APART FROM SAVANNAHS AND SAFARIS, LET’S TAKE A HIKE DOWN MEMORY LANE!

When you think of going on an African safari what immediately comes to your mind is about sight seeing, adventure safaris and observing the wildlife. But that is not all what Africa has to offer for their visitors. In fact Africa is rich of history as well as the wildlife. It would be a refreshing experience to explore this diverse continent from a retrospective point of view

Rest assured, you won’t feel disappointed if you take a trip to Africa’s past! Elaborated herewith is a short guide to three major monumental locales that have drastically impacted not only the local population of this continent, but even the rest of us worldwide; read on to know more!

1) The Genocide Memorial Centre – Gisozi district, Kigali, Rwanda.

Administered by a UK-based genocide prevention organization in collaboration with Kigali’s City Municipal Council, this flagship burial ground pays homage to the ¼ million or so Tutsi corpses that were brutally massacred during the summer of 1994.

Along with being a cemetery to these assassinated victims, Britain’s Aegis Trust has also architecturally laid out a museum within these premises to showcase oncoming visitors about how times really were back then with the aid of multimedia presentations and the like.

What’s more, a ground displaying hundreds of skulls of those killed by the majority Hutu tribe is also open to the public, free of charge.

2) The tomb of Prince Louis Rwagasore – Mount Vugizo, Bujumbura, Burundi.

Constructed during the latter months of 1961 after the tragic assassination of this true patriot of Burundi, this memorial tomb is famous for its flagship arches – and 3 monumental ones, at that.

From left to right, each of the three arches represents the signature colours of this evergreen nation’s flagship (red, white and green) while portraying the words ubumwe, ibikorwa, and amajambere which translate to ‘unity, work and progress’ from the country’s native language Kirundi and into English. 

Along with the grave of Prince Rwagasore, both his daughters are buried in close proximity too.

Unlike most other African countries, this exotic East African destination possesses spectacularly green grasslands and meadows within its capital city of Bujumbura. Therefore, visiting this particular country for its scenic greenery and memorial locales is a no-brainer, undoubtedly!

3) The great pyramid of Giza – Al Ahram, Al Haram, Giza, Egypt.

A tour of Africa is never complete without getting a few glimpses of Egypt’s ancient pyramidal structures, but of course! This particular sepulchral premise was allegedly the home of the Pharaoh Cheops’s mummy, where his soul would then be able to sustain and waft away during its afterlife.

What with taking up to 20 years for construction, this pharaoh wanted his tomb to be the most majestic the world had ever seen right from the tender age of 20! Rising high at an approximate level of a staggering 139 metres, this pyramid required about 2 and ½ million blocks of limestone from the quarries that were situated alongside the banks of the River Nile.

Just like most pyramids, legend has it that even this particular one was looted, regardless of stringent security by means of sturdy blocks of granite.

An absolute delight to the eye; thumbs up!