Global YouTube star iShowSpeed is in Rwanda, and his visit is already delivering moments that have sent social media into a frenzy. The American streamer, whose real name is Darren Jason Watkins Jr., arrived in the country on Friday night, quietly slipping in without fanfare. But by Saturday morning, his movements had become the hottest topic online as fans tracked his journey from Kigali to Kinigi, Musanze District, the gateway to Volcanoes National Park. Into the forests of Virunga mountains Early Saturday, Speed and his team set off for a mountain gorilla trekking expedition, one of Rwanda’s most iconic tourism experiences. Shortly after, videos began circulating online. In one clip, Speed is seen hiking through dense forest, camera in hand, saying: “I am about to go hiking, facing the gorillas.” The moment captured both excitement and nerves, as he prepared to encounter the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. WATCH: “Look at a gorilla.” Streamer iShowSpeed captures a close encounter while trekking in #Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. pic.twitter.com/UoOjH8753B — The New Times (Rwanda) (@NewTimesRwanda) January 10, 2026 Another widely shared video shows Speed standing calmly while a baby mountain gorilla plays in the background, with its mother nearby. A voice in the background, believed to be from his guide or team, can be heard pointing out the gorillas. Speed remains in frame, visibly focused on the rare encounter. ALSO READ: Speed, gorillas and the Internet: Rwanda steps into IShowSpeed’s global spotlight While he did not speak much in the clip, the scene itself spoke volumes — a global internet star standing metres away from one of the world’s most protected species, inside Rwanda’s misty forests. View this post on Instagram A post shared by RwandaisOpen (@rwandaisopen_) Additional footage confirms that Speed trekked alongside his team, guided by park rangers, as they navigated the steep terrain of Volcanoes National Park. Sources familiar with his itinerary indicate that Speed and his crew stayed at One&Only Gorilla’s Nest in Kinigi, a luxury lodge nestled on the foothills of the Virunga volcanoes, popular with high-profile visitors seeking privacy during gorilla treks. A moment that travelled the world The videos quickly racked up views across platforms, exposing Rwanda’s flagship tourism experience to millions of young followers worldwide. For many, this marked the first time they had seen gorilla trekking not through documentaries or travel adverts, but through the lens of a familiar digital personality. In another video, Speed is seen immersing himself in local culture during his stay in Kinigi, where he was seen drumming at the Iby’iwacu Cultural Village, also known as the Gorilla Guardians Village. The site, located near Volcanoes National Park, offers visitors a hands-on experience of traditional Rwandan life through music, dance and storytelling. In the clip, Speed appears fully engaged as he joins local performers on the drums, drawing cheers from those around him. The moment added a cultural layer to his Rwanda visit, showing the streamer stepping beyond wildlife tourism to interact with community traditions. ALSO READ: Who is iShowSpeed, the internet sensation expected in Rwanda? In another photo shared online, Slipz Samuel, iShowSpeed’s dedicated cameraman, posted an image of the team fully geared up for the trek, confirming they were heading into the forest and promising to stream later. View this post on Instagram A post shared by RwandaisOpen (@rwandaisopen_) Slipz is Speed’s executive assistant, as well as one of his closest friends. He plays a crucial behind-the-scenes role in managing Speed’s fast-paced content, coordinating schedules and helping shape his public image. Often unseen but ever-present, Slipz has been instrumental in Speed’s global rise, documenting his journey across continents. Football next: Excitement in Amahoro builds up After the forest adventure, attention has now shifted to football. FERWAFA President Shema Ngoga Fabrice confirmed that Speed is expected to make an appearance at the FERWAFA Super Cup 2025 match between Indahangarwa WFC and Rayon Sports WFC. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Aime (@aime_rwanda_250) The match is scheduled to take place this Saturday at Amahoro Stadium at 3pm. Speaking ahead of the game, Shema Ngoga welcomed the streamer, thanking him for choosing Rwanda. “We thank him for thinking about Rwanda,” he said, expressing appreciation for Speed’s decision to include Rwanda in his tour. Ngoga revealed that Speed will interact with fans during the match but will not stay for the entire game, as he has other activities lined up. “He will come, greet fans, but he won’t stay long because he has other engagements,” Ngoga said. ALSO READ: Global streamer iShowSpeed to visit Rwanda on Africa-wide tour He added that Speed’s combined reach across platforms exceeds 100 million subscribers and billions of views, describing his visit as a major opportunity to showcase Rwanda to the world. “Even if he just comes briefly, that exposure is huge for us,” he said. Ngoga also encouraged football fans to turn up in large numbers to support their teams, noting that Speed’s presence should add excitement but not overshadow the match itself. Digital influence meets Rwanda Speed’s visit underscores a new era of influence, where creators shape global perception more than traditional media. With millions of young followers, every clip he shares becomes a window into Rwanda — its landscapes, sports culture and people. For many Rwandans, seeing Speed in Musanze forests and potentially at Amahoro Stadium feels personal. View this post on Instagram A post shared by RwandaisOpen (@rwandaisopen_) “He is someone we watch every day and I am one of his biggest fans,” said social media user, chef and fitness enthusiast, known as Chef Arsene, adding however that if would have been great if a meeting with his fans and content creators was arranged. What comes next? As of Saturday afternoon, fans continue to follow his movements closely. Some hope he will explore Kigali, meet local creators or sample Rwandan food. Others are simply waiting for the full gorilla trekking vlog to drop. What is already clear is that Rwanda has made a strong impression on one of the world’s most-watched streamers. Officials from Rwanda Development Board (RDB), confirmed that the global streamer has a number of activities lined up, but details of when and where remain concealed. When it comes to taking care of guests, Rwanda is the best, the hospitality is 100%. https://t.co/maRAKcEw36 pic.twitter.com/sFJObcpx0O — Rwanda Is Open (@RwandaisOpen) January 10, 2026 From the forests of Volcanoes National Park to the roar of Amahoro Stadium, Speed’s visit is shaping up to be one of the most talked-about celebrity moments in Rwanda this year. Prior to visiting Rwanda, Speed visited Angola, South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Zambia. He is also expected to visit Kenya. Video streams from the countries he has visit have already generated millions of views and as more millions continue to watch his livestreams, Rwanda is firmly in the global spotlight, one clip at a time. He however warned ahead of time that he wouldn’t be able to stream from the Volcanoes National Park given the dense vegetation, but he promised to release a video from his encounter with the Mountain Gorillas.
