Rwanda

Rwanda is a densely-populated country in East Africa. Its official languages are Kinyarwanda, French, and English. Some of the ethnic groups are Hutu, Tutsi, and Twa (traditional pygmy hunter-gatherers, a small portion of the population). The whole country is at high elevation, and the terrain includes mountains, waterways, savanna, plains, and swamps. The climate is termed temperate tropical highland. Native animal species include the topi, the endangered black rhinoceros, the Bunyoro rabbit, and primates such as the chimpanzee. The good new about the Rwandan economy is that it’s come back from the real low it hit 20 years ago during the ethnic conflict.Mainstays of the economy include agriculture, manufacturing of products from soap to cigarettes, and mining minerals like gold and wolframite.

The Kigali Memorial Centre is a sobering reminder of the tragic genocide here in Rwanda and events that went down in Kigali. You can also be moved by wildlife and scenery at the Parc National des Volcans, where you can really see gorillas in the mist as well as volcanic peaks. More excellent primate life and rainforest can be viewed at the Nyungwe Forest.

Plantains, sweet potatoes, and cassava are common starchy staples. This is particularly true of Twa and Hutu peoples who eat a high-carbohydrate diet with little animal protein. Tutsis have traditionally consumed more dairy products. Typical vegetables include cabbage and tomatoes. Chicken, goat, or steak are popular, although meat is not eaten all the time, and tilapia is a relatively common fish. Try ibihaza, a pumpkin and bean dish. You can find Indian, Chinese, and Italian restaurants in Kigali. You can consume a variety of locally brewed and distilled beverages like urwagwa (banana beer), the health-promoting ikigage made from sorghum, and the fermented honey drink Ubuki. It can give you a bit of a buzz.