The world and Africa in particular have their eyes on Rwanda as it hosts the second biggest football tournament on the continent- African Nations Championship (CHAN) and as the host country, thousands of people will be in the country to experience Rwanda, probably for the first time. 

While the majority of people will be content with just watching the games and attending related activities, there are many others who want to see more.  

Rwanda offers a unique insight into the history of its people, and its heritage sites serve to highlight historic moments, both good and bad. It’s also a growing adventure hub with amazing panoramas that will give you a once of a lifetime experience as you trek the volcanoes and ride past serene rivers.

CHAN 2016 will be held in two provinces and Kigali city but all locations are strategically located for travels out of the principal hosting towns. Each of these towns has unique elements in terms of adventure, entertainment and to make sure you get a full package out of the tournament, here are places to make your visit worthwhile.

Rubavu

In the Western Province, the town of Rubavu will host, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Mali and Zambia. It is renowned for having the best sand beaches in the country. Gisenyi public beach which is sandy and palm- lined is easily accessible, in the center of Rubavu town and entrance is free. The town is also where the Congo Nile Trail starts and offers plenty of biking and hiking experiences.   

Among other beaches to visit while in Rubavu, there’s Tam Tam Bikini Beach, Serena Hotel Lake Kivu beach and YVKE Beach & Resort. Other than the beaches, the town is home to Nyamyumba hot springs known for its natural medical qualities and the water is hot enough to boil eggs.

Other experiences include visiting Busasamana Cave which is one kilometer long and connects to several other caves system found in Kanzeze, Mudende and Busasamana sectors such as the Mugongo cave, the Bweza cave and the Kabari cave. Perhaps the biggest attraction would be visiting the Dancing Pots. Here visitors interact with Batwa artistes and performers, they are entertained but they can also try their hands at traditional pottery.

Kibuye

To the south of Rubavu there’s the town of Kibuye and with a 1hr 20mins drive from Kigali, any visitor will be able to visit the Hill of Resistance in Bisesero Village, a memorial center that shows the horrifying effects of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. 

Kibuye is also home to the memorial church of St Pierre, which is decorated with colourful mosaics and vivid stained-glass windows while outside a rock memorial displays skulls from some of the 11,000 people who were killed in the genocide.

To the northern part lies the town of Musanze which is a 2 hour drive from Rubavu. The calm and serene town is home to the Volcanoes. Visitors can go mountain climbing, mountain gorilla trekking and visit the famous Musanze caves. There?s also Buhango Eco-camp site which holds a big biological and cultural significance. The location is built on an ancient sacred site that was used for coronation rituals of Rwandan kings. 

Huye

One the other side of the country in the Southern province lies Rwanda’s first capital city in the town of Huye. The town will host the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Angola and Cameroon. It is best known as the educational center of the country, having been the location of the first ever secondary school and is also home to Rwanda’s national university.

The calm town is also home to one of the first hotels in Rwanda, Hotel Faucon, which has the same architectural and structural design as it was built in the 40’s. It is said that King Mutara III Rudahigwa frequented the place as well as the King of Burundi. It offers a serene hideout for relaxation.

Visitors can tour the National Museum which has amazing displays of the history of the country. It exhibits the country’s geography and geology, the first occupants and their farming tools and the introduction of cattle among other things. There are displays of handicrafts and traditional household items, gourds, mats and baskets. 

Nyanza

In Nyanza, you will find the Palace of the former King Mutara III Rudahigwa which has detailed insights into the traditional setting of his reign. It was recently rebuilt in a traditional setting; completely made out of traditional materials and traditional cows were introduced to complete the setting because of their strong cultural significance.

40km west of Huye is Gikongoro town which has beautiful hills for breathtaking sight-seeing. However, near Gikongoro lays Murambi Hill and genocide a memorial site with the remains of 40,000 – 60,000 people who were killed while hiding in a school.

It is also home to Nyungwe tropical forest home to a multitude of monkey species, exotic birds and vegetation. While there, visitors should not fail to take on the famous canopy walk that gives visitors a bird’s eye view of the forest.

Apart from the provinces, the other group matches will be held in Kigali which will accommodate Gabon, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Tunisia, Guinea, Niger, Nigeria and the hosts, Rwanda. 

Kigali city, where the administrative seat shifted after Huye; has grown into one of the most beautiful cities in the world with exceptional infrastructure, impeccable cleanliness and an orderly environment.   

Whereas most people will be looking to dance, drink, walk and take selfies from the car free zone and others will frequent bars for sumptuous goat ribs, ‘brochette’ and beer; there’s more to Kigali than just that.

Kigali City has two museums to its name; the house of Dr. Richard Kandt who founded Kigali as the centre for administration for German East Africa. His residence was later converted into the Natural History Museum which houses information on Rwanda’s flora, geology and biological history.

The other museum is the Presidential Palace Museum, residence of the former president of Rwanda, President Juvenal Habyarimana which is 5kms from Kigali International Airport. The house is now a museum that gives an overview of Rwanda’s history and a visit to the remains of the Falcon 60 presidential jet that are housed in a walled garden on the property.

However, a visit to Kigali would be incomplete without a tour of Kigali Genocide Memorial Center at Gisozi where 259,000 victims have been buried.  This memorial also serves to educate about how the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi took shape and examines genocide in the 20th century.

Other things to look out for are sports and athletics activities, arts and crafts shops, and the busy nightlife in Nyamirambo. To all our visitors, one thing is bound to stand out though; the warm embrace and hospitality of Rwandans is the richest culture you’ll experience. As you join us in celebrating diversity through football, we can only say, You are welcome! Boyei malamu! Karibuni!  Bienvenue! Bem-vindo!

editorial@newtimes.co.rw