For many Rwandans, meeting President Paul Kagame is a lifelong dream. Spending hours with him in conversation is an opportunity few ever experience. But for Daniel Nishimwe, a professional safari guide, that dream became reality when he accompanied the President on a six-hour game drive through Akagera National Park.
What began as another work assignment turned into one of the most memorable days of his life.
In August 2017, Nishimwe, then 30 years old, was informed that a special guest would be visiting Akagera National Park and that he had been selected to lead the safari. Only later did he learn that the guest was President Paul Kagame.
“At first, I didn’t think much about it,” Nishimwe recalls. “I told myself I would simply do my job as I always do. But as the day drew closer, I realized who I would be guiding, and I prepared more carefully than ever before.”
The much-anticipated day arrived on September 5, 2017.
While Nishimwe normally wakes up at around 6:00 a.m., he was up by 3:00 a.m. that morning. He headed to Gabiro, where all safari vehicles and the presidential security convoy underwent thorough inspections before entering the park.
“It’s essential to ensure every vehicle is in perfect condition before setting off,” he explains. “Once you’re inside the park, there’s no room for mistakes.”
By 5:00 a.m., all three safari vehicles and the security convoy had been cleared. The team then moved to the Mihana plains, where they would meet President Kagame.
At around 8:00 a.m., the President arrived and boarded a specially equipped Toyota Land Cruiser safari vehicle. Inside were only three people: President Kagame, renowned travel journalist Peter Greenberg of CBS News, and Daniel Nishimwe, serving as the safari guide.
In keeping with professional guiding standards, Nishimwe rode in the same vehicle as his guests.
What surprised him most was not the prestige of the moment, but the President’s warmth.
“President Kagame drove the vehicle himself,” Nishimwe says. “Peter Greenberg sat beside him, and I sat just behind them.”
“The conversation was incredibly relaxed. The President spoke to us like a colleague, not like a head of state. Before long, all my nervousness disappeared.”
Throughout the journey, President Kagame shared his own observations about the wildlife, while Nishimwe explained the animals’ behaviors, habitats, and the park’s conservation efforts. Whenever something particularly interesting appeared along the route, Nishimwe would ask to stop so he could provide more detailed explanations.
One story especially captured the President’s attention.
Nishimwe described the fierce territorial battles fought by Defassa waterbucks, where dominant males fight relentlessly for control of a herd. The contests can be so intense that the animals are willing to fight to the death.
The defeated males eventually regroup and form their own bachelor herd.
President Kagame listened carefully before smiling and giving them an unforgettable nickname.
“He called them ‘the army of the defeated’ or ‘the defeated team,'” Nishimwe remembers with a laugh.
After nearly six hours exploring Akagera’s breathtaking landscapes and abundant wildlife, the safari concluded at around 4:00 p.m. at Karenge Bush Camp.
Before leaving, President Kagame turned to Nishimwe with words he will never forget.
“You are doing a great job.”
The President praised his professionalism, posed for a photograph with him, and bid him farewell before continuing his journey.
For Nishimwe, that simple compliment remains one of the proudest moments of his career.
Daniel Nishimwe joined Akagera National Park in 2013 as one of its first freelance safari guides after graduating from the University of Rwanda with a degree in Mathematics, Biology, and Education. At the time of the presidential tour, he also led a cooperative of freelance tour guides that supports community development and cultural conservation with backing from Akagera National Park.
Although birdwatching is his greatest passion, Nishimwe says his love for all wildlife is what continues to inspire his work every day.
Beyond guiding President Kagame, another unforgettable assignment in his career was leading a safari for Israel’s Foreign Minister during an official visit to Rwanda.
The year 2017 marked a milestone for Akagera National Park. According to park management, the reserve welcomed 37,284 visitors, half of whom were Rwandans. The park generated more than US$1.6 million in tourism revenue—an increase of over 20 percent compared to the previous year.
That same year also saw the successful reintroduction of black rhinos, enabling Rwanda to join the exclusive group of countries home to Africa’s legendary Big Five wildlife species.
For Daniel Nishimwe, however, no statistic compares to the memory of six extraordinary hours spent guiding the President of Rwanda—a journey that reminded him that professionalism, passion, and preparation can open doors to truly once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
Source: Kigali Today
