If you are visiting Rwanda in 2020, or at any other time, then this blog is perfect for you. Hermosa Life Tours and Travel have come up with a bucket list of 60 places to visit, things to do and meals to eat during your time in Rwanda to make sure you get the best experience possible!

There are some great places to visit during your spare time in Rwanda, Hermosa Life Tours and Travel have devised a list of some of the best places to visit and what you can do when you’re in Rwanda

Visiting Kigali City? Yes! Here are some great things to do:

1. Visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial.
2. Visit the Richard Kandt Museum.
3. Observe the view from of the city of Kigali on the top of Mount Kigali.
4. Ride a bike on Sunday through the city.
5. Visit the Nyamirambo neighborhoods.
6. Visit Nyamirambo women center.
7. Visit the vision city neighborhood.
8. Attend some local events.
9. Walkthrough the city.
10. Visit local markets.
11. Visit art galleries and museums.
12. Take a sightseeing city tour.
13. Visit Industrial Zone
14. The campaign against Genocide Museum in the Rwandan Parliament

Wondering what to do in the Highlands of Rwanda? There’s plenty!

15. Go trekking the magnificent mountain gorillas of the volcanoes national park.
16. Go to see the acrobatic golden monkey.
17. Hiking to the top crater lake of Bisoke volcano.
18. Visit the twin lakes Burera and Ruhondo.
19. Visit hike to the high peak of the country Kalisimbi volcano.
20. Visit the town of Musanze (experience the community tours and pay a visit to Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund).
21. Kayak at the Mukungwa river and community walk.
22. Go see birds of Rugezi swamp.

Want to make sure you’ve covered everything that Rwanda has to offer, to make sure you:

23. Go to Lake Kivu.
24. Swim and relax to the lake beaches.
25. Watch the sunset to lake Kivu.
26. See how fishing is done in the lake.
27. Take a picture of the landscape around the lake.
28. Cycling tour through the Congo-Nile trail.
29. Coffee tour Experience from farm to cup.
30. Visit Rwanda – RDC border.
31. Rwandan Cultures – Real life of Rwandans experiences.

Wondering how Rwanda was in the era of Kingdoms, the colonial era of pre-history!

32. A cultural experience in Rwanda’s cultural corridor will leave you with a picture of this beautiful country.
33. Visit the ethnographic museum in Huye
34. A cultural experience to the King’s palace museum
    

Contemplating a trip to Nyungwe national park?

35. This tropical rain forest is blessed with unique wildlife, it’s one of the world’s most treasured wildlife destinations.
36. Experience the rain and the sounds of the rainforest.
37. Go Trekking the chimpanzee of the rainforest.
38. Visit the black and white colobus of Nyungwe national park.
39. Birding to Nyungwe National Park, the forest is home to over 310 bird species all confined in the park with 121 forest birds, 27 Albertine rift endemics.
40. Take a selfie with a breath-taking view of the forest on the copy walkway.
41. Go see orchids at the cloud forest – A miracle of biodiversity, Nyungwe has more orchid species than any other forest in Rwanda.
42. Plan nature walks inside the forest to relax and appreciate the beauty of nature.
43. Don’t forget a visit to the Kamiranzovu waterfall.
44. And camping inside the forest would also be a great adventure.
45. The tea tour will blow your mind with a beautiful view of the tea plantation and experience tea from farm to cup.
    

Are you a foodie and like to try new things? Here is a list of local foods you must taste whilst you’re in Rwanda.

46. Big Fish/Fresh fish: a classic Rwandan dish found most frequently in the lively Nyamirambo neighborhood of Kigali, is such a treat. It’s a giant tilapia, large enough to feed three people, grilled and stuffed with onions and various spices, and served alongside grilled potatoes.
47. Brochettes: known as grilled meat or fish on a stick, is one of the most consumed dishes in Rwanda. Brochettes can be found at pretty much every restaurant – from the smallest of bars to the fanciest of hotel restaurants.
48. Sambaza: little fish the size of a pinkie, are caught from Lake Kivu at sunset by fishermen with tightly woven nets. They are sold at markets and restaurants by the kilogram, and often fried in a thick batter to be served with mayonnaise.
49. Ubunyobwa: A thick and spiced peanut sauce served at lunch buffets around Rwanda, ubunyobwa is a delicious and creamy addition to the often-starchy lunch options.
50. Zingalo: is a brochette made from goat intestine. Though not for everyone, this is a classic Rwandan dish that shouldn’t be missed.
51. Akabanga: The spiciest of chili oils are found at every bar and restaurant in Rwanda. Known as Akabanga, it’s served in a small eyedropper and adds a great bit of heat to any curry, soup, or vegetable dish. Don’t put more than a few drops on your food, however, as this stuff is the real deal.
52. Urwagwa: Made from fermented banana juice and sorghum flour, Urwagwa is a beer that is home-brewed in pretty much every rural Rwandan town. Ask any local bar for a cold glass, and get ready for one of the world’s most intense beverages.
53. Akabenz: Although pork is rarely a staple in Rwandan diets, akabenz, a barbecued pork dish, is one of Kigali’s favorite foodie items.
54. Matoke: Made from plantains steamed in banana leaves, matoke is a Rwandan staple found at most local restaurants. Starchy, hot, and often well-spiced, this dish is a Rwandan specialty all foodies have to try before leaving the country. 
    

Wondering if there is a worthwhile trip or place for viewing various wildlife species, particularly if you love wildlife Akagera national park will be the ideal.

55. Game drive/Wildlife Drives: One long but worthwhile safari option is to enter the park at the main gate with your guide and spend the day making your way to the park’s northern Nyungwe.
56. Lake Ihema sunset Boat Trips: This boat trip offers you with some surprises like hippo pods and some of the huge Nile crocodiles that are otherwise difficult to observe. This is also the best way to view the park’s abundant water birds, including swamp flycatchers, African fishing eagles, African darters and breeding colonies of noisy and smelly cormorants and open-bill storks.
57. Birdwatching: Akagera lies on the great Nile Valley bird migration route, which means that you could potentially spot nearly 500 species of birds, including several endemics, more than 40 different kinds of raptors and, in wetland areas, the much sought after shoebill. It’s Rwanda’s best birdwatching destination outside of Nyungwe Forest National Park. The many kilometers of waterside habitat support African eagles, kingfishers, herons, ibises, storks, egrets, cranes, rails, cormorants, darts and pelicans. Seasonal visitors include large flocks of ducks, bee-eaters and terns, and the woodlands areas are particularly good places for barbets, shrikes, orioles, and weavers.
58. Behind-the-Scenes Tour: One of the most innovative and interesting activities offered is a behind-the-scenes tour, which requires a minimum of four people. You will get to meet and talk to rangers, anti-poaching patrols, and community-projects managers. It’s a fascinating insight into the often very political world of modern wildlife conservation in East Africa and the day-to-day running of a protected zone. It’s organized through the park office and you need to give at least a day or so notice. The tour lasts about 90 minutes.
59. Night game Drives: As dusk comes and all the daylight wildlife heads off to bed somewhere, a whole new cast of rarely seen characters emerges from the gloom. A night drive allows you to see some of these creatures – if you’re lucky, leopards and hyenas.
60. Camping in Akagera: the park has different campsites that will fit your budget from backpackers to the midrange.

So, there you have it! 60 places to visit, things to do and meals to eat while you’re in Rwanda, if you are yet to book your trip to Rwanda, then Hermosa Life Tours and Travel is here for you!

 Plan your trip today!