And then, suddenly, it was time.
After all the planning, lists, packing, goodbyes and those quiet moments of wondering, “Are we really doing this?” — we were finally on our way to Rwanda.
Our journey began with Ethiopian Airlines.
I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of legroom. I’m always a little apprehensive about long-haul flights, specially since I had never flown Ethiopian Airlines before, but the first flight was actually quite comfortable. It was long, though — very long.
Because we were flying during the day, I found it surprisingly difficult to sleep. By the time we arrived in Addis Ababa, we were exhausted.
And then came our first little adventure.
Welcome to Addis Ababa!
I honestly did not expect the airport in Addis Ababa to be that big or that busy.
We had a connecting flight to catch, and let’s just say there was no leisurely strolling between gates. We were literally running through the airport, trying to make our connection.
Nothing like a little airport cardio to wake you up after a long-haul flight!
Thankfully, we made it.
The flight from Addis Ababa to Kigali was about two and a half hours. This aircraft was considerably smaller than the first one and, after the spaciousness of our previous flight, felt quite cramped.
There was no entertainment system on board, and the flight was delayed. But, despite all of that, it was an uneventful flight — which, after the mad dash through Addis Ababa, was exactly what we needed.
And then…
Kigali.
We had arrived.
Our First Moments in Rwanda
Kigali International Airport felt tiny compared with Addis Ababa. As we walked out, we immediately spotted our hotel driver holding a sign with my name on it. There was something strangely reassuring about seeing my name after travelling so far. It was one of those moments when it finally sank in: We are actually here.
Except there was a small problem.
Our driver had arrived in a small car. Now, between the two of us, we had four suitcases and two pieces of hand baggage. We may have been enthusiastic about simplifying our lives for the next 15 months, but apparently we hadn’t simplified quite enough for that particular car! So, we hired a taxi to transport our luggage while we followed along.
Our First Home in Kigali
The drive to Madras Hotel and Apartments in Gisozi took about 20 minutes.
And as we drove, I found myself looking out the window, taking everything in.
The roads.
The people.
The buildings.
The greenery.
The hills.
Everything felt new.
We had arrived in a country that, until very recently, had existed mostly in my imagination — and now I was sitting in a car driving through it.
We stayed at Madras Hotel and Apartments for four days while we got ourselves settled.
It turned out to be a lovely place to begin our Rwandan adventure. Our apartment was clean and comfortable, and the restaurant served wonderful food. The service was also excellent — which was particularly welcome after the long journey.
My First Impression of Kigali
My very first impression?
Kigali reminds me of Goa.
I know that might sound strange to some people, but there was something about the landscape, the tropical feel, the greenery, the pace and the overall atmosphere that immediately felt familiar to me.
There was a feeling of “I’ve been somewhere like this before.”
Of course, Kigali is very much its own place, with its own culture, history, people and rhythm. But that first feeling of familiarity was comforting. And I have a feeling that this comparison is going to need its own post.
More on Kigali, and why it reminds me of Goa, in a later post.
For now, though, we had arrived.
The journey was over.
The adventure had officially begun.
And we have absolutely no idea just how much these next 15 months are going to change us.
