The Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting is the biggest post colonialism international conference that combine all the previous British colonial territories. The conference is held every 2 years in one of the 53 commonwealth countries chosen. The representatives of all the 53 countries gather together to chew over matters that concerns the commonwealth countries such as development, peace and democracy.
The first international meeting was held in Singapore in 1971, these are 50 years in existence ever since CHOGM meetings were initiated, this mark 25 years conference meetings have been held. Of these 25 times, Africa has had the fortunate of hosting five conferences in a period of 45 years. Zambia during the reign of Kenneth Kaunda was the first Africa country to host CHOGM meeting, Zimbabwe followed, South Africa, Nigeria and Uganda respectively.
Rwanda was to hold the sixth Commonwealth heads of government meeting in 2020, unfortunately the covid-19 pandemic forced the event to be postponed to 2022 just like other events worldwide including 2020 UEFA Olympics and Euros the events could not happen during the worst pandemic ever in the history of the entire world.
Rwanda was the 2nd country to be granted in the Commonwealth Nations without any colonial relatedness to the United Kingdom. The country joined Commonwealth Nations in 2009 and set to host Commonwealth Of Government meeting On 20th June 2022, in their capital city Kigali, this will become the sixth African country to host the commonwealth heads of government meeting since it last hosted on the Africa continent fifteen years ago.
Uganda had the same honour of hosting the Commonwealth Heads of government meeting conference, though Uganda broadly funded in infrastructure development in the conference preliminaries they never anticipated the conference would have influenced on the Tourism industry, therefore minimal strains were submitted linking CHOGM to what Uganda had to offer as far as tourism is concerned.
Rwanda is uniquely placed to Capitalize CHOGM Tourism
Rwanda under the administration of Paul Kagame the current president of Rwanda has managed to build and rise Rwanda from the genocide tragedy to upstanding and secure country. Although the 2020 covid-19 difficulties hit the country and the entire neighbors and the international conference postponed to 2022, Rwanda didn’t hesitate to inform the entire world through investing in tourism sector to an extent of becoming worldwide such that people recognize the good cause.
Rwanda has got a number of stories and achievements attained through the Rwanda Development Board when you decide to visit Rwanda on different obligations most especially the Rwanda gorilla trekking to see the great endangered mountain gorillas.
Another tourism success story that will be recited over and over again about Rwanda is their #VisitRwanda tagline. This can be seen on whoever dressed in an Arsenal jersey whether you a fan or not including Lionel Messi who plays in PSG dressed in a jersey with the same tagline #VisitRwanda
What are the must be seen by the different country representatives during the commonwealth heads of government meeting in Rwanda that includes the travelers they don’t miss to visit while on their stay. Here are the best attractions/activities to do in Rwanda.
Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Rwanda largely invested in the endangered mountain gorillas that brings more revenue in tourism section. The Rwanda gorilla trekking permits cost $1500 per person disservice of either non residence or nationals and this considered the most expensive gorilla permits in East African countries that populates mountain gorillas
Unfortunately as we speak, there is no special package for commonwealth countries in all services offered in Rwanda. Mountain gorilla trekking can only be practiced in Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo and if you compare of all the three countries, Rwanda provides the best gorilla trekking expeditions for anyone suitable for the country delegate class
Considering elegant lodges and hotels such as Virunga lodge, Bisate Lodge, Gorilla’s Nest, Sabyinyo Silverback lodge, Sengita Kwitonda lodge, Akagera Game lodge, Five Volcanoes, Lemigo hotel, Lake Kivu Serena Hotel, Myungwe House among others provide standard services that simply need to to loosen up and enjoy the uncoiled lifetime safari experience.
Kigali Genocide memorial center
The memorial center was initiated in 2004 at Gisozi province, it is the resting place for victims over 250.000 of the1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The memorial also serves as educate center of how the Genocide took shape and examines in 20th century. The wall is covered with names of people who dedicated and died during the genocide against the Tutsi and a lot of names are yet to be documented and print them out on the walls. Millions of people come to mourn their relatives and the same time checking their hearts if there can be any cause to achieve the same in their country.
The formation of present day Rwanda has been built from constant prompts of the blood, the skulls and the ashes of the genocide. When you talk about Rwanda today, you cannot forget to acknowledge the destruction that is still hidden deep in the hearts of Rwandese due to the genocide.
Twita Izina Ceremony
This is a gorilla naming ceremony for young born gorillas in volcanoes national park that is celebrated each year, and this will mark the 17th years ever since they the country started celebrating the young giant apes. Mountain gorillas are found in 3 countries including Uganda D.R.Congo and Rwanda itself, it is the second country to hold a large number of mountain gorillas in the world after Uganda, Rwanda under the Rwanda tourism board decided to celebrate this day every year this as the sign of promoting tourism in their country.
Rwanda holds World Gorilla Day on 24 September every year and Kwita Izina is celebrated on that day. This offers the opportunity to utilize the global curiosity on gorillas on that special day and work with tourism and conservation partners around the world to bring out Rwanda emphasis to protect the mountain gorillas. It’s a celebration in honor to the community that populates around the volcanoes national park, the conservationists that sacrifice much protecting and preserving the wildlife, researchers, trackers and rangers who protect the mountain gorillas.
The mountain gorillas born each year In Volcanoes National Park are named at Kwita Izina ceremony and for over 16 years, over 320 mountain gorillas have been named.
The Gorilla guardian village (Ibyi’wacu Culture Center)
The Village center merges all the Rwanda’s known history, cultural traditions, and people into one place for personal experience. Visitors get the opportunity to see and feel what life was in African village setting right from the lifestyle, traditional dances, houses, food, dressing code, herbs and how the prehistoric kingdoms were entirely organized. This cultural center provides as a blending element to Rwanda’s cultural and tribal groups to promote togetherness based on shared doctrines.
Nyungwe Forest National Park
The Nyungwe forest National Park is popular for chimpanzees although tracking takes more hours to find them or even the whole day, the best and easiest place to track them is in Uganda in Kibale national park. These chimpanzees carry over 98.7% human DNA. You can always have a reflection of yourself when you visit the chimpanzee in Nyungwe forest national park. The canopy walk, ground forest walk, bird watching are accompanied with chimpanzee tracking remain the best activities you cannot miss in Nyungwe forest national park in Rwanda.
Wild primates are some of the animals that so interesting to see. Part of the reason is the fact that they share a very close DNA to that of human beings. Among the many primates you find in Rwanda besides the mountain gorillas are the chimpanzees and endegared golden monkey and these primate activities and other related attractions can be organized and recommended by the certified safari companies that have proficiency in primate safaris
Rwanda has the cheapest chimpanzee tracking permits in East Africa. A canopy walk coupled with a chimpanzee tracking experience remains one of the top must do activities in Rwanda. The Nyungwe forest topography, volcanoes national park and the entire city of Rwanda are remarkably part of the unforgettable experience that is hidden in a thousand hills of East Africa
Akagera National Park
The Akagera national park has a biodiversity of resources that have made an incredible recovery after the 1994 Rwanda genocide, it’s one of the biggest protected areas that now boasts the African big five animals, a variety of bird species and other wild animals. No trip to Rwanda is complete without having a game drive along Akagera Park to experience the amazing wildlife, tourists extend the prickling to go on a 2-3 hours away from the Kigali city to enjoy the beauty and tranquility of the park while watching the wildlife.
There is more to see and explore in Rwanda, but with the above activities, visiting the museum former presidential palace, Lake Kivu, the art shop, genocide memorial center, gorilla trekking still remain the top Rwanda’s bucket list activities. You can all the time have your preservations with the former Rwanda visitors.
