Hey Reader, May is officially my final chill month before the summer travel madness kicks in. So this month I’m trying to take full advantage of everything Kigali has to offer. This past Sunday was Car Free Day in Kigali. Honestly, I’ve only ever made it to one before because that 7:00 AM – 10:00 AM window usually feels a bit too early for me. But a friend and I made a point to get up early this time, and we ended up clocking 9km just wandering around! It’s such a cool community experience....
26 days ago • 2 min read
Hey Reader, It’s been a minute since my last newsletter (again)! After exploring Djibouti and Addis Ababa over Christmas and NYE, I fell back into a nice routine in Kigali, attempting padel, trying out new fitness classes (seriously, don't ask about the trampoline exercise haha), and exploring the city even more. Though we’ve been here a year now, it somehow feels like both more and less time has passed. We’ve also had some great friends visit us lately, so we've been wandering around the...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Hey Reader, I'm excited to share that both the Fiji and Samoa guides are up on the blog! If you're thinking of a big trip for 2026, let the itineraries inspire you. Fiji was at the end of our Pacific trip after visiting Samoa and Vanuatu, and we decided to extend our travels to include it. Instead of opting for the typical deserted beach island escape, we were craving some local adventure. So, we took buses and rented a car to explore Viti Levu, the main island, and had an amazing time. The...
7 months ago • 2 min read
Hey Reader, I've been holding off on sending my October newsletter because I really wanted to let you know of some new guides. However, I got derailed with a busy conference week for work (which was very exciting as it was here in Kigali and I got to show my colleagues around). Their favorite places to go were Boho Lounge for the African Gastronomy menu and Repub Lounge. I also took them to the Abraham Konga Collection for shopping. Expect a Pacific guide to come out in the next month. This...
8 months ago • 3 min read
Hey Reader, September is typically the time of changing seasons, whether it's from summer to fall in the US or from spring to summer in South Africa. But here in Rwanda, the temperature stays fairly consistent year-round. The main difference is between the rainy and dry seasons, though honestly, I’ve barely noticed it—aside from drier trees. There are two rainy seasons in Rwanda. And by "rainy season," I mean that the rain lasts an hour or two in the middle of the day. It's not a full-on...
9 months ago • 3 min read
Hey Reader, Hope your summer has been full of adventure and good food! I had a crazy time in July (which is why there was no newsletter) and am excited to be back in Kigali for a while (at least that's the plan)... Tanzania Wilhelm and I started July with a trip to Kilimanjaro (just to look at it, not to hike it). We were a little unlucky and didn't manage to see Kilimanjaro because of cloudy weather until we were flying back to Kigali in the plane! The view from the plane haaaaa We had a...
10 months ago • 3 min read
Hey Reader, I'm back with some advice for your June travels. Hopefully, your summer will be busy with new adventures and activities! I've really enjoyed living in Kigali and have spent a lot of time checking out cafes and restaurants... and shops! Although a lot can be same-same-but-different, it's been fun to have an excuse to window shop... Shopping in Kigali for Unique Gifts Read more... I've also been exploring cafes and testing out the internet while doing my real job. My favorites are...
12 months ago • 2 min read
Hey Reader, April was the first month that I stayed put in a single country since... October! It's been a wild ride moving to Kigali, but we are finally getting the hang of things here. We took two weekend trips in April when Wilhelm's mom came to visit. We had so much fun! First, we went to the lovely UMVA Muhazi Lodge just outside of Kigali. It was perfect for relaxing and has amazing views of Lake Muhazi. UMVA Muhazi Lodge Review Read more... We also visited the town of Musanze, which is...
about 1 year ago • 4 min read
Hey Reader, It’s been a minute since my last newsletter! While I’ve still been blogging, 2024 brought a big move back to Washington, DC—and life there got exciting being near our friends and family. But now… we’ve moved again! In March, we relocated to Kigali, Rwanda, and I’m so happy to get this newsletter going again from our new home. You might remember our 10-day trip to Rwanda back in 2022, when we explored Kigali, Volcanoes National Park, and Lake Kivu. I shared a few blogs about that...
about 1 year ago • 4 min read