June 2008

Sole Luna Restaurant

For a city of only 1,000,000 people, Kigali has an impressive array of restaurants, accommodating to almost all tastes and budgets. Recently I and a group of friends met at one of these fine eating establishments, a Ristorante Italiano called Sole Luna, located on the main road between the Chez Lando intersection in Remera and the Parliament buildings (on your left if coming from Remera).

We arrived as an unreserved group of 11 and were quickly and graciously accommodated. The open-air, bistro-like atmosphere at the restaurant is very pleasing; with the centerpiece being the beautiful view of the rolling, lightly covered hills of Kigali. Sole Luna truly is a small piece of Italy in Rwanda, with the menu covering an extensive and affordable selection of pizzas, pastas, calzones and even boasts a selection of wine.

Although choosing a dish wasn’t an easy task we eventually placed our order and enjoyed drinks, the view, and the company while waiting for our meal. Despite the fact that the restaurant was very busy, with a group of nearly 20 there to celebrate a birthday, our food arrived in a reasonable amount of time, all at once, and piping hot. My group sampled many different meals, and all expressed their satisfaction with their choice.

I personally had one of Sole Luna’s pizzas, which to my delight was served on a thin crust with ample helping of brie cheese! Truly, a rare delight in Kigali. Although all the meals were enjoyed the conclusion of the group was that Sole Luna’s specialty is pizza, and with over 55 kinds to choose from even the most discriminatory eater should be able to make a selection. Be warned though, these pizzas are over 12 inches in size, so if you’re not ravenous you might be advised to share. On the other hand, it is possible to take the leftovers home and enjoy it the next day.

Of course, every rose has its torn and at Sole Luna, it would be its bathrooms, although clean the lack of toilet seat (in the girls, I can’t speak for the boys) leaves an unfortunate impression of an otherwise delightful restaurant. Despite the minor downside, I would still give Sole Luna two enthusiastic thumbs-up, and with its multi-level design, it is accommodating for both larger groups and a small intimate supper.

The Kinigi Guesthouse and Responsible Tourism

The four gorilla permits were booked, the bus tickets for Ruhengeri were purchased and all of our bags were packed. Two Canadians and two Rwandans were prepared and (very much) excited for our Rwandan gorilla trekking experience. All we needed was somewhere to rest our heads at night and fill our stomachs for the adventure to come.

We booked the Kinigi Guesthouse and it was an excellent choice.

The Kinigi Guesthouse is located within one minute from the ORTPN head office, about fifteen minutes away from Ruhengeri. This proximity makes the early departures from the office much easier. The premises are spacious and beautifully maintained with rows of colorful flowers and attractive buildings. The Virungas mountains rise sharply in the distance and provide a rather breathtaking morning view. We were treated to a beautiful sunrise over the Rwandan countryside on our first morning, which made waking up early much easier.

The guesthouse opened its doors to the public in July 2000 and has been operating ever since. However, this establishment is not an ordinary tourist lodge. Kinigi Guesthouse was founded as an income-generating project for the “Association de Solidarité des Femmes Rwandaises” (ASOFERWA a.s.b.l.), a non-profit association for the protection of vulnerable groups (mainly widows and orphans). The income earned through the guesthouse is used to pay school fees for local orphan children, purchase land for agricultural projects, support groups of widows, and provide local artists with the space to sell their creations. Local community members are employed within the guesthouse, while food and decorations are purchased locally. The whole concept behind the Kinigi Guesthouse is an investment in the local community.

There are numerous accommodation options at the Kinigi Guesthouse. One large building holds single rooms ($40.00 US), double rooms ($50.00 US), and the VIP room ($60.00 US). The rooms are spacious and equipped with hot showers, private bathrooms, and mosquito nets for the guests. The guesthouse offers guests four shared dormitories (each with four beds) at $10.00 US. Guests have access to shared bathrooms and hot showers in the building next door. Travelers looking for an outdoor experience may pitch their own tents for $6.00 US.

My friend and I chose to share a double room, while our Rwandan friends chose to stay in one of the dormitories. We all slept very well and would have been reluctant to leave our warm beds were it not for the gorilla adventure awaiting us.

Housed in the main building are the reception, lounge, and restaurant. A seminar room is also located on the premises for hosting events. In the evenings, we were invited to warm ourselves by a large fire in the lounge while we relaxed and chatted with other guests. Having worked up quite the appetite, we were treated to plentiful and delicious meals at the restaurant. The menu offers something for everyone, at reasonable prices. I treated myself one evening to a large steak topped with mushroom sauce, served with rice and an avocado salad.

The meal was exactly what I needed to recharge after an exhilarating day on the mountain. My friends decided on brochettes that night and were not disappointed. In the morning, breakfast includes omelets (plain, tomato, cheese, onion, or Spanish), toast with mixed jam, fresh fruit, and your choice of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. The meal was delicious and provided us all with the energy we needed to conquer the mountain trek ahead.

