The First Daughter Ange I. Kagame and her husband Bertrand Ndengeyingoma confirmed their honeymoon in Rwanda on Sunday.
Ange went to Twitter for a “unforgettable wedding experience” to thank One & Only Nyungwe House, adding that she hoped to come back over and over again. She finished her tweet with the # VisitRwanda hashtag.
The exclusive facility reveled in the opportunity, replying “It was a pleasure hosting you both, we are so glad we made your honeymoon unforgettable. Looking forward to your next visit,”
The First Daughter chose to spend her honeymoon in Rwanda, in the lush green, mist-covered Nyungwe forest, instead of the Maldives, Hawaii or Ibiza. As Clare Akamanzi, the Rwanda Development Board (CEO) put it, this is a enormous endorsement of the project on Visit Rwanda.
“Thank you for boosting Visit Rwanda in such a personal and special way. We wish you and Bertrand a beautiful, blissful and fulfilling life together,” tweeted Akamanzi.
Together with some images from the luxurious lodge encircled by tea areas in the middle of Nyungwe Forest, the tweet gave rise to huge feedback, with many commending the First Daughter for choosing Rwanda as their favorite honeymoon destination.
Now that you understand that your legit honeymoon destination is Rwanda, KT Press gives you five perfect areas in Rwanda that you should consider for your honeymoon if you’re about to get hitched.
Nyungwe Forest National Park
There’s no better place to spend your honeymoon in Rwanda than Nyungwe Forest National Park for the advanced and nature-loving sort.
Nyungwe is one of the few remaining natural rainforests on the continent, located about 189 km in the southwestern portion of Rwanda, about a 4h30min drive from the capital Kigali.
Gazetted as a national park and home to chimpanzees and twelve other primate species, including the rare Black and White Colobus Rwenzori, Nyungwe is a perfect honeymoon place. More than 300 bird species are also available in the park for the bird-loving newlyweds.
Nyungwe offers a very affordable alternative for those who can’t afford mountain gorilla trekking in the Volcanoes National Park, tracking the much lower but enjoyable relatives of the mountain gorillas.
Nyungwe also provides a canopy walking experience for those who want to see nature from above, besides monitoring the chimpanzees and monkeys on the distinct paths.
The canopy walk is about 60 meters above the rainforest and offers an unforgettable experience that every freshly married pair deserves
“The Canopy Walkway provides a stunning view of the park’s amazing wildlife and nature,” RDB says in a snippet of the facility.
There are other lodging choices for those who are unable to afford one- house rates, such as Nyungwe Nziza Eco Lodge, Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel, Kitabi Eco Center, Gisakura Family Hostel and much more. Nyamagabe, Rusizi and Huye cities also offer options for those who don’t want to sleep in Nyungwe.
Karongi Town
Tucked away in the hilly Western Province and touching the shores of Lake Kivu, Karongi City fits in with the word ‘ resort city ‘ and qualifies as a ideal get away for freshly married couples seeking some quiet time.
If during your honeymoon you want peace and quiet, look no further than the district of Karongi. Located about 146 km from Kigali, in the southern portion of Rwanda, Karongi offers some of the finest experiences of Lake Kivu, one of the Great Lakes region’s largest freshwater lakes.
You can fully enjoy the lake from Karongi, which covers a total surface area of 2,700 km and stands at 1,460 meters above sea level. The scenic town also provides
Karongi is a ideal destination for honeymooners, from traditional and modern boat rides to delicious local Isambaza meals. A boat ride to Napoleon’s Island, home to thousands of fruit bats, and Amahoro Island, will be a memorable one during your stay.
The district of Karongi falls within the Congo Nile Trail, which provides many other tourist possibilities such as visiting the Congo Nile Divide watershed, visiting local communities to directly experience the growers ‘ coffee and tea experiences.
Also, visiting the Bisesero Genocide Memorial can be an chance to learn a bit of history. While at it, from distinct points of view, enjoy the amazing views of Lake Kivu.
The area offers endless lodging choices – the decision would be yours to make from high-end to budget hotels.
Rubavu district
Rubavu city offers the upgraded version of Karongi for those who want to appreciate nature and party hard yet in a peaceful setting. Like a resort town, you won’t go wrong to pick Rubavu as your preferred honeymoon.
Accommodation in Ruvabu will rely mainly on your wallet – if you want high- end and luxury lodging, you will discover it, but budget honeymooners will also find a multitude of 3-star and 2-star housing amenities to choose from, unlike Karongi, where options are restricted.
The town is located in the western part of the country, 154.7 km from Kigali by the shores of Lake Kivu. The drive to Rubavu is a stunning drive with loads of panoramic views, widely referred to as Gisenyi.
It is regarded the beach city of Rwanda. On a nice day while you’re enjoying your honeymoon, you’re going to bump into excited town residents who have fled Kigali’s hustle and bustle for a weekend in Rubavu. Better yet, pray that you will find a beach party in city.
They say anything that occurs in Gisenyi is staying in Gisenyi. Rubavu is your perfect honeymoon town. There’s plenty to explore in Rubavu, from water sports like kayaking and jet skiing to sampling the hot springs at Nyamyumba.
Like Karongi, the experience of local fishing and local delicacies while in Rubavu, the experience of tea and coffee and biking along the Congo Nile Trail. Take a dip into Lake Kivu’s crystal clear waters when you feel like cooling off.
The city of the Western Province is known to have fantastic nightlife with revelers and excellent music steaming hangouts.
Musanze District
The district of Musanze is synonymous with the Gorillas. When you mention Musanze, the Volcanoes National Park and mountain gorilla trekking instantly come to mind
However, Musanze district will leave you spoiled for selection for anyone looking for a location to spend vacation in Rwanda.
For an average middle income couple, setting aside $3,000 for the mountain gorilla trekking experience would be a bit of a stretch but don’t worry – there’s a lot more you can do in Musanze but if you can still afford $1,500 per individual to monitor the mountain gorillas, go for it. It’s an experience once in a lifetime.
While in Musanze, you can enjoy canoeing on the Mukungwa River, hiking and camping on Mt Bisoke, cultural entertainment at Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village, banana beer tasting at Red Rocks, sightseeing, walking, cycling and visiting the caves.
You can take a trip to Lake Ruhondo and Lake Burera for a day if you’re the adventurous sort and appreciate nature at its best. Upon return, use the evening before you retire to a hotel of your choice to sample the vibrant nightlife in Musanze city. There are also many options here
Akagera National Park
It is impossible to finish an optimal honeymoon in Rwanda without mentioning the Akagera National Park. A wedding is memorable for most couples if it involves a Safari. It provides a great chance to bond with nature.
Located in the north- eastern portion of Rwanda, bordering Tanzania, Akagera National Park is your perfect honeymoon destination with panoramic views and a chance to see the big 5 as you drive through the large plains and valleys.
Today’s visit to Akagera National Park is an chance to see, among other animal species, lions, rhinos, elephants, buffaloes, zebra, antelopes, the Sitatunga and the much sought after Shoebill Stork.
You can see the duiker, oribi, bohor reedbuck, klipspringer, bushbuck and impala and some primates including olive baboons, vervets and elusive blue monkey with a longer stay in the park
The park is home to the lion, hyena, side striped jackal and other cats as well. With the present lion population at 30, the lions that were reintroduced in 2015 are almost guaranteed to be seen.
The park also provides accommodation – from high- end to affordable, but for some, while staying in Kigali or neighboring cities for a difference, you can have your Akagera expedition.
The park is about 106.1 km from Kigali and offers an alternative for those who can not afford to go trekking on the mountain gorilla.
