Rwanda, In The Heart of Africa

---

Thanks to the huge development in recent years of the tourist industry in Rwanda, the country is constantly improving and evolving. Thanks to its many hotels, good roads, plenty of attractions and an abundance of wildlife to see, Rwanda is fast becoming a 'must see' destination.

Beaches and Lakes

Although Rwanda is surrounded by land, if you like to sunbathe or just relax outdoors, Rwanda has a good range of beaches to choose from despite its lack of connections to the ocean. Lake Kivu in West Rwanda is popular with tourists and locals alike and the freshwater of the lake is beautifully refreshing to swim in on a warm day. Most beaches are privately owned, so if you are staying in a hotel locally you can escape the crowds and sunbathe in peace.

National Parks

Wonderfully preserved areas of natural beauty, the national parks of Rwanda are reason enough to visit the region. Volcanoes National Park, Akagera and Nyungwe are very popular with tourists and are renowned for their excellent safari, game drive and gorilla trekking activities. Thick with vegetation, surrounded by gorgeous landscapes and packed full of amazing creatures in their natural habitats, these national parks are definitely worth visiting.

Attractions

Butare is one of the very popular cities in Rwanda, and thanks to its many arts and crafts shops, museums, garden and other shopping locations, it is great for tourists. The Murambi Genocide Centre is a great memorial to the victims of the 1994 genocide, and there memorials such as this in many cities including Kigali. There is a fantastic National Museum in Butare which allows you to learn about African history and culture, and is a great place to get information about the way of life of the Rwandan people.

Overall, you need to remember that Rwanda has a tragic past with the genocide being so recent in many people's minds. In respect of this, there are little reminders of this wherever you go, and this is why Rwanda has so much heart and soul as well as a great deal of natural beauty.

Anyone visiting 'the land of a thousand hills' trough Hakuna Matata tours will account a multitude of surprises: First is the personal safety, peace, security and stability enjoyed by both citizens and visitors of the country.

Second there is the beauty of this nation

The landscapes in this green country are truly breathtaking. Many visitors to Rwanda have remarked that the physical beauty of the country is without an equal on the African continent. Rwanda has five volcanoes, twenty-three lakes and numerous rivers, some forming the source of River Nile. Spectacular volcanoes and dense tropical forests dominate the north of the country, while gentle hills and valleys, calm lakes and turbulent rivers in both savannah and dense tropical vegetation dominate the rest of the country.

The high altitude forests of the Virunga volcanic mountains, in northern Rwanda are home to the world's largest number of endangered mountain gorillas. Numbering in the hundreds, the gorillas live in protected areas, free from poachers. The gorillas can be viewed in their natural mountain habitats at a fairly close range with Hakuna Matata tours

PEOPLE

Nothing describes Rwanda's culture better than the affectionate hospitality of its people, the thrill of its intore culture dancers and singers as well as the usual determined ethic for work and industry. Little wonder some have referred to Rwanda as a land of a million smiles. The country has a population of 9.1million people. Over 85 % of the Rwandans live in rural areas. Rwanda is one of the few countries in Africa, with a sole common language and culture. Many people who have had a chance to visit Rwanda have been amused if not intrigued by the actuality that Rwandans are harmoniously living together after the Genocide that threatened to ruin the social fabric and destroy the centuries of long interactions among them.

Today, not only are Rwandans living together but they also share the common aspirations as it used to be. Music and dance plays a central role in the tradition of Rwandans. The Rwandan people have a diversity of music and dance with an assortment of acts that express epics celebrating excellence and bravery, humorous lyrics and hunting roots. Intore Dance Troup is the finest model of Rwanda's varied and dynamic traditional musical and dance style. A wide range of traditional handicrafts is produced in rural Rwanda, ranging from ceramics and baskets to traditional and contemporary woodcarvings.

Kigali

The largest city in Rwanda, Kigali is the capital and one of the most popular tourist and business destinations in the region. The city is centuries old, and has been there since the 11th century. Surrounded by beautiful landscapes and filled with a rich culture, history and many interesting attractions it is a great place to visit.

Also known as the Land of Eternal Spring, the city is famous for its surrounding spectacular views of the hills and mountains, but it is also renowned for the Genocide memorial centre plus a number of other attractions and sites to visit.

The genocide memorial centre is one of the most poignant parts of any trip to Rwanda, and anyone who doesn't understand the magnitude of the genocide in 1994 needs to visit the centre when in Kigali. There are also two other museums, the Kandt House Museum of Natural History and the National Museum of Rwanda.

Right at the heart of Rwanda, Kigali is centrally located, making it the ideal location for a country's capital, and is home to about 1 million people. Kigali is known for its friendly and very welcoming people - something that they take pride in and proof that the country as well as the city has moved on dramatically since the genocide of 1994.

Kigali is made up of three districts Gasabo, Kicukiro and Nyarugenge and wherever you stay you are sure to experience your own small piece of Rwandan culture, whether it is eating some of the Rwandan cuisine, dancing at one of the nightclubs or simply chatting to one of the locals and finding out more about the city.

Not a flat city, Kigali is a great place to visit if you love walking - just make sure that you pack sensible footwear as the city spreads across many hills and valleys! Other than walking, there are plenty of things to do on a relaxing day in the city. Visit the market and go shopping and buy some souvenirs of carvings and other art pieces, or arrange a trip to go gorilla trekking - you won't regret it.

---

---

Comments? Questions? Email Here

© HowtoAdvice.com