Why you should add Rwanda to your Indie/RTW trip
[All content and prices updated July 2013]
Rwanda has been to hell and back in the last couple decades, enduring the brutal genocide of the Tutsi tribe by the Hutu and an economic collapse in the mid-nineties. Now, with rebuilt businesses and a recovering population, Rwanda is once again a place for outdoor enthusiasts to set out on treks, experience the wildlife, and drink in African culture.
- The mid-eastern portion of Africa that Rwanda inhabits is a green and fertile area, hospitable to everything from silverback gorillas to waterfowl.
- Akagera National Park is a good place to set out on an expedition to see the wildlife.
- Or head to Volcanoes National Park, where you can hike the volcanoes at the center of the park or go on a tour to known gorilla and golden monkey hang outs.
- Visit Lake Kivu for some amazing lake beaches, some of the best on the planet.
- The Nyungwe Forest is one of the oldest and largest rainforests in Africa, offering lots of amazing scenery and wildlife viewing.
- Most people associate Rwanda with the horrific genocide from 1994. Visit the Genocide Museum in Kigali to learn more about this tragedy.
Getting there
Flights to Rwanda land in Kigali, the country’s capital. Kigali’s central location in the country makes it easy to catch transportation throughout Rwanda to your desired destination whether it be Lake Kivu or one of the national parks.
Where to stay
Famous for offering refuge to families during the 1994 genocide, the Hotel des Milles Collines (portrayed in the movie Hotel Rwanda) is still open for business, although because it was not filmed on location, the Hotel des Milles Collines does not resemble the movie version very much.