Rwanda: The Country of 1000 Hills

My first trip to Rwanda was in 2012 and I blogged about my experience (http://idontcarewherewego.blogspot.com/2012/04/destination-rwanda.html).  My second trip to Rwanda was a year later in 2013.  I did not blog about the experience as I went closely after the Mourning period and again my time there was quiet with visits to memorials on the weekends.

My amazing hostess, colleague and friend - Ashley

Three years later I found myself in Kigali, for work, but I advised my hostess, and supply chain colleague, that I needed to hear the music of Kigali, taste decadent foods and enjoy naturally beautiful views.  Ashley perfectly complied.

PLAY, PLAY, PLAY

If you are looking for a place to have a nice drink, another amazing view, gather with friends, please visit Pili Pili (https://www.facebook.com/Pili-Pili-922213764525908/).  Even after the venue closed, they stayed open until 4:30 am to serve us!  Who does not LOVE great customer service and a well stocked bar! ha

If you are looking to dance, dance, dance the night away, make your way to K-Club! I don't even know what time this club closes but when I stumbled outside of the club I was not expecting to wander into the morning sun, birds chirping at almost 8am!  The club is sound proof, no windows, the bartenders are friendly, full of energy and ready to pour the next drink!

And for those who believe all I do is party I will have you know that I do enjoy quiet day safaris.  We so happened to enjoy such a day on Saturday morning.  Only 2.5 hours from Kigali is Akagera National Park (http://www.rwandatourism.com/destinations/akagera-national-park).  To enter the park as a non-resident will cost you $35.  I would suggest hiring a driver with their own 4x4 as safari can be rough on your vehicle!

FYI, RWANDA:  When you are in Akagera Park, please keep the windows UP!  There are a TON of tsetse flies in the park and they BITE!

Look at him sitting there, welcoming us!

Can we STOP having gorgeous views in Rwanda! LOL

After 2 hours we FINALLY saw our first animal
on safari!

Come out to play hippos!

Hippos on land!

Rwanda sun has me looking good -- even on safari!

SIP, SIP, SIP

On Thursday evenings in Kigali you can enjoy quite the HAPPY hour at Inema Art Center.  Not only is there a great view but the drinks are buy one, get one free for the cost of 5,000 RWF (approximately $8).  Also, each week the featured cocktails change and so you know: the bartenders pour quite heavy!  The DJ is also pretty great so after a few rounds, get up and dance!

Inema Art Center

Happy hours views

So we decided to use both hands haha

Also, in Rwanda you can enjoy quite a few local beers.  When you order your beer, request it COLD as Rwandans enjoy their drinks, in general, warm or room temperature.  There are three I quite enjoy: Skol Malt, Turbo King and Primus (not pictured).  Enjoy with friends, enjoying the view or with an amazing burger!  

EAT, EAT, EAT

During the Mourning Period many restaurants in Rwanda are closed or close early. Therefore, I did not get to experience the amazing food that can be easily found in Kigali!  I have not weighed myself since returning to Lusaka and I will probably wait until a week after my return from Cape Town (next blog alert)!

If you are able to walk up 6 flights of stairs, then make your way to Shokola Storyteller's Cafe.  The view is amazing, so catch your breath and gaze!  The food is also fresh and delicious.  Definitely worth the climb!

FYI, RWANDA:  Leave your high heels at home!  Walking is popular in the country of 1000 hills -- uphill, downhill, diagonally .... just leave the heels at home!

Fresh lemonade and the view at Shokola Storyteller's Cafe.

I enjoyed the chicken quesadilla.  Also, if you enjoy avocado -- you will
LOVE eating in Rwanda!

If you are looking for a place to enjoy goat or fish brochette, then make your way to Nyarutarama Sports Club!  The brochettes will cost about RWF 1,500 and will be absolutely worth it!  I enjoyed two of the goat brochettes. Also, Nyarutarama Sports Club is one of the few places you can find all six local brews ... cold!  Great place to enjoy views, brochettes and cold beer on a nice Friday afternoon!

Goat brochettes - delicious!

Upon arriving in Kigali, my amazing hostess introduced me to Mr. Chips.  Now, if you know me you know I LOVE A GOOD BURGER!  And let me tell you an amazing burger has been hard to find in Lusaka. But on night #1 in Kigali, my friend introduced me to Mr, Chips.  If you are in Kigali, make your way to this open air, friendly burger joint!  You will not regret it! (The burger is not pictured as I ate it before taking a photo *oops*).

Mr. Chips -- one of my favorites in Kigali!

Americans ... what do we like?  Burgers and pizza!  And in Kigali my gracious hostess took me to an expat favorite claiming it to be the best pizza in town:  Sole Luna.  The pizza is perfectly baked in a woodfire oven leaving the crust crispy. The restaurant also boasts of amazing views and hosts trivia night regularly!  My only critique is the lack of sauce.  Pizza is nothing without an amazing sauce and this pizza did lack sauce.  But the crust, cheese and pepperoni (yes, pepperoni, not spicy salami) was satisfying.

Another amazing view

7/10 pizza ... I would go back!

I have not enjoyed a savory crepe since Cote d'Ivoire and now I find myself in Rwanda with a delicious crepe in my possession!  One night afternoon my friend introduced me Kimy Gourmand for lunch.  Their crepes are made with wheat so less guilt? haha ... it is a small venue but the menu is extensive!  For lunch I ordered the prosciutto ham, cheddar and goat cheese crepe.  It was salty but really good! For dessert, of course I ordered a child's portion of nutella crepe with Amarula. Quite a decadent lunch!

Nutella crepe and Amarula on ice is
ALWAYS amazing!

