Things to do in sunny Rwanda

[Teleku]

Ok, so, I'm going to be heading to Rwanda in about a month.  I've volunteered to help setup a computer network at an AIDS clinic, and will be in the country for about a week.  I'm not really sure what sort of freedom of movement I'm going to have to actually go see things, but I figured I'd start a thread up for advice from anybody who has been to Rwanda, or Africa in general.  I've already gotten general advice from the people I'm going with on how to stay alive, but I figure its always nice to get info from as many sources as possible.  

Any advice at all about Africa/Rwanda is what I'm looking for, though I guess if any of you know of some great bars that's cool as well.  

If not, then I figure this thread can at least be a catalyst for people to make, yet again, a bunch of stupid jokes about Africa.

Go!

[Strazos]

From what I understand, Rwanda has really turned it around. Geotourism is pretty big there now. I can't promise anything, but you should be free to go where you please; we don't even get danger pay for Kigali anymore.

[CmdrSlack]

No advice, but I'm highly jealous! I need to look into a program where I can go to some at-risk nation and help them develop something resembling a justice system.

[Signe]

You are awesome, Teleku.   

[Teleku]

From what I understand, Rwanda has really turned it around. Geotourism is pretty big there now. I can't promise anything, but you should be free to go where you please; we don't even get danger pay for Kigali anymore.

Yeah, I've actually been told its quite nice.  My freedom of movement comment is more about what sort of transportation I'll have access to, since we are going to be outside of the capital, or if I'll even have enough free time to explore.

[Righ]

Mad props Teleku. I recommend that you take a couple of cheap digital cameras.

[schild]

Props to you Teleku. If I ever went to Africa, I'd be armed to the goddamn teeth. Rambo would be jealous.

I'd follow Righ's advice. Also, don't sleep around.

[Sky]

Congratulations on your new african baby!

[Tarami]

For Christ's sake.

[lac]

A good rule of thumb when visiting Africa: don't stick you dick into anything unless it's thoroughly cooked.

Old missionary jokes aside, if it's your first time there stick to the more experienced people and do as they do. While it's a stunning country it's also a very volatile one, there is a hotchpotch of various rebel groups and vaguely official armies having a go at each other right there on the other side of lake Kivu and since you are in such a small country you'll never be that far away from the giant clusterfuck that is Eastern Congo.

Other then that, don't get frustrated. It's Africa, stuff isn't going to work, people aren't going to show up and if you manage to get something going it will slowly deteriorate back into chaos as soon as you turn your back. Don't be bothered by it, that's how things are.

[Teleku]

A good rule of thumb when visiting Africa: don't stick you dick into anything unless it's thoroughly cooked.

Old missionary jokes aside,

In more ways that one!   

Yeah, the proximity to Congo kind of gave me pause, but again, I've hear generally good things about Rwanda so far.  We are going to be getting assistance from some NGO's already operating in the country, so we should be fine for support.  Biggest issue for us right now is figuring out how to get all the hardware we need into the country with out paying horrible prices (and making sure it actually reaches us at all).

Mad props Teleku. I recommend that you take a couple of cheap digital cameras.

I was just thinking about this.  I probably don't want to bring my SLR, as chances of it getting snatched could much higher I imagine.  Also probably makes you stand out walking around the with a big ass camera hanging on you.  Think I'll use this opportunity to buy a small Canon I've been meaning to buy anyways.  All I have is my SLR right now, and thats not very convenient to bring for nights out on the town.

[lac]

Biggest issue for us right now is figuring out how to get all the hardware we need into the country with out paying horrible prices

There isn't really a way around shipping costs, somebody has to pony up for that. If you are working with other NGO's they should have their logistics set up and it should be as good as it gets around there. Maybe they can help you out.

Some African countries impose hefty import taxes too and while I don't know the exact situation in Rwanda, in other countries like Kenya you don't have to pay import taxes on aid goods. Some NGO's pack the heavy stuff like pumps and generators on which you have to pay import taxes in the back of their containers and put the medicine and blankets up front and label the container as aid. It's the simplest smuggling trick in the book but mostly works.
If it doesn't work however you'll be faced with some serious delay while your dodgy local lawyer tries to smooth things out.

[nurtsi]

I just read on a plane that 70% of the population in Rwanda are women.

[Teleku]

I just read on a plane that 70% of the population in Rwanda are women.

Wohoo.  Of course the fact that I'm going to be hanging around AIDS clinic most of the time will probably put a damper on that.

