2018 was the first time I travelled solo. For peace of mind, I started with a country near home and one known for its friendliness, Rwanda. While the languages they spoke (French and Kinyarwanda) were foreign from what I spoke, I never had a hard time getting around or finding the kind of places I wanted. From a cozy restaurant where I could read and relax to a church that had organized a Christmas performance, and many in between.
The streets were all accurately represented on google maps and I was able to always take long walks from point A to B. Thanks to google maps and local guides: I knew how long it would take me; I knew safe shortcuts I would take; I knew the supermarkets, restaurants and places along the way that I needed in case of rest or anything else; I knew the activities that took place in a particular area or place. I would read up on reviews and immediately, I would picture the place. The pictures about the menu were very helpful in helping me to plan out my meals for the entire trip.
Long story short, I would never have enjoyed Kigali on my own without the help of Google maps and the feedback of passionate local guides such as myself. The recommendations on solo traveling were especially helpful, I was able to enjoy myself in all the places recommended to me, especially Acacia Book Cafe in Kigali which had all these amazing books to get lost in to while enjoying a peaceful and quiet ambiance. That experience has made me more intentional about finding the best spots for solo travelers, not just in my home country, but wherever I’ll be visiting.
