Rwanda
Ruhengeri
To savor our last morning at Rwiza Village and Lake Kivu, we ordered some African spice tea to enjoy on the private terrace of our hut. After checking out, we began our three-hour drive north to Ruhengeri, in the Musanze province. Musanze is a popular tourist spot due to its proximity to Volcanoes National Park, a stunning chain of five volcanoes that border Congo and Uganda. The park offers exciting activities like gorilla trekking, golden monkey trekking, and volcano climbs. We had initially planned to hike Mount Bisoke in the morning but decided to take it easy instead, giving ourselves a break after several intense days. We spent the day exploring the town—visiting coffee shops, checking out art galleries, and sipping cocktails at a local bar. For dinner, we enjoyed a cozy meal our hotel La Locanda, a hotel with a charming Italian atmosphere. Later that evening, curious about the local nightlife on a Friday, we visited a few bars. To our surprise, the scene was quite relaxed—people mostly chatting rather than partying. A local explained that Rwandans tend to be reserved and prefer to avoid the spotlight. For wild, outgoing nightlife, he said, you’d have to head over to Congo. If you’re not planning to explore Volcanoes National Park, I’d recommend skipping Ruhengeri.