The staff members at the Kinigi Guesthouse are perhaps its strongest selling point. From our arrival to our departure (two days later), we enjoyed friendly and responsive service. Arriving late at night after our long bus ride, it was a pleasure to be welcomed to the guesthouse. The receptionist not only responded to our questions about the guesthouse but was equally helpful as we arranged some final details for the gorilla trek. She arranged our transportation with a local driver which could have been very difficult otherwise. The restaurant staff were equally friendly, which made our meals even more enjoyable. Upon return from the gorilla trek, the staff eagerly inquired about our experience and shared our excitement.

While our stay was very enjoyable, the guesthouse requires minor renovations. There is water damage on several walls due to the combination of humidity and colder northern weather. However, this very month the guesthouse rooms will be renovated to repair the damage and prevent future problems. Future guests will be unlikely to experience any of these problems.

One must also remember that the guesthouse’s reason for existence (after guests, of course) is the community projects. These projects not only provide valuable assistance to vulnerable persons but also help share the income generated from international tourism. The gorillas have begun to draw large numbers of tourists to the country, and the Kinigi Guesthouse exists to ensure that this income is distributed to those most who need it the most.

Staying at the Kinigi Guesthouse is also an investment into the future of ASOFERWA projects. Talking with the guesthouse manager (Ms. Mukangenzi Beatrice), we learned that the future plans include an expansion of accommodation options, traditional dance shows, and local community tours for guests. These programs will not only increase the guesthouse’s revenue and provide income for numerous persons (construction workers, dancers, and tour guides) but will also increase ASOFERWA’s ability to implement beneficial projects.

The Kinigi Guesthouse has agreements with several tour operators, both nationally and around the Great Lakes Region. These will gladly book accommodation at the guesthouse. Any interested guests may also contact them at the address provided below.

Kigali International Community School Begins

With Kigali’s rapid development an increasing number of the international community and returning Diaspora have found Kigali to be a pleasant home in East-Central Africa. As their numbers increased some discovered the need to initiate an English-speaking international school. In October 2005, a few expatriate families in Kigali, Rwanda, joined together to discuss the possibility of creating an international school. From this discussion, the dream of Kigali International Community School (KICS) began.

The dream was to offer excellent education using an American curriculum and certified American teachers with a Christian philosophy. It was hoped that not only would the school be able to serve families already living in Kigali, but it would also help attract new expatriate families to provide aid, development, and investment to Rwanda. The founders of the school desired for KICS to be an inclusive school for people from many backgrounds and belief systems.

Kigali International Community School opened its doors on September 14, 2006, in a small home in the neighborhood of Kacyiru. It began with 25 students in 5 classrooms. Growth was the only option that KICS had.

During the April 2007 school holidays, KICS moved into its new location in the Caisse Sociale 2020 Vision Gaculiro Estate. The new location provided room for rapid growth with 25 classrooms, 10 offices, and access to Christ’s Church in Rwanda Hall across the street. The school sits in the middle of a 300 home estate created to model the hopes for Rwanda’s 2020 Vision. KICS began operating from its new location on 7 May 2007. At this point, the student enrollment almost doubled to 45 students.

KICS operates on a September to July school calendar similar to the American educational system. When the new school year began in September 2007 enrollment increased to 75 students from 20 nationalities. Approximately one-third of the student enrollment is in Rwanda.
The current mix of students provides a wonderful melting pot of languages, cultures, and backgrounds. The families at KICS represent those from Christian missions, Non-government organizations, embassies, and the business community. Many families have found KICS to be a safe place to land in Rwanda with a supportive community willing to thoroughly engage in Rwanda’s development.

KICS now is lead by Head Master Brian Dolinger. KICS has 6 full-time American teachers with the rest of the staff needs being filled by part-time expatriates and full-time teachers from Rwanda and Kenya. The school offers a lab with 20 computers and a large library. Elective courses are offered in art, music, and physical education. Extra-curricula activities include student government, drama, and football (soccer.)

In order to meet the needs of the international community in Kigali KICS enrolls students from Pre-School to Secondary. The school day begins at 8:00 and ends at 3:00.

KICS recently received registration from Rwanda’s Ministry of Education. Currently, it is pursuing accreditation from the Association of Christian Schools International and also Middle States Accrediting Agency in the United States.

For those desiring to view KICS the reception is open each day from 8:00 to 12:00 for tours. In order to find KICS drive on the Nyarutarama Road to the Gaculiro Estate. Turn onto Palmer Nord Road and KICS will be found in the middle of the Estate.

For further information contact the KICS Headmaster, Brian Dolinger at the following contacts:

Kigali International Community School
B.P. 6612
Kigali, Rwanda
Phone: + 250—03-053-057
E-mail: dolingerbc@yahoo.com
www.kicsrwanda.org