Rwanda, also known as “The Land of a Thousand Hills,” is a unique country with a painful history and an incredible story of recovery.
The genocide that occurred in 1994 between two ethnic groups in the country is a significant part of the Rwandan experience today. However, the amazing aspect of this story is the country’s recovery. Rwanda is now considered one of the most developed, cleanest, and greenest countries on the continent, earning nicknames like the “Switzerland of Africa” and even the “Singapore of Africa” due to its strict cleanliness laws.
*Fun fact: Once a month, all citizens, including the president, come out to clean the streets!* Umuganda is a national holiday in Rwanda taking place on the last Saturday of every month where citizens are required to take part in community service.
In Rwanda, you will find amazing natural treasures such as Lake Kivu, parks where chimpanzees live in the wild, and the volcanic region in the northwest where mountain gorillas reside. In the capital city, Kigali, you might feel like you’re in Europe – with nightlife clubs and daytime shopping malls. The city also houses the famous Genocide Museum, which tells the painful story of the country’s remarkable recovery.
