How do you book a holiday in a Country with no travel books?

So why Rwanda?

After a long time with no real long haul travel (thanks Covid) we decided it was time. Trawling through Skyscanner for good flights, and booking to check that accommodation was affordable, we went around in a lot of circles. It was nearly Mexico, Costa Rica, USA or Tanzania too but then Ben stumbled upon these little flights to Rwanda. 

After a quick (very quick) google, we discovered that Rwanda is meant to be the safest and cleanest place in Africa. Cue me getting extremely excited (Africa has always been the dream for an animal person like me) and us clicking 'book' on the flights without really knowing much more. 

I then went to Waterstones to order a faithful Lonely Planet, but alas! No Lonely Planet has ever been written specifically for Rwanda, and for a country the size of Wales, 6 pages in the Africa book and 10 pages in the East Africa book, it wasn't really going to cut it! We were on our own! 

Ultimately, that is why this blog was born, so that I might be able to help out some future travellers.

About Rwanda

Rwanda has been affectionately named both 'the Singapore of Africa' and 'the land of a thousand hills'. Lined with volcanoes, hills and lakes, it definitely looks like it will live up to the latter.

So is it really the 'Singapore of Africa'?

In the capital city, Kigali, it is supposed to be spotless. Plastic bags are banned and you will get fined if you have them - the airport reminds you to get rid of them on the flight! They also have a growing economy and seem to avoid the corruption that much of the rest of Africa are seen to be led by. We will let you know if it really lives up to this nickname.

The Rwandan Genocide

In 1994, over a period of 100 days, members of the Tutsi, Hutu and Twa groups were killed by Hutu militias, with an estimated 500,000-660,000 deaths. 

This genocide was a government initiative to bring to an end the Rwandan Civil War where the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF)composed of  many Tutsi refugees invaded from their base in Uganda. 

It caused a lot of shock worldwide, but no other countries intervened. Most of the killings occurred using machetes and rifles and an estimated 250,000-500,000 women were raped during the genocide. 

The RPF resumed the civil war when the genocide started and captured the government territory, forcing the government into DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo). There a further 200,000 people were killed in the First COngo War in 1996, when the RPF went to ensure the former government were finished.

Rwanda now has two public holidays to mourn the genocide and Hotel Rwanda can be visited, bullet holes and all. 

This story has famously made its way into films, including 100 days and Hotel Rwanda among many others. 

Booking our holiday

After much googling and YouTube, we are starting to form some kind of itinerary but it is forever changing! We will definitely be spending time in Kigali, Nyungwe National Park, Lake Kivu, Musanze, Volcanoes National Park and Akagera National Park. 

We will NOT be actively seeking out the Gorillas - the Rwandan's charge $1500 dollars for a permit (each) to see them, in order to keep numbers low (plus I'm not sure I'm fit enought to climb the volcano they live up!). We may see them 'accidentally' on a trek to see Diane Fossey's grave and museum but as we wont be paying the permit, there wont be any photos. Here's hoping we are lucky. 

We have definitely thrown caution to the wind in booking our safari experience at Akagera and I am bouncing off the walls in anticipation. I wont ruin it here - you'll have to wait for that blog! 

When do we travel?

We will be landing in Kigali on 3rd June, and leaving in the early hours of 12th June. I am unlikely to have a lot of internet (3G is a luxury in Africa) but where there is wifi I will try to blog steaight from Rwanda. Otherwise I will be writing it in myt diary to ensure I remember to tell you everything!