Land of a Thousand Hills

That is what Rwanda is called and it is apropos. It is very hilly. Besides that fact, I knew only two other things about Rwanda before we visited. I knew there had been a mass genocide and I knew Rwanda was where Dian Fossey studied her gorillas in the mist. These are some other facts I learned while reading up on and visiting Rwanda.

1. Rwanda is green and clean. It is like Walt Disney World clean. I have never seen such a clean country! Both the cities and the rural countrysides are absolutely spotless. There are people out all day sweeping the streets, raking the dirt, washing things down. Fun fact: One of the reasons for the lack of liter is that plastic bags are outlawed in Rwanda. You can't bring them in and they are no where to be found in the entire country. That is revolutionary.

pyrethrum grown for insecticides is a major cash crop

2. Those thousand hills are covered in terraced gardens. From the edge of the many lakes and rivers and all the way up to the tippy top of the mountains, all of it is carpeted with commercial, community and private crop gardens. Corn, banana, potatoes, sugarcane, pineapple and all manner of fruits and vegetables. Rwanda is one of the most densely populated countries in Africa. There are alot of mouths to feed so most of it is subsistence farming.

The Rwandan tea basket says "Our house is full"

3. Along with coffee, Rwanda produces a lot of tea. The quality of the Rwanda green tea leaves is among the best in the world. Rwanda tea is planted on hillsides at high altitude and on well drained marshes.

4. Rwandan architecture looks different than other sub-Saharan countries. One reason might be that thatched roofs are against the law. Even in the countryside. Everyone is required to have at least a corrugated roof. No thatched roofs. "Why?", you ask. Does the President have a brother-in-law who owns the corrugated tin concession? Perhaps. Is fire an issue? Probably not. Are there no thatchers left after the genocide in Rwanda? If that is the case, they need only import them from the street corners in South Africa where they are a dime a dozen. No, the reason our driver gave us was simple. Thatched roofs make Rwanda look poor.

And most of the buildings in the villages are made from mud bricks. Some are fired and some are not. Eventually the bricks are covered with a stucco and then painted.

5. Rwanda aims to be an all-inclusive African tourist destination. The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) is working hard to promote tourism. In addition to the highly lucrative gorilla trekking concession - it cost $750 per person per day for a permit to trek up the mountain and spend an hour with a gorilla group! - Rwanda will soon have its own Big 5 National Park in Akagera.

The capital city of Kigali is beefing up its hotel and restaurant offerings, its conference facilities and its tourist attractions too. What was once the shame of the country is now a tourist destination with the newly completed Kigali Genocide Memorial. There are beautiful lakes and rivers for fishing and water sports all over the country including part of the Congo-Nile system and one of the African Great Lakes, Lake Kivu. And if the gorillas in Volcanoes National Park are not enough for you, there are 13 other primate species located in Nyungwe, the country's third national park.

6.They make wine and beer from bananas! Rwanda is not alone in this. Most of the East African countries have a version of banana beer.
















7 The morning of the last Saturday of every month is set aside for community service. Everyone in the country is required to clean up the common areas in their town or village or participate in some kind of public works project. Everyone.

8. I ❤ Rwanda!