Our first introduction to the amazing continent of Africa was Rwanda. We had a layover in Kigali, Rwanda on our way to Uganda and we were so thankful for the short time we were able to spend in this amazing country!
Rwanda is known as the land of a thousand hills and a thousand smiles. Within the first hour of landing, it was clear to see why the country received these nicknames. There were countless hills and even more smiling faces waiting to greet us in Kigali, the capital city!
Since we only had a couple days to explore this beautiful country and wanted to make the most of our limited time, we researched the best tour companies in Rwanda we discovered Rwanda Eco Company & Safaris. This company offers countless tours around Rwanda that highlight how many amazing things there are to see and do in this beautiful country, and we were so thankful we booked a tour with them to maximize our time in Kigali!
Rwanda is one of the best and only places in the world to see gorillas up close in the wild. The country is also home to breathtaking volcanos and countless mountain hikes. Whether you’re a fan of wildlife and the outdoors, you enjoy learning about culture and traditions, and especially if you want to see as much as you can during a trip to Rwanda – Rwanda Eco Company & Safaris has something for everyone. They offer a luxury travel experience and customize their tours to fit the interests of their guests. They specialize in eco friendly gorilla tours, wildlife safaris, and local cultural experiences. They not only offer tours in Rwanda, but also all throughout Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and D.R.C.
We loved talking with Reginal Hakizimana, founder of Rwanda Eco Company & Safaris, and hearing his passion for sharing the beauty and culture of his country with others. The way they organized each part of our tour for us – from transportation and tours to accommodation and meals, Rwanda Eco Company & Safaris takes care of all the details so the only thing you have to think about is having an amazing time in this incredible country!
Due to our little time in Rwanda, we only had time to visit Kigali – Rwanda’s capital and largest city – and the way Rwanda Eco Company & Safaris helped us maximize our time there was amazing. Within just a couple days we were able to learn so much about the country’s history and culture, and we already know we want to visit Rwanda again someday!
One of the things that many people think of when they hear the name Rwanda is the 1994 genocide. Rwanda does not want to hide or forget this tragedy in order to help future generations to make the same mistakes that led to such a horrific event. But the country is also filled with so much more than that – from incredible wildlife and beautiful mountains to amazing culture and extremely joyful people.
Our first stop was to the Kigali Genocide Memorial. This site was built to remember and honor more than 1 million Tutsi people who were killed in less than 100 days in 1994. There are more than 250,000 victims memorialized at this site. It is difficult to imagine neighbors turning against neighbors and the senseless violence that occured. The memorial focuses on educating visitors as well as honoring the people who died. Despite the horrific stories, it was incredible to hear of the people who risked their lives to protect people who they didn’t even know. Today, the country focuses on remembering this tragedy while moving towards healing. If you visit Rwanda, I highly recomend visiting the Kigali Genocide Memorial.
After visiting the memorial, our incredible tour guide Ezra took us to lunch at a delicious buffet full of authentic food from Rwanda. Next, we drove to Hôtel des Mille Collines, the hotel that is featured in the movie “Hotel Rwanda.” This hotel helped house more than 1,000 people during the Tutsi genocide. From there, Ezra gave us a personal, private tour of downtown Kigali. It was like being chauffeured around Washington D.C., but in Kigali, Rwanda! Ezra pointed out the President’s palace, capitol building, major shopping districts, and places of business.
We ended the day at Kimironko Market. This is a large, local market that sells everything from rice to custom made jackets! We were clearly the only tourists at the market, but everyone was so friendly and not too pushy. I was even offered a handmade, custom reversible jacket, made with my choice of fabric in under an hour! We didn’t have the time to wait, but I was pretty curious to see if they would be able to make such a custom jacket in an hour! Strolling through the market and talking with the local people of Kigali was one of our favorite experiences in Rwanda.
Another favorite experience during our time in Rwanda was the Nyamirambo Women’s Center. This is a Rwandan NGO whose “mission is to provide education and vocational training to women who do not have the means to pay for such training on their own, so that they can gain better opportunities for employment.” Reginal from Rwanda Eco Company and Safaris had highly recommended this to us and we were SO thankful he did.
One of the main vocations the Nyamirambo Women’s Center teaches is sewing, and we were so grateful for the opportunity to talk with some of the women and see their expertise as they sewed purses, clothing, and children’s toys. To me a basic cross stitch is an impossible task, so to see the finished products of their hand sewn work was beyond impressive! We continued our walking tour through Nyamirambo, a neighborhood of Kigali. We sampled milk at a local milk bar, visited a local fruit and vegetable market, met an amazing woman who started her own textile shop after graduating from the Nyamirambo Women’s Center, and were treated to an incredible meal in the house of another woman connected with the center. We were so thankful to have the opportunity to meet so many amazing Rwandans on this tour and learn more about their life in Nyamirambo.
During our time in Kigali, we stayed at the Onomo Hotel. The hotel opened three years ago and was very new, clean, and well kept. Because we had to spend the first night quarantined (this was required of all visitors to Rwanda during the time we visited), we received the full board package that included three meals a day. The food was great and the hotel staff was very friendly and helpful! We felt very safe and the hotel was located conveniently between the airport and downtown.
If you are planning on staying a few nights in Kigali, the Onomo Hotel is a great place to stay. The best way to book it is as part of a tour package through Rwanda Eco Company & Safaris as we did. The are amazing at taking care of all the details so that you can fully enjoy and maximize your time in the incredible country of Rwanda!
