22 Apr
22Apr

I had been to Realm Beach Resort several times before, but this was the first time I was scheduled to spend a whole weekend there. It was also the first time I used public means to get to the lakeside facility.

From Kigali, I boarded a Rwamagana-bound bus. I was dropped off in Nyagasambu. Then I had an exhilarating 6-km taxi-moto ride to the lake. My mode of transport, this time around, enabled me to get closer to members of the local community and experience their day-to-day lives.

The road to the lake, from Nyagasambu Market, is not tarmacked. However, it's not as bumpy as it used to be. From the look of things, it is just a matter of time before it is fully upgraded.    

Upon arrival, I checked in and activated relax mode. It was Friday afternoon, and the weekend had just begun. In the company of a fellow domestic tourist, I had lunch on a cabana floating on the gentle waves of Lake Muhazi. As I savored fresh tilapia from the same lake, I spared a minute to learn more about the intriguing water body.

The 6-km stretch, from Nyagasambu to Realm Beach Resort, is not as bumpy as it used to be.

Lake Muhazi is narrow and shallow. The flooded valley lake spans a distance of about 50 kilometers, while forming several offshoots along the way. From the sky, it looks like a tree lying horizontally on the surface of the lake.

The purpose of this trip was to find out what Realm Beach Resort has to offer. As a travel writer, it is my responsibility to share credible information based on personal experiences. Speaking of personal experiences, I indulged in exciting activities and recharged my body, mind, and soul.

Although I had escaped to the lake in pursuit of relaxation, my first activity at the resort entailed conducting a book club session. Under the Turning Pages initiative, I have organized 90 book club sessions in Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Togo, and Ghana. In partnership with different stakeholders in the tourism industry, I have given away 527 books, worth Rwf 4,376,000.         

Turning Pages is designed to cultivate the culture of reading while promoting tourism. All the books used in this project are sourced from the compilation of my travel chronicles over the years. Apart from promoting literacy and tourism, the initiative is providing impactful visibility for the benefit of local businesses.       

Although I had escaped to the lake in pursuit of relaxation, my first activity at the resort entailed conducting a book club session.

Our book club sessions bring together culturally diverse readers from all walks of life. Each session commences with a brief preview of the featured book, followed by an engaging roundtable discussion that brews broader viewpoints. At the end of the session, participants walk away with free books.  

After an engaging book club session, I jumped on a kayak and glided on the gentle waves of the crocodile-free lake. Yes, kayaking was my first activity during my unforgettable stay at Realm Beach Resort. One stroke at a time, I paddled in the vicinity for an hour. My kayaking experience was both thrilling and highly rewarding as a workout. 

Kayaking is healthy and environmentally friendly.   A kayak is a canoe-like light boat powered by a double-bladed paddle. Most kayaks have enclosed decks, with most kayaking enthusiasts preferring the inflatable ones.      

Kayaks were invented thousands of years ago by the Eskimos of the northern Arctic. Initially, they were used for transportation and shoreline hunting. Over the years, the engineless water crafts evolved in response to the leisure and fitness needs of modern societies.

Kayaking is healthy and environmentally friendly.

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