Rooftop Rental for Outdoors in Rwanda
Although car rental is mobile, at the end of each day, you will still have to look for a place to spend a night. Whether you are an adventurer or nature lover, Rwanda Car Rental will offer the most comfortable and efficient economical way to discover yourself drive safari with Roof top tented cars.
A cheap car hire with Roof top tent will meet your budget somewhere halfway of your car rental or car hire.so if staying in any lodge/hotel or guest house for a long term car rental is not exactly your kind of thing, then a roof top tent car rental will probably be your best solution.
Camping safaris are often the best way to go when trying to experience the best of African wilderness safaris. Whenever you mention camping safaris; there are a number of things to put into consideration ranging from tents, mattresses, sleeping bags, camping light, and a lot of things that come along with the camping gear.
Roof top tent advantages
Cleanliness
For those that have camped in a ground tent, you know just how quickly the tent will get dirty. It gets covered in dirt the second you lay it down and once you walk inside the tent a couple of times you track in the dirt too. An even worse scenario is when it rains and the ground becomes muddy.
With a Roof Top Tents you don’t have to worry about these issues since it doesn’t sit on the ground. When you enter the tent, you can place your shoes inside a waterproof shoe bag that sits just outside the entrance of your Roof top tent. Taking your shoes on and off before getting in the tent is so much easier than doing it using a ground tent.
Camping on the beach is fun in theory, but the amount of sand that gets into your tent and gear is the worst part. Sand always seems to find a way to get into the tent but it will be far less when using a Roof top tent.
Also, you won’t need to rinse off or clean the roof top tent after a muddy camping trip like you would for a ground tent. It is still a good idea to clean your Roof top tent periodically and you can learn how to properly do this here from my Step By Step Cleaning Guide.
Comfort
The comfort in a Roof top tent is second to none. The biggest difference-maker for me is simply having a flat surface to sleep on. When in a ground tent, even with a nice mattress pad, the bumpy and uneven surface makes it very uncomfortable.
This is especially true if you go on an extended camping trip for a few days at a time. To have the most comfortable sleeping arrangement, owners will even add another mattress topper. For more details on other ways to make a roof top tent more Comfortable, click the link provided for some helpful tips and examples.
While on the topic of comfort, let’s talk about bedding. Being able to skip the process of blowing up an air mattress and making the bed is a huge time saver.
Most Roof top tents allow you to keep your bedding stored inside the tent when closed. This means pillows, sheets, and blankets can all be kept ready to use inside the tent without having to take them out after every use.
Besides the fact that this will save you huge amounts of time, I just like knowing the fact that I won’t forget anything as I rush out of the house for my next camping trip.
Effortless setup
This may be a debatable topic for some but I feel that Roof top tents are easier to setup. For one, I stay much cleaner since the tent never touches the ground. But also, I don’t have to use those stupid poles, tie-downs, or stakes to secure the tent. Setting up a ground tent can vary a lot, but counting the time to do that as well as make the bed probably takes 15-20 minutes all together.
Some RTTs are faster to deploy than others. For example, foldout soft shell Roof top tents require you to take off the PVC cover and undo multiple straps before use. Depending on the model, the set up should take roughly five minutes. I would argue closing the tent takes a few more minutes to tuck all of the fabric in as you close it too.
However, many hard shell Roof top tents only require a couple of clamps to be undone and then the gas struts will pop open the tent for you. This process takes only 60 seconds to do with little to no effort required.
I understand there are some pop-up ground tents that can be put up in minutes, but excluding the outliers, Roof top tents in my opinion do have the advantage here.
Packing less gear
As you head out for a camping trip and pack your vehicle with all of the necessities, you quickly realize how little space you have left for everything you need.
This is an area where the Roof top tents shine since it sits on top of your vehicle. You also don’t need to worry about the space the air mattress would normally take up as well. And as I mentioned when talking about comfort, most if not all of the bedding can be stored inside the Roof top tents when it’s closed too.
I can see this being very valuable for a large family where space is very limited in the car. It’s also nice for forgetful people, like me, who always seems to forget an item or two for my trip! Having the tent ready to go at all times gives you peace of mind and one less thing to worry about.
Luxury
There is definitely a level of luxury that comes with Roof top tents. Making it a happy medium or step above a ground tent, but less luxurious than a teardrop trailer. Roof top tents are pricey, but not when comparing it to any trailer.
I could go on forever about the possible upgrades you can make to Roof top tents. There is nothing like it in the ground tent category, which is why I consider Roof top tents far more luxurious for campers.
All-season use
The best way to extend your camping season to later in the year or year-round is by having a well-equipped tent and the proper equipment. There are plenty of all-season Roof top tents which are fitted with extremely thick fabric, anti-condensation mats, insulated floors, and even more add-ons.
A natural advantage they have is being elevated in the air which will allow you to stay dry but also not sleep on the freezing cold ground.
Fun factor
This is somewhat of an intangible but in my eyes, it is an advantage. Owning a Roof top tent is just fun. really do love being 8 feet off the ground and having the best possible view as I relax in my tent.
