone wearing dirty shoes (in
fact, many hotels will have shoe cleaning services when you return from your
gorilla/chimp treks!).
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