Known as the land of a thousand hills, Rwanda is undeniably stunning, with beautiful scenery, lush rainforests, volcanoes and abundant wildlife, to name just a few. The country attracts many people from all walks of life, including celebrities such as artists, actors, athletes, entrepreneurs and other big names from various fields, but sometimes their reserved presence is recognized too late.
According to a statement from the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) in October, the country has established itself as a premier ecotourism destination, targeting discerning travelers. “The country features a range of luxurious lodges and offers upscale experiences that are extremely attractive to tourists seeking exclusive and immersive encounters with nature and wildlife. Therefore, it is no surprise that celebrities continue to choose Rwanda as their preferred travel destination,” the statement read.
However, it appears that many of these celebrity visitors prefer to keep a low profile during their stay.
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In no particular order, we list some well-known people who “secretly” 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 spotted chatting with Rwandan superstar The Ben at the luxurious One and Only Hotel in Musanze.
His tour began on Sunday, October 15, but information about his stay in the country emerged on Wednesday, October 18.
The “Treat You Better” singer has won several prestigious awards, including the MTV Europe Music Awards, the SOCAN Awards, the iHeartRadio MMVAs, the Juno Awards and the American Music Awards. He was also nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards in 2019.
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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 and strong people.”
The 'Havana' hitmaker also tweeted: “Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that one day I would be walking through the rainforest and looking into the eyes of a silverback gorilla and bowing to it.”
The 26-year-old is a former member of the renowned girl band Fifth Harmony. She left the group in December 2016 after their megahit “Work from Home” featuring Ty Dolla $ign.
ALSO READ: Camila Cabello is 'happiest person in the world' after visiting gorillas in Rwanda
Lewis Hamilton
Sir Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton MBE, widely regarded as the greatest Formula One driver, visited Rwanda in August last year on a very private tour, visiting mountain gorillas in the Volcanoes National Park as part of his African tour.
Renowned Formula One driver Sir Lewis Hamilton was in the country in August last year on a very private tour where he visited mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. Free photo
During his visit during the F1 season break, the British racing driver revealed that Rwanda was his favorite destination during his recent four-country tour of Africa. “I feel like I can live there every day,” he said in an interview with Sky Sports.
The 38-year-old added: “Rwanda really is so beautiful. You have my heart forever. Thank you for having us. I can’t wait to get back.”
Jordin Sparks
American R&B/Pop artist, songwriter and actress Jordin Brianna Sparks has declared Rwanda as one of her favorite places on earth.
American singer Jordin Sparks visited the country with representatives of the Starkey Hearing Foundation. The visit included distribution of hearing aids and advice on how to care for the devices. Getty image
The “No Air” singer came to the country and took part in conservation efforts alongside Rwandan women. No one recognized her until RDB revealed her presence on his X account.
The 30-year-old, born in Arizona, USA, holds the record as the youngest winner of the famous singing competition American Idol, which she won at the age of 17.
Kevin Hart
Well-known American comedian and film actor Kevin Hart landed in the country in early July, where he was spotted for the first time with his wife Eniko Hart and children in Haute Baso on Tuesday, July 18, a day or two after his arrival.
In July this year, popular stand-up comedian and actor Kevin Hart and his family were spotted at Haute Baso in Kigali two days after his arrival in the country.
While in Rwanda, the Hart family also paid tribute to the victims of the 1994 Tutsi genocide at the Kigali Genocide Memorial and a month later he virtually attended the 19th gorilla naming ceremony, Kwita Izina, where he gave the baby gorilla the The name “Gorilla Baby” was given. Gakondo'.
Maria Sharapova
Maria Sharapova, a former tennis star, has an impressive list of achievements and has established herself as one of the most successful and well-known athletes in the world. Sharapova won five Grand Slam titles, including Wimbledon 2004, the 2006 US Open, the 2008 Australian Open and the 2012 and 2014 French Open. She also won a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics, among other titles.
The former athlete traveled to Rwanda in 2019 and despite her global reputation, she chose to explore the natural beauty of Rwanda, particularly the Kinigi area in Musanze District to see the magnificent mountain gorillas.
Sharapova shared her experience on
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