Ironman 70.3: First-time visitors impressed by Rwanda’s safety and cleanliness.

First-time Rwanda visitors who participated in this year’s Ironman 70.3 were hugely impressed by the country’s safety and cleanliness.

The tournament, which concluded in Rubavu town on Sunday, attracted athletes from 27 countries who competed in a challenging race at the picturesque beach of Lake Kivu.

The race attracted 200 athletes who participated in a 1.9-kilometer swim in Lake Kivu, a 90-kilometer bike race, and a multi-lap 21.1-kilometer run.

Johan Erasmus, 57, was competing with his wife, Dominique Erasmus, 45, and their daughter Janique Erasmus

The family from Pretoria, South Africa, was in Rwanda in 2023 for the gorilla naming ceremony held in Kinigi Sector, Musanze town, and expressed their admiration for the country’s beauty and tranquility.

The family keeps visiting the country and hopes to woo more friends to come.

“I have to keep coming back because Rwanda is a beautiful country. I mean, you have what we don’t have in South Africa. It’s safe, beautiful, relaxed, and lovely,” Dominique said, smiling.

“Everyone must come to Rwanda once in a lifetime. They should not die without coming to Rwanda.”

In 2023, the family tracked gorillas in Rwanda and indulged in other tourist attractions, such as the chimpanzees.

“All African countries should adopt the installation of trash bins and the ban on plastic bags like you got it here. It will be fantastic if the whole continent draws that lesson from Rwanda,” Janique added.

Joyce Sang from Kenya and Thina Mananyetso from South Africa also shared their positive experiences of Rwanda, highlighting the cleanliness of the area in and around Lake Kivu and the friendliness of the people they encountered.

“I enjoyed the water; it’s beautiful and it’s clean,” said Mananyetso.

“Both cities [Kigali and Rubavu] are so clean, and people are very friendly. They are beautiful! Iroman was an opportunity to visit Rwanda, and here we are.”

Athletes from Japan, Kenya, and Uzbekistan who spoke to The New Times echoed similar sentiments, expressing their intention to extend their stay in Kigali to further explore the country’s attractions before they fly back home.

“It’s a beautiful place to visit,” said Aleksandr Lazarev, who used to read more about Rwanda on Wikipedia. “It is very clean here; for me, it’s abnormal. So, I will share this lesson with my friends.”

“I recommend everyone come here not for Iron Man but for the beauty of the country of a thousand hills. I will come a thousand times,” said Colombian athlete Mauricio Zambrano.

“The patriotism you guys have and the respect for everything; all places are clean, so clean. The only country compared to Rwanda is Japan. Kudos to all of you, and keep it up.”

According to Governor Lambert Dushimimana of Western Province, the IRONMAN 70.3 Rwanda event showcased the natural beauty of Rubavu District and Rwanda’s ability to organize world-class events.

He said: “We are thrilled to see the growth of the IRONMAN 70.3 Rwanda and the enthusiastic participation from both Rwandan and international athletes.

“This event not only highlights the natural beauty of Rubavu District but also showcases Rwanda’s capacity to host world-class sporting events.”