Are you dreaming of locking eyes with a mountain gorilla in the mist, or watching the sun rise over rolling green hills known as the “Land of a Thousand Hills”?
Before you pack your bags and head to Rwanda and Uganda, let’s get you inspired and prepped with some powerful reads. We’ve put together a book list rooted in East Africa’s stories—focusing on resilience, conservation, identity, and the voices of women.
These picks are especially meaningful for solo female travelers. They’ll help you feel more connected, more aware, and more grounded as you step into two of Africa’s most moving and unforgettable destinations.
Why Start with a Book?
Traveling solo isn’t just about where you go—it’s about how deeply you experience it.
Rwanda and Uganda carry layered histories, incredible biodiversity, and strong community cultures shaped by both hardship and healing. Reading before you go gives context to what you’ll see: the gorilla trekking, the villages, the landscapes, the conversations.
Think of this as your quiet preparation. The stories behind the scenery. The voices that stay with you long after the trip ends.
top BOOKS TO READ for Solo Female Travelers in Rwanda + Uganda
We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will be Killed With Our Families
by Philip Gourevitch
Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust
by Immaculee Ilibagiza
Kintu
by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi
A deeply reported and widely acclaimed account of the Rwandan genocide and its aftermath. It’s not an easy read, but it’s an important one—offering essential context for understanding modern Rwanda, its resilience, and its transformation.
A powerful memoir from a Rwandan woman who survived the genocide by hiding for 91 days. This is one of the most personal and widely read accounts—rooted in faith, forgiveness, and emotional endurance.
A rich, multi-generational novel that weaves together Ugandan history, culture, and spirituality. It’s one of the most celebrated contemporary Ugandan books and offers a deeper understanding of the country beyond the surface.
TOP Movies to watch for solo female travelers in Rwanda + Uganda
Hotel Rwanda (2004)
Queen of Katwe (2016)
Gorillas in the Mist (1988)
This one will hit differently knowing you’ll actually be staying at the real-life setting—the Hôtel des Mille Collines.
The film tells the story of a hotel manager who sheltered over a thousand people during the 1994 genocide. While it simplifies some realities, it gives powerful emotional context to what happened here.
Set in Kampala, this is one of the most grounding and uplifting films you can watch before Uganda. It follows a young girl from one of the city’s neighborhoods who discovers chess—and slowly builds a life beyond what she thought was possible. This story gives you a lens into local life beyond the safari narrative, and centers a strong, complex young woman at the heart of it.
Before you step into the forest for your gorilla trek, this gives you the emotional backstory of why that experience even exists. The film follows Dian Fossey and her work protecting mountain gorillas in Rwanda. It’s intense at times, but it brings you into the world of these animals—their behavior, their vulnerability, and the human effort it took (and still takes) to protect them.
TOP Music TO Listen for Solo Female Travelers in Rwanda + Uganda
The Ben
One of the most recognizable voices in Rwanda. His music is smooth, emotional, and constantly playing in the background of everyday life—cafés, restaurants, car rides. This is the sound of Kigali. Listen before you go, and you’ll start noticing it everywhere.
Spice Diana
One of Uganda’s biggest female artists, and very much part of the country’s modern sound. Her music is upbeat, catchy, and everywhere, from taxis to cafés to nights out in Kampala. She blends Afro-pop with local Ugandan influences, often switching between English and Luganda, which is exactly what you’ll hear on the ground.
Diamond Platnumz
Even though he’s Tanzanian, his music dominates across East Africa—including Rwanda and Uganda. His bongo flava hits are upbeat, catchy, and impossible to miss. This is the kind of music you’ll hear on drives, at bars, and anytime people are just enjoying life.
TOP Videos TO Watch for Solo Female Travelers in Rwanda + Uganda
Rwanda: The Royal Tour
This is one of the best visual introductions to Rwanda. It follows a journalist being guided through the country by President Paul Kagame—showing everything from Kigali to gorilla trekking to national parks.
It’s not just scenery—it shows how Rwanda has intentionally rebuilt and positioned itself as one of the safest, cleanest, and most forward-thinking countries in Africa
Uganda is not what you think!
A modern, on-the-ground look at daily life in Uganda—from city streets to local interactions. It challenges common assumptions and gives a more real, human perspective of the country.
How this Remote Ugandan Village Lives Completely Off-Grid
This one feels more intimate, following a rural community where life is built from the ground up: handmade bricks, outdoor classrooms, shared labor. It helps you understand the resourcefulness and community mindset that defines so much of Uganda — something you’ll feel in even small interactions.
All links in this article encourage purchases from small businesses, locally owned stores, or women owned companies wherever possible while prioritizing reliable recommendations for our travelers.
