The entire African tourism scene is buzzing with excitement following the recent announcement by Rwanda’s President, Paul Kagame at the 23rd Global Summit of the World Travel and Tourism Council. Rwanda has now become the fourth African nation to join The Gambia, Benin, Seychelles in waiving visas for African nationals. Once implemented, all Africans will be able to travel to Rwanda, visa-free. We earnestly hope other countries follow in Rwanda’s stead to foster a unified tourism destination for all Africans.
We believe that many people who have been hesitant to visit Rwanda are now inspired by this news to do so and for those who love to travel and are eager to cross Rwanda off their bucket-list, here’s a guide to help you discover the natural beauty of Rwanda:
WHAT MAKES RWANDA A HOT SPOT FOR TOURISM?
Rwanda, also referred to as the "land of a thousand hills and a million smiles" and having only recently emerged from the ashes of a genocide that occurred about 30 years ago, has quickly established itself as one of the continent's most popular travel destinations.
This African country is a must-visit because of its incredible ecosystem, which includes amazing species that lives within its volcanoes, mountain rainforest, and expansive plains.
Here’s what makes Rwanda a hot spot for tourism:
1. Natural Beauty
Rwanda boasts an abundance of flora and fauna, along with a stunning scenery and green savannah that leaves visitors amazed by its striking natural beauty. It is home to rare kinds of birds and insects found in the tropical forest of Nyungwe, as well as numerous hills, lakes, valleys, and unique wildlife like mountain gorillas, which makes it a favourite destination for gorilla tracking.
2. Good Weather
Due to its high altitude and hilly topography, Rwanda has a cool climate despite its proximity to the equator. Across the country, the climate is usually temperate to subtropical based on the altitude, with two rainy seasons and two dry seasons each year. March to May is the long rainy season, and October to November is the short rainy season.
Rwanda's short dry season which falls between December to February and its long dry season, which runs from June to mid-September, is the best time to visit for wildlife viewing.
All year long, Kigali, the capital city, experiences stable temperatures ranging from 26/27 °C (79/81 °F) or drop below 15/16 °C (59/61 °F) at night.
3. Vibrant Culture
With its unique history and cultural heritage, this beautiful East African nation promotes unity among its people through a thriving cultural scene that includes festivals like Umuganura and Kigali Up as well as traditional Rwandese music made popular by Amatorero troupes that perform across the country. Traditional foods like Ugali, made from corn flour and Matoke made from plantains are two of its popular traditional dishes.
While Rwanda has four official languages - Kinyarwanda, Swahili, English, and French, the majority of its people speak Kinyarwanda. Rwandans are generally warm and friendly to visitors.
4. Cleanliness and Safety
Rwanda is considered to be one of the safest countries to visit in Africa and was ranked the 9th safest country in the world by the World Economic Forum. In 2008, the Rwandan government banned all non-biodegradable plastic bags in the interest of a clean, green, and sustainable environment.
For your trip to Rwanda, ensure your luggage is free of plastic bags; if you are caught in possession of them at the airport, you might face jail time or a fine of up to 50,000 Rwandan Francs.
In addition to its strict anti-plastic pollution policy, Rwanda has made significant progress towards a clean and safe environment, including gorilla conservation and eco-tourism.
5. Medical Tourism
Over 80% of Rwandans are covered by the Community Health Insurance, demonstrating the country's strong commitment to providing all of its residents with universal access to healthcare. The nation currently has a working, and decentralised healthcare public service system with around 1600 health posts, 500 health centres, 42 district hospitals, and five national referral hospitals.
Rwanda intends to improve access to better health care and develop medical tourism by building advanced and specialized medical facilities.
6. Ease of Travel
Rwanda has positioned itself to be accessible and open to all, owing to its relaxed immigration policies and recently announced visa-free policy for all Africans.
Its flagship airline, RwandAir and the construction of a new world class international airport are promoting Rwanda as a major regional hub for business and trade. Its location at the centre of Africa, gives RwandAir a strategic advantage to connect with flyers from various locations within Africa through Kigali.
RwandAir currently operates in over 26 destinations within Africa, Middle East and Europe.
7. Investment-Friendly
Rwanda is ranked as the second easiest place to do business in Africa by the World Bank and has been awarded for its leadership in tourism and economic competitiveness by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and the World Economic Forum respectively. Rwanda is an Investment-friendly destination where Investors are able to register their businesses in only six hours.
Due to the free trade agreement signed by Rwanda with over 50 countries, investors are bound to enjoy many opportunities when they invest in Rwanda.
Rwanda is dedicated to promoting sports and tourism, as seen by its international partnership with Arsenal football club. To help boys and girls in Rwanda improve their game, club coaches will host coaching camps and the men and women's team will visit Rwanda. In addition, Rwanda gets global exposure through its ‘Visit Rwanda’ marketing campaign at the Emirates Stadium which is displayed on LED boards, TV ads, and match interview backdrops on match days.
ACTIVITIES TO DO IN RWANDA
When it comes to tourist activities, Rwanda has an abundance of it for both adventure and nature lovers. Discover the captivating beauty and cultural heritage of Rwanda by exploring the following:
Gorilla and Chimpanzee Tracking
Visit the Volcanoes National Park to see mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Each year, travellers visit Rwanda from different parts of the world to catch a glimpse of these endangered species. For Chimpanzee tracking, make a stop at Nyungwe national park, the greenest national park in Rwanda, and view the daily activities of Chimpanzees. This is a thrilling activity as you get to trail the Chimpanzees as they run and jump around from tree to tree. When you go Gorilla and Chimpanzee tracking be sure to wear comfortable clothing and solid walking shoes.
Bird Watching
Rwanda has 7 major birding areas for bird watching which includes Akagera national park, Nyungwe national park, volcanoes national park, Rugezi swamp, akanyaru wetland, Nyabarongo wetland and Cyamudongo swamp. Go bird watching in any of these places either with your naked eyes or binoculars and view over 640 species of birds characterized by different colours and sizes.
A Visit to Akagera National Park
Go on Safari to Akagera National Park and get a view of The Big Five and other amazing wildlife species. Apart from its wildlife, Akagera National Park is composed of swamps, savanna plains, woodlands, lakes, rivers and terraced hills. Other major activities to do in Akagera National Park include wildlife game drives, nature walks, and community tours.
Water Activities
With over 20 lakes including the 6th largest lake in Africa, Lake Kivu, Rwanda is a great place to partake in water activities. You can explore Lake Kivu by swimming, canoeing, kayaking, water skiing, and windsurfing.
Canopy Walk in Nyungwe Forest
Nyungwe Forest has one of the best canopy walk trails in Africa. The canopy walk is 100 metres long and divided into three sections with the middle section having the highest height. Its 70 metres height offers an aerial view of the forest and arboreal primates such as blue monkeys, Ruwenzori Colobus monkey, and red-tailed monkeys. Being a tropical highland rainforest, Nyungwe forest is subject to sudden downpours and muddy trails, so be sure to pack hiking boots, hiking sticks and raincoat for your canopy walk.
Visit Historical and Cultural Sites
Visit historical and cultural sites that are significant in Rwanda’s history. You can get an educative tour to historical places like Genocide Memorial Museum, The State House Museum,
Hotel des Mille Collines, and National Museum of Rwanda and learn about the experiences of the people of Rwanda during the genocide. Other notable places to visit include King Palace Museum, Kigali Convention Center, Musanze Caves, Coffee and Tea Plantations, The National Museum of Rwanda, Inema Art Center, and Kimironko Market.