A Wonderful Day Spent In Kigali City, Rwanda

For people who love to travel, guided tours are sometimes the way forward. But for me seldom did a guided tour -- and I've had too many -- leave a lasting impression. This week my daughter and I attended a guided tour of the city of Kigali with Colombe as our guide and Emmanuel as our driver. There will always be sights to see, places to explore and local food to taste. Colombe and Emmanuel showed us much more than that. Through a neighbourhood walk, they showed us the life and abode of city folk. By spending one day with Colombe and Emmanuel, they showed us the heart-warming spirit of young Rwandan people. We had a better recognition of their way of life and their hopes and dreams for the future. We wish Colombe and Emmanuel well, along with the people of Rwanda.

Colombe was a great tour guide. She speaks excellent English and told us a lot of interesting details about everyday life in Kigali. She also took nice pictures of tour participants with their cameras at various scenic stops! Pick up was super convenient. We left from the hotel where we were staying, the Marriott. We saw beautiful (Mt. Kigali) and interesting (Genocide Memorial) places and some good surprises that it would not have occurred to me to visit like a milk bar serving local milk products. Lunch was a tasty variety of Rwandan dishes. Our guide took into account dietary restrictions and ordered a variety of foods like cassava, green banana, goat, tilapia and spinach. Wear solid walking shoes for this tour so that you will be comfortable. Not much walking, but a few steep hills to climb; this is the land of 1,000 hills, after all. High heels or flip flops not recommended.