In the land of a thousand hills, family comes first and there’s no better way to celebrate family than having fun together. Family time should be a fun experience and most importantly, a chance to bond. In Rwanda, there is an endless variety of fun family activities to partake in, and here is a guide we made for you to ease your family excursion.
Wine and dine
A family that eats together stays together. Rwanda offers a diverse selection of dishes from various countries around the world alongside our traditional dishes. The hard part is having to choose where to eat since there is a huge pool of amazing restaurants to pick from. But let us recommend a few places to make it easier for you and your family.
Repub Lounge
Treat yourself to some authentic Rwandan food at the famous restaurant Repub Lounge. Don’t miss out on the favorites, sambaza, matoke, roasted goat, or fish steamed in cassava leaves and vegetarian dishes.
Fusion Restaurant
This is the destination of choice for those who indulge in fine dining. The menu brings the culinary traditions of Italy, Mauritius, and Morocco to life using distinctly Rwandan ingredients.
Soy Asian Table
If you’re in the mood for Asian fare instead, Soy Asian Table is the place to be with authentic Chinese and Thai food. The mains range from Thai classics like green curry and cashew chicken to Chinese staples like kung pao calamari and tofu in Szechuan sauce.
The hut
The Hut is widely regarded as one of the best places to eat in the capital because of its friendly, laid-back atmosphere with world-class staff, and exceptional international selection of dishes.
Tourism
Once you are fully energized by the delicious food, it’s time to head out and enjoy the multitude of sites in Rwanda awaiting you to explore, learn, and most importantly, have fun. There is no shortage of sites in Rwanda, the hard part is finding the time and the pain of having chosen one over the other. Lucky for you, we are going to recommend a few sites not to miss out on
Parks and forests
- Volcanoes National Park: the 130 square kilometer park offers the opportunity to see the famous mountain Gorillas in their natural habitats.
- Akagera National Park: Offers the chance to see the Big-Five plus an abundance of birds and antelopes
- Nyungwe Nation Park: Spectacular array of biodiversity, including 13 primate species (25% of Africa’s total), 1,068 plant species, 322 species of birds, and 75 types of mammals.
For more information visit: www.africanparks.org
Museums and historical sites
- Nyanza king’s palace: Located in the southern province, Nyanza used to be the capital of the Kingdom of Rwanda, and is now home to the replica of a king’s palace from the 15th century and other cultural artifacts.
- Kandt museum: Home of the first colonial governor and currently houses a collection of history about Rwandans in the colonial era.
- Ethnographic Museum: An impressive collection of historical artics from traditional garments to musical drums from hundreds of years ago.
For more information visit: https://rcb.rw/Rwandan-Museums.html For more about tourism, check out our recent article, Five things to do when visiting Rwanda.
The fun outdoors
After touring, it is time to turn the fun up a notch and move on to some outdoor adventures. There is something for everyone regardless of your budget, it’s a matter of knowing where to go. The list of outdoor activities is endless but for the sake of ensuring that you don’t miss out on the best activities, we are going to recommend a few.
A day at Fazenda Sengha
This is heaven on earth for anyone who likes to venture into outdoor activities. Horse riding, zip lining, Burgie jumping, paintballing and many other activities are featured at Fazenda Sengha. Amazing meals and drinks to energize you are also available and finish your day enjoying the sun’s reflection in River Nyabarongo as it sets behind the hills.
Bike riding
Put in some exercise and burn a few calories by Biking. Green Mountain Biking offers an excellent, fun, and inclusive outdoor adventure exploring Rwanda through local and purpose-built mountain biking trails.
Hiking
Rwanda is known as the land of 1000 hills so be ready to take advantage of this amazing landscape. There are plenty of amazing hiking trails with more adventure along the way, and rewarding views to look forward to. Hiking is mostly free but for those looking for more adventure trails, try the trails in the volcanoes.
Camping
Knowing that Rwanda is the safest country in Africa gives you the peace of mind you need while camping. This outdoor adventure allows you to unplug from the hustle and bustle of the world and engage with nature and the wilderness. Camping sites can be booked online via booking.com, including Volcano forest camp, Bisoke Beer garden, Kitabi Eco Center, Nyungwe forest camp, and many others.
The best part about exploring Rwanda is that you are not limited by your financial means since they are many activities that are free of charge. There is no excuse for you not to have fun with your family and make ever-lasting memories.