Friends and family will immediately tell you how cool it is once they actually understand how it works. At first, people didn’t even know how it worked. After posting plenty of pictures on camping trips, people love it and have flooded me with questions.
It has been an awesome piece of equipment to own and I have found myself camping more frequently since I bought it. With all of the great advantages that come with a Roof top tent, it’s still not all sunshine and rainbows. Here are some clear disadvantages that come with owning one.
Lastly, we traveled around a large part of Rwanda with a rental car and rooftop tent. Tourists really love this way of traveling and camping.
Read MoreBest 5 Things to Do in Rwanda
There are several unique tourism activities to do in Rwanda; this country is long past its war torn days and now it’s one of safest countries visited in Africa. You will feel the real true African country with lots of unique attractions which have attracted many safari tours to Rwanda. This country is extremely small and there is one unique thing about this small country, this is gorilla trekking which is done in volcanoes National park and it has raised increased revenues for the country.
Kigali City Tour
There is the Kigali city which is in the heart of Rwanda, this gorgeous city with great weather can get you taste the history here through visiting the genocide memorials and here you will learn about the turbulent past of this country. You will also have a chance to visit the different local markets which are found in the city as well as the art facts and the craft shops which are found within the city. These have also attracted many safaris to Rwanda.
Gorilla Trekking
Thinking about Rwanda makes you come close to the mountain gorillas and these can be spotted in volcanoes National park which is found some few kilometers from Kigali city. You will enjoy a very unique experience taking Rwanda Gorilla adventure, take this advantage and experience the largest group of gorillas when you come for a safari . Gorilla trekking can also be carried out in Uganda and the Democratic Republic Congo.
Game Drives
Rwanda has also got three national parks and these include; Akagera National park, Nyungwe National park and Volcanoes National park, there are many animal species which can be spotted in these national parks and some of these include; the chimpanzees, bird species, elephants, lions, leopards, and the monkeys.
Holiday at Lake Kivu
Lake Kivu also makes a border between Rwanda and Congo and it’s a great region where the tourists are safe to visit and swim, you will also visit the safari cities like Kibuye and Gisenyi near DR Congo border.
The other attractions which are found in Rwanda include; city tours, cultures, bird species and many wild animal species. The Butare is a cultural hub for the country and was once the most important city before 1965. You will also visit the great national museum which will help you explore the great history of Rwanda.
Read MoreHow Can Rwanda Afford to Sponsor Arsenal?
In 2018, Visit Rwanda, which is an extension of the Rwandan Tourist Board, signed a $39million USD deal with Arsenal Football Club to become a shirt sleeve sponsor for 3 years.
The partnership caused significant controversy. Critics argued that it was immoral for Rwanda to spend money on sponsoring football teams, while it takes foreign aid to help fund its schools, hospitals and infrastructure. So why did the government choose to spend its money in this way?
While it is a somewhat novel way of spending, the partnership constitutes a significant investment in Rwandan tourism. Increasing awareness and visibility through marketing a is one of the most important ways to develop the tourism industry. The sponsorship, therefore, is part of a wider effort to boost the value of the tourism industry in Rwanda.
By all accounts, it seems that the investment has worked. According to Rwandan Development Board CEO Clare Akamanzi, revenue increased by 17% overall after just one year of sponsoring Arsenal. There has been a 22% rise in European visitors, and the United Kingdom has gone from the fifth biggest market to the second biggest market for tourism to Rwanda.
Responding to critics, Akamanzi said: “Anyone who criticises our deal with Arsenal on account of Rwanda being poor or an aid recipient, either wishes for Rwanda to be perpetually so, or doesn’t understand that in any business marketing costs are a key component of a company’s expenditures”.
It is clear therefore, that while there are critics, the strategy is targeted at increasing prosperity in Rwanda. Visit Rwanda has also secured a deal with Paris Saint Germain more recently as a tourism partner, in a 3-year deal valued around $9 million USD.
Read MoreRwanda to be First African Host of Cycling Road World Champs
Cycling’s 2025 road world championships were awarded to Rwanda on Friday in a first hosting by an African country.
The capital city Kigali “will provide a magnificent backdrop” for the weeklong championships which were first held in 1921, International Cycling Union president David Lappartient said.
It’s the latest international sports project for Rwanda and long-time leader Paul Kagame which have faced criticism for repressive policies and human rights abuses.
Kagame hosted FIFA president Gianni Infantino this year to open a regional development office for soccer’s world body in Kigali.
Rwanda recently renewed a $13 million annual shirt sleeve sponsorship of English Premier League club Arsenal through 2025, and Kagame criticized the team on Twitter after losing the season-opening game.
The Rwandan president was in Belgium on Thursday to meet Lappartient ahead of the hosting decision being made on the sidelines of the road worlds.
The 2025 worlds in Kigali are also scheduled to be the venue for the UCI’s four-yearly elections.
Lappartient was re-elected unopposed Friday for a second term.
Read MoreIs Rwandan Coffee Sustainable?
Rwanda is famous for its coffee, which is largely produced by small-scale sustainable coffee farming.Rwandan coffee has developed a reputation for its high quality, attracting coffee roasters around the world.
