Ten things to do in Rwanda

Rwanda, the land of one thousand hills and ‘hundreds attractions’ is an extraordinary place where
serene scenery and placid people greet you at every juncture. Rwanda is safe and secure with an
overwhelming renaissance of Rwandese national pride and cultural reconstruction. It is full of
sights and delights, waiting to be explored. If Rwanda is on your travel list there is no better time
to runaway to Rwanda…visit today you would want to stay!
The country is well known mostly because of its horrible recent history and you might think
that Rwanda should therefore be more the scope for No governmental organisation’s than for
travellers. Nowadays, nothing is less true. Rwanda has wonderful people, breathtaking
beautiful lakes, challenging mountains, stunning scenery, perfect climate, rare species of apes,
excellent roads, express buses, good and cheap food and beer, various accommodation
options, fast internet, only few tourists outside the gorilla-homes, you will found it all in
Rwanda, a safe and yet to be discovered backpackers haven!
Because of its small size, Rwanda attractions are near each other and can be reached quite
easily and safely.

1. KIGALI CITY: A NICE PLACE TO EXPERIENCE AN AFRICAN CAPITAL
   Kigali is an interesting mix of rural and urban town overflowing on juxtaposed hilly terrain. New
   construction is everywhere and large mansions stand side by side with mud brick huts and lean
   roads. It has a peaceful feel and the centre is located upon the hilltop expanse. It feels safe and
   getting around is easy on foot or minibuses…many and new. For a bit more taxis can whiz you
   anywhere without breaking the bank. Kigali is a nice place to experience an African capital.
2. KGALI GENOCIDE MEMORIALS CENTER IN GISOZI
   During the genocide in Rwanda in 1994, over a million people were murdered. Some 250,000
   perished on the streets and in the houses, churches and hospitals of Kigali alone. The Kigali
   Genocide memorial centre contains ten mass graves- a site of burial for almost victims, who
   were killed in the Kigali region. After the genocide, as mass graves were being discovered
   around the city. It was decided that a single monument/ burial place should be created, where
   the victims could be laid to rest with dignity, this is now their final resting place. The
   memorial houses a children’s section, a particularly powerful experience to read about the
   children- how they lived, and how they died. Amongst other things, it traces how things came
   to being so bad, how the ideology of genocide emerged, how the tragedy could have been
   averted, and how the world ignored the signs and warnings repeatedly. Some of the survivors
   of the genocide have been trained as guides at the centre. Open 10am to 5pm daily. Entrance
   is free but at the door there is a box for donation. The place is really heart breaking!
3. MOUNTAIN GORILLAS TREKKING
   A Mountain Gorilla Trekking is the pinnacle of all the wildlife experiences available in Africa
   and Rwanda is with no doubt the best place for this. People are limited to spend only one hour
   with the Gorillas and expect to hike for two to four hours to see them. These incredible
   primates are divided into four groups that have been habituated over the decades; it’s a thing
   not to miss in Rwanda. Don’t miss spending an hour with these magical creatures. It does
   require planning in advance, and contacting the National Park or a local tour operator to check
   what the latest system they have implemented with regards to how you get a permit – but it is

all worthwhile. Also, don’t be put off by the price – a high price is needed to ensure that
protecting the gorillas is economically sustainable for the local area.

5. MOUNTAINS CLIMBING
   The National park office offers guided climbs to the top of 2 volcano among the 5 of the
   Virunga chain, Visoke (3711m) and Karisimbi (4705m -the tallest).
   The climbs to the summits are not technical and can be done by fit hikers. The scenery is
   great! However, the trek to Karisimbi’s summit is an overnight trek and should be prepared
   properly.
6. NYUNGWE FOREST NATIONA PARK
   This national park is a preserved part of rainforest which houses 13 species in all, including
   humankind’s closest living relative the chimpanzee, as well as the handsome L’Hoest’s
   monkey and hundred-strong troops of the delightfully acrobatic Angola colombus. The most
   important ornithological site in Rwanda, Nyungwe harbours almost 300 bird species of which
   two dozen are restricted to a handful of montane forests on the Albertine Rift. Please come
   with your car or book a tour with a local tour operator otherwise it is very hard to reach the
   place and get away. You can camp there and pitch a tent but you have to consider bringing all
   food and water with you as facilities are limited. The entry fee has recently been increased so
   check up the actual fares.
7. AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK
   Akagera is the best national park of Rwanda – very helpful park-ranger help to find you all
   animals in park – mainly, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, baboons, buffaloes, hippos and
   crocodiles.
8. RUSUMO FALLS
   Rusumo is a Marvellous and spectacular falls of the Akagera River, a part of the most distant
   headwaters of the river Nile. The falls is located in the Eastern part of Rwanda at the border
   with Tanzania.
   If you happen to cross the border with Tanzania at Rusumo don’t forget to see the Rusumo
   falls.
9. THE BEAUTIFULLY LAKE KIVU
   The beautifully Lake Kivu is a large deposit of fresh water that marks the western border with
   DR Congo and one of the Great Lakes of Africa. The lake is in the Albertine Rift, a part of the
   Great Rift Valley. Lake Kivu empties into the Ruzizi River, which flows southwards into
   Lake Tanganyika. Beneath the lake lie vast reserves of approximately 55 billion cubic of
   dissolved methane gas which have not been exploited. Lake Kivu is a tourist centre, safe to
   swim (but just ask locally to be completely sure). There are nice beaches, gorgeous
   landscapes and the sunsets are regularly stunning. There are some excellent places to stay on
   the Lakeside such as Kibuye and -especially-Gisenyi near the DR Congo border.
10. BUTARE CITY IN HUYE

The most popular tourist attraction in Butare is the superb National Museum, which houses
perhaps the finest ethnographic collection in East Africa. The rooms are spacious, without the
excessive clutter of distracting memorabilia. This makes the well-labelled exhibits easy to
appreciate and enjoy. Absorbing displays of traditional artefacts are illuminated by a
fascinating selection of turn-of-the-century monochrome photographs, providing insight not
only into pre-colonial lifestyles, but also into the subsequent development of Rwanda as a
modern African state. Here the Intore dancers can be commissioned to perform, but this is not
a good deal for a single traveller. If a group is present the price would definitely be
worthwhile as shows are few and far between.