Hi guys, I'm Benni!
This year, starting in April, I started travelling across Africa, visiting Morocco, Senegal, The Gambia, Ghana and Rwanda. Today, I want to share my experience of staying with Bonnie in Nyanza, Rwanda, what I discovered about the country and why this stay became one of the most special parts of my journey.
From exploring the countryside and learning about Rwandan culture to spending time with Bonnie's family, attending a traditional family celebration and discovering some of Rwanda's beautiful landscapes, my stay gave me much more than I expected.
Here is my story.
How I Travel: Looking for Authentic Experiences
Whenever I travel, I look for authentic experiences. I want to spend time with local people, understand what a country is really like and experience everyday life rather than simply visiting the usual tourist attractions.
That's why I use Workaway, a platform that connects travellers with volunteering opportunities around the world.
The opportunities can be very different: helping around the house, looking after children, working on a farm or supporting a school or community project.
For me, this is a great way to meet local people, learn about their lives, contribute something useful and enjoy a meaningful stay. It also helps me save money while travelling.
That's exactly what I was looking for in Rwanda.
Why Rwanda?
Rwanda turned out to be a very special country.
One of the first things I noticed was how clean and organised many places were. The roads, public spaces and transport systems gave me a different impression from what I had experienced in some other African countries. There was a sense of order that I really appreciated.
And then there is the nature.
Although Rwanda is a relatively small country, it has an incredible variety of landscapes. Green hills, beautiful countryside, lakes and impressive mountains are all part of this country often called the Land of a Thousand Hills.
As someone who is always curious about unusual places and fascinated by nature, Rwanda seemed like the perfect destination for my journey.
And I wasn't disappointed!
Why I Chose Bonnie' s Homestay in Nyanza
Staying at Bonnie's Homestay offered everything I was hoping to experience.
I could learn some Kinyarwanda, discover traditional Rwandan cooking and get a better understanding of how people live in Rwanda.
Bonnie is also a tour guide and an experienced Agronomist. This combination makes her a great host for travellers like me. She knows the country from different perspectives: tourism, agriculture, family life and everyday experiences in local communities.
She could show me the places travellers want to discover while also introducing me to the everyday Rwandan life that I was so interested in experiencing.
And that is exactly what happened.
My First Week: Life on an Avocado Farm
During my first week, Bonnie took me to the avocado farm where she was working at the time. It was located right in the middle of the Southern Province countryside.
Every day, we went hiking through the surrounding hills to check on the workers and the avocado trees.
The views and scenery were incredible.
Sometimes, it felt as if I had travelled back in time. Women and men were working in the fields, sharing stories, laughing together and getting on with their daily activities. Whenever we passed, people greeted us with a smile.
It was a wonderful opportunity to see rural Rwanda beyond the usual tourist experience.
I could observe the farming activities, meet local people and enjoy the peaceful countryside.
For someone interested in agriculture and everyday village life, it was a very special experience.
Time with the Boys: Everyday Family Life
Time with the Boys: Everyday Family Life
After my first week with Bonnie, her two boys, one for (10years) and (8years), returned from visiting their grandmother in the village.
From then on, I spent much of my time with them while Bonnie continued taking care of her work at the farm.
Every morning, we prepared breakfast together. Arim was the omelette chef and made our omelettes almost every day!
After breakfast, we had a big maths lesson together, which was really fun. Then came guitar lessons for each of them.
After that, we usually prepared a snack for lunch and spent the rest of the day playing until dinner.
These simple everyday moments became some of my favourite memories.
It was not about visiting famous places or following a busy travel itinerary. It was about sharing family life, learning from each other and enjoying the little things.
A Very Special Experience: A Traditional Rwandan Baptism
During the weekend of my second week, Bonnie invited me to join a family celebration. Her four-month-old nephew was going to be baptised.
We spent the weekend, from Friday to Monday, at the home of Bonnie's brother. I had the opportunity to meet many members of her family and their friends.
It was an incredible and very special experience.On Sunday morning at 10 am, we went to church for the worship service and baptism.
For me, attending a church service in Rwanda was particularly interesting because I could experience the differences compared with Germany.
The service lasted around three hours. What impressed me most was the music. Everyone was singing and dancing together, and I could really feel the commitment and enthusiasm of the people taking part.
If I had to guess, there were around 300 people attending.
Quite quickly, traditional sorghum beer was brought out. People gathered around it and shared the drink using large straws.
After some time, lunch was ready and everyone served themselves from the buffet.
The celebration continued with speeches, the presentation of gifts, conversations, drinks, singing and dancing.
It was a beautiful opportunity to experience Rwandan family traditions, hospitality and togetherness.
I felt very lucky to have been included in such a personal family occasion.
Exploring Rwanda: Lake Kivu and Musanze
During the last two days of my stay, Bonnie took me to two more beautiful parts of Rwanda: Lake Kivu in the west and Musanze in the north.
One thing I found fascinating about Rwanda is that, because the country is relatively small, it is possible to travel between different regions and experience very different landscapes.
Discovering Lake Kivu
Our journey first took us towards Lake Kivu.
The lake and its surroundings offered another beautiful side of Rwanda. After spending time in the southern countryside, it was exciting to discover a completely different landscape.
Lake Kivu is one of those places that makes you appreciate just how much variety Rwanda has to offer.
Visiting Musanze and Learning About Mountain Gorillas
The trip to Musanze involved quite a long bus journey from the south towards the north of the country.
As we travelled, the hills became bigger and bigger until, eventually, I could see the impressive volcanoes that are home to the famous mountain gorillas.
My travel budget wasn't quite ready for a mountain gorilla trekking experience, though!
Instead, Bonnie took me to the Dian Fossey museum, where I could learn about the history of these incredible animals and the work of Dian Fossey.
There was also a short 4D movie experience about gorillas, which I really enjoyed.
Even without seeing the gorillas in the wild, it was a memorable way to learn more about Rwanda's wildlife and conservation.