Now for the grand finale! I knew Ashley was my friend when she took me to her favorite restaurant and hands down some of the BEST food I have ever enjoyed in East Africa:  Republika Lounge.  The atmosphere is quaint, romantic, homey and sexy. And the food is decadent!  While we were all hungry, Ashley advised to not order appetizers as the food is served family style and will be enough to completely fill our bellies and souls!

Ashley is a vegetarian so she ordered french beans tossed in onions and garlic with a side of garlic potatoes.  Her friend, Bob, ordered Liboke (stewed) chicken and green salad.  I ordered steak Republika and ginger rice.  #noregrets  While I enjoyed the steak republika the next time I enjoy dinner at Republika, I plan to order Liboke chicken and ginger rice. My goodness, my good God in heaven ... if you are ever in Kigali, please find a reason, a time, a date to enjoy dinner at Republika Lounge!

Liboke chicken

Steak republika and garlic potatoes

BEFORE plate.  Notice the chicken and ginger
rice.  

AFTER plate.  I was so full and it was so so good!

Rwanda is known as the "Country of 1000 Hills."  These "1000 hills" provide gorgeous landscape made up of hills, nature's staircase.  You can find colorful homes built on each stair, cars climb cobblestone roads built on these hills and when you are at the top - whether you reached their by foot or vehicle - you will always be amazed.  

Being at the top of any building or hill, stopping for a moment to notice the views, those views will also leave you grateful and speechless.  In my last blog about my first visit to Rwanda I wrote that standing at the memorials left my speechless.  So does the beauty of Rwanda, the country of 1000 hills.  

Sunday Funday: Durban and Lesotho

Greetings loves!

As many of you know, I am a frequent visitor of South Africa since 2009.  My traditional "playgrounds" in South Africa are normally, Pretoria, Johannesburg and of course, Cape Town!  But my friend, Ashlee and I thought it time to find a new South African destination and thus the idea of visiting Durban was born!

** DID YOU KNOW:  Outside of India, Durban is home to the largest population of Indian decent! **

Before visiting Durban we were told to find a hotel on South Beach.  Ashlee and I logged onto expedia.com, booked a gorgeous hotel and started looking for day tours to see all that Durban had to offer during our long weekend!  Well we attempted to book two tours of interest and were, unfortunately, declined.  No worries -- we would find a tourist office and attempt to book tours upon arrival.

** INTERESTING FACT:  After 16 years, The International AIDS Conference returned to Durban, South Africa. **

We landed in Durban and immediately went to the Tour Desk located in the airport. We called a tour company, ironically the same one that declined our tours originally.  We found out why:  our hotel was NOT in South BEACH but in South BROOM!  We were two hours down the coast from Durban! We canceled our hotel reservation in South Broom and booked a small guest house in the suburbs of Durban, the Sanchia.

An honesty bar

Pool and views

Our room

Once we re-booked our hotel the tour company agreed to take us on the two requested tours! 

On Sunday, Ashlee and I woke up early to dress warm and prepare for our trip to the Kingdom of Lesotho, my 15th African country!

Lesotho is completely surrounded by South Africa.  The Kingdom of
Lesotho is a mountainous country and guess what, there is SNOW! 

We left early as the tour was planned for 12 hours.  Ashlee and I wore warm coats, scarves and I also adorned mittens.  

On our way to Sani Pass and up the mountains of Lesotho, we passed through Pietermaritzburg, the capital of Kwa-Zulu Natal.  We actually made quite a few stops on our way to Lesotho, stopping along the way to breathtaking views, a small church from the 1800s with a tiny graveyard, more ... views, a grocery store, coffee shop, a small government housing compound and a small village at the top of a mountain in Lesotho.

 

Clearly staring at views ....

Our 4x4 for the day

After over 8 hours in a 4x4 landcruiser we made our way to one of the highest points in Lesotho!

 

Crossing into the Kingdom of Lesotho

Our fellow travelers!

After taking photos from this chilly point, we made our way to the highest pub in South Africa - the Sani Mountain Lodge! 

My main issue with the tour is I wish we spent more time in Lesotho and at the pub. We only had 30 minutes in the pub. I would have preferred to sit down, warm up, relax, have lunch and a few cocktails at this amazing pub. But alas, after 30 minutes we made our way down the very windy road and back to Durban.

It was our last night in Durban so Ashlee and I wanted to have a nice meal. We made reservations at The Grill Room at the Oyster Box (http://www.oysterboxhotel.com/food-and-drink/the-grill-room). This was a wise and delicious decision!  We were seated in a gorgeous dining room and immediately greeted to request our wine and appetizer requests.  The Grill Room is known for their 1920s 18 hors d'evours appetizer cart.  Ashlee ordered this decadent option while I enjoyed the bread and biltong butter (my GOD it was so good).  

Biltong butter ... so so good!

After enjoying our starters, we were prepared to enjoy the main courses.  Ashlee enjoyed a pork belly dish while I enjoyed steak medallions which was cooked perfectly table side. 

Steak medallions and potatoes

I was not ready for this dinner to end so I ordered raspberry sorbet and a glass of rose sparkling wine. It was divine! 

The perfect ending ...

Ashlee and I left completely satisfied.  If you are ever in Durban please make a reservation and enjoy the dining experience that is offered by The Oyster Box. 

A sunset in Durban

Overall, Ashlee and I enjoyed our Sunday in Durban and Lesotho.  It was an incredible experience and I am definitely a fan!  Hmmm Essence Festival will be held in Durban in November.  To go or not to go ...

If you are on snapchat, follow my travels and day to day life in Lusaka, Zambia: pmkenney79!