While the first coffee plants reached Rwanda relatively late in the 20th century, it was only in the last two decades that Rwanda experienced a “coffee renaissance”. Today, Rwanda is one of the top thirty largest coffee-growing countries. Sustainability lies at the heart of the Rwandan coffee industry, and local non-profit organisations like Sustainable Growers Rwanda provide training to female coffee farmers and their families, helping them improve the sustainability and economic viability of their plantations.
Coffee beans grow at between 5000 and 6000 feet above sea level, making Rwandan brew famous for its rich, deep finish.
Read MoreWhat is the Kigali Financial Centre?
Kigali International Financial Centre, abbreviated as the KIFC, is an initiative which has the objective of making Rwanda a preferred financial jurisdiction for investments into Africa. It also hopes to provide a fresh element to the domestic industry within the African nation.
Whilst the name may lead you to think it is a physical place, this is, in fact, not the case. The Technical Advisor of Rwanda Finance Limited has explained that the KIFC is, in fact, a concentration of financial services, striving to be a catalyst for the country’s development.
The mission has been defined as “connect the Rwanda financial ecosystem to domestic and international business” and “be a catalyst of a safe, compliant and pro-business financial environment in Rwanda”.
It will provide a number of benefits, including an economic trickle-down in the creation of alternatives for mobilizing capital rather than focusing purely on traditional avenues.
Like in other countries that have developed IFCs such as Singapore, it will also lead to an increase in the quality of jobs and specialized skills development, as well as additional tax revenues for the government.
During the virtual signing of the partnership, Rwanda Finance’s CEO, Nick Barigye, said: “This partnership is a major milestone for our nascent International Financial Centre. It will ensure that we have an optimal legal, regulatory and institutional framework that is in line with international norms and standards.”
Read MoreHow much Economic Inequality is there in Rwanda?
Rwanda has higher levels of inequality than many of its neighbours, but these disparities are decreasing.
The Rwandan Gini coefficient – the most prominent indicator of economic inequality – is 43.70 (as of 2016). This is significantly below the global average, which is somewhere between 60 and 65. However, Rwanda’s inequality rate is high for the region, and is more economically unequal than its regional partners Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Burundi.
There is a consensus that the rate of inequality is gradually being reduced. While some uncertainties remain, given the lack of extensive economic data, there is a broad consensus that Rwandan inequality rates are falling. Indeed, its current Gini coefficient is a significant reduction from its peak of 52 in 2005.
World-leading developmental economist Paul Collier has said that such a reduction is ‘deeply impressive’, given that it has taken place alongside rapid GDP growth and poverty decreases.
Read MoreWhat are the most Important Sectors of Rwandan Economy?
Rwanda has a diverse and thriving domestic economy which is open to the world.
The primary sector is still the most crucial part of the Rwandan economy. According to KPMG, over three quarters of the population relies on agriculture as their main source of income. While Rwandan coffee is famed around the world, farmers also produce tea, bananas, beans, sorghum and potatoes, among other crops. Natural resources including gold, tin and tantalum have also seen significant investment in recent years.
Outside of the primary sector, the Rwandan economy has undergone a strong period of diversification in the secondary and tertiary sectors. In particular, energy, construction, hospitality and financial services have been growth leaders.
Rwanda’s main imports are electrical equipment, machinery, vehicles and cereals. The country’s most prolific exports are tea and coffee, fuels, minerals and gold.
Read MoreDid Rwanda really Ban Plastics
While plastics are not banned per se, the country introduced a ban on plastic bags.
Since 2008, it is illegal to import, produce, use or sell plastic bags in Rwanda, and penalties are imposed for those who violate the law. Plastic smugglers can receive up to six months in jail.
The law has been adopted to decrease litter and landfilling and to protect the environment, helping Rwanda to become the cleanest country in Africa.
While the law and its strict enforcement has not been welcomed by all business owners, the government did introduce tax incentives and recycling contracts to help businesses manage the transition.
Read MoreHow Rwanda has Addressed Gender-based Discrimination in Cycling?
The Rwandan government has developed policies against discrimination in sports.
Cycling is a hugely popular sport in Rwanda and is playing an important role in reuniting the country. President Kagame has even considered making cycling a national sport.
However, in December 2019, the former coach of Rwanda’s national cycling team, Jonathan Boyer, accused the Rwanda Cycling Federation president, Aimable Bayingana, of corruption and ignoring sexual misconduct against female riders.
Three days after the open letter was published, Bayingana stood down as president, along with the executive members of the Rwandan Cycling Federation.
Following the scandal, the Rwandan Investigation Bureau put the case “under investigation”. The government also took action. Shema Maboko, Permanent Secretary at the sports ministry, commented that: “We are aware that sexual assault and corruption happens, and it is our prerogative to fight it. We are strong on it. We have been using the national policies against sexual exploitation.”
The Rwandan Sports Ministry has promised to impose a new policy against sexual abuse, which will govern all sports activities in the country as part of Rwanda’s broader policy on correcting gender-based corruption.
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