Rwanda, known as the land of a thousand hills, is undeniably stunning, with beautiful scenery, lush rainforests, volcanoes, and abundant wildlife, to mention a few. The country attracts many people from all walks of life, including celebrities like artistes, actors, sportsmen, entrepreneurs and other big names in various fields, however, sometimes, their low-key presence is known too late.
As per an October statement from the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), the country has established itself as a premier ecotourism destination, catering to high-end travellers. "The country boasts a range of luxurious lodges and offers upscale experiences, which are highly appealing to tourists seeking exclusive and immersive encounters with nature and wildlife. Consequently, it’s no surprise that prominent celebrities continue to choose Rwanda as their destination of choice,” the statement reads.
However, it looks like many of these celebrity visitors prefer to maintain a low profile during their stay.
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In no particular order, we list a few known people who ‘quietly’ visited the country at various times.
Shawn Mendes
Canadian singer-songwriter Shawn Peter Raul Mendes recently made a low-key visit to Rwanda, where he was seen chatting with Rwandan superstar The Ben at the luxurious One and Only Hotel in Musanze.
His tour started on Sunday, October 15, but information about him being in the country became known on Wednesday, October 18.
The ‘Treat You Better’ singer has won several prestigious awards, including the MTV Europe Music Awards, SOCAN Award, iHeartRadio MMVAs, Juno Awards, and American Music Awards. He was also nominated in the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards, 2019 for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.
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Camila Cabello
Cuban-American singer and songwriter Karla Camila Cabello Estrabao widely known as Camila Cabello visited Rwanda in December last year. She visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial and expressed that "Rwandans are such a compassionate, resilient, strong people.”
The ‘Havana’ hit-maker also tweeted, "I never imagined in my wildest dreams I could one day hike in the rainforest and be able to look in the eyes of a Silverback gorilla and bow in his presence.”
The 26-year-old is a former member of renowned girl band Fifth Harmony. She left the group in December 2016 after their mega-hit ‘Work from Home’ featuring Ty Dolla $ign.
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Lewis Hamilton
Sir Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton MBE, widely viewed as the greatest Formula One driver, visited Rwanda in August last year, on a very private tour which saw him trek mountain gorillas in the Volcanoes National Park, as part of his African tour.
Upon his visit, during the F1 season break, the British racing driver revealed that Rwanda was his favourite destination during his recent four-country African tour. "I feel like I can live there every day,” he said in an interview with Sky Sports.
The 38-year-old added: "Rwanda is truly so beautiful. You have my heart forever. Thank you for having us. I can’t wait to come back.”
Jordin Sparks
American R&B/pop artiste, songwriter, and actress Jordin Brianna Sparks has named Rwanda as one of her favourite places to visit on Earth.
The ‘No Air’ singer arrived in the country and took part in conservation efforts with Rwandan women. No one recognised her until RDB revealed her presence on its X account.
Born in Arizona, United States, the 30-year-old holds the record for the youngest winner of the famous singing contest American Idol, which she did at the age of 17.
Kevin Hart
The renowned American comedian and movie actor Kevin Hart landed in the country early in July where he was first spotted on Tuesday, July 18, at Haute Baso with his wife Eniko Hart and kids, a day or two after his arrival.
During their stay in Rwanda, the Hart family also paid tribute to victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi at the Kigali Genocide Memorial and a month later, he virtually participated in the 19th gorilla naming ceremony, Kwita Izina, where he named baby gorilla ‘Gakondo’.
Maria Sharapova
Maria Sharapova, a former tennis star, boasts an impressive list of accomplishments, establishing herself as one of the most successful and well-known athletes globally. Sharapova won five Grand Slam titles, including Wimbledon in 2004, the US Open in 2006, the Australian Open in 2008, and the French Open in 2012 and 2014. She also won a silver medal at the 2012 LondonOlympics, among other achievements.
The ex-athlete travelled to Rwanda in 2019 and, despite her worldwide renown, she opted to discover Rwanda's natural beauty, particularly the Kinigi area in the Musanze District, to see the magnificent mountain gorillas.
Sharapova shared her experience on X (formerly Twitter), describing her early morning trek through the rainforest despite the downpour to encounter the Silverback gorillas.