BTW, anybody have experience with Kenya Airways?  Looks like thats going to be the airline I fly in on.

[Teleku]

So, I'm back in one piece.  Trip was really amazing, I want to go back to Africa now.  I never really had the slightest interest in visiting Africa compared to just about any other place on the globe before, but now that I've gone, I can't get enough.  Wish I could have stayed longer.  Its just a rush to be running around a place that is most definitely not a developed country.  Also, it was really damn beautiful.  Its hard to describe the experience, you just have to go and experience it.

Despite the reputation, Rwanda at least is a very nice and safe country to visit.  I never felt in danger the entire time I was there, and we walked around Kigali during the night a lot (to be fair, the guest house at the villege we stayed in had locks on every door we were suppose to keep locked, heavily barred windows, and our own personal guards to stand out front at night).  Everybody is very very polite in Rwanda.  I'd easily recommend it to anybody who is thinking about going.  The whole country is very stable (well, while I was in Kigali there was a series of grenade attacks one night that killed some people and injured many more, but thats not anything different than what I have to put up with living near Oakland  ), though you certainly see what an undeveloped country looks like when you go into the countryside.

Other then that, don't get frustrated. It's Africa, stuff isn't going to work, people aren't going to show up and if you manage to get something going it will slowly deteriorate back into chaos as soon as you turn your back. Don't be bothered by it, that's how things are.

This is a pretty true statement.  I think the number one thing I noticed about Africa is that everybody does everything very slowly and deliberately.  Which can be frustrating when you are waiting in a tiny humid as fuck airport office because your luggage has gone missing, while the 1 guy behind the desk slowly and meticulously fills out his forms.  As an aside, it turns out that somebody just grabbed my luggage by mistake, and then brought it back to the airport later that day when they noticed.  Which was a relief, since my initial impression was that when your luggage goes missing in Africa, its gone for good.

On another note, we ended up buying all the equipment state side, and each of us just packed it and checked it as luggage.  Lucky me, I had the server, packed into a large Pelican hardcase (total weight, 89 pounds), and an 80 pound UPS.  Then my own luggage.  Good times hauling that shit around. 

The  / part was when we got to Rwanda.  There was a mix up, and the people who were going to meet us at the airport thought we were coming in at 1 PM, instead of 8 AM when we actually did get in.  The custom agents seized all our crap because we didn't have the tax exempt documentation (guy who was suppose to meet us had it).  So we just sort of grabbed a taxi and went to the hotel, where we met up with the others.  The guy who is the director of the hospital came back with us, and talked with the custom agents.  After 10 minutes, we were able to leave with our stuff.  Turns out one of the custom agents was a student of his, and so off we ran with $10,000 in computer equipment!

Lots of hilarious stories from the trip, but god is my sleep schedual fucked up.  To tired to think anymore.

[Strazos]

See, this is why I'm getting myself posted over there somewhere. I have a buddy who will be working there for two years.

...Well, unless someone hands me a position in Japan or Fiji.

[lac]

Trip was really amazing, I want to go back to Africa now.

Great to see you had a good time. If you really got bitten by the Africa virus expect it to nag for a while.

Standing on one of those luscious hills overlooking the cradle of life surrounded by that massive energy that is African nature is a truly defining experience.

Despite the reputation, Rwanda at least is a very nice and safe country to visit.

If you are white, it is. Especially if you are just touristing around. All cash is welcome, all aid helps.

For the regular Rwandan, things aren't looking so bright. Presidential election are due in six months and while Kagame will undoubtedly be re-elected for another seven years, his regime is not exhibiting the normal behaviour of an, in essence, dicatorial regime in a supposedly democratic African country.

In Africa, people really like to have a chef. It doesn't matter what the guy does, he's the chef thus the many pseudo democracies headed by rampantly corrupt presidents who feel, and are, very secure in their position.

Kagame doesn't roll that way. He is in total control but still cracks down hard on anything which can remotely be construed as an opposition. He can do that legally because of draconian anti-genocide laws which basically allow the government to go after anybody for supposed thought crimes.

Combine that with the two major etnic groups hardening their stances over and over again, the unhealed wounds of a genocide and the major involvement of Rwandan sanctioned troops in the perpetual war in eastern Congo (6 million civilian deaths and counting) and you get something.

Something everybody with an interest in the region is watching and anticipating but nobody can predict. It most likely won't be pretty.