There is a lot going for Rwanda – starting with their positive outlook, burgeoning middle class, great roads, pavements everywhere, tree lined avenues, cars off the road for two Saturdays a month in favour of physical activity and sports, to the verdant hills and valleys on which Kigali is built amphitheatrically almost in every direction. It has a population of 1.4 m.

They seem to be one step ahead at the moment of all countries in Africa, banning plastics, imposing speed limits, enforcing helmets and making sure they create eco parks to counter the effects of climate change. We had the chance to visit one this morning.

It is Nyandungu Eco Park and it has restored green and vegetation to a desolate area and created new wetlands which attracts many bird species. There was a sudden cloudburst and while sitting in a cafe drinking a spiced tea of ginger, mint and honey that knocked our socks off us we watched weaver birds, bablers, robin chats shrikes, sun birds and two types of honey eaters.

After the rain had stopped and we were walking through the eco park we saw many bigger birds, open billed stock, two Hamerkops, a palm nut vulture, flocks of sacred ibises, an eagle and crested cranes.

We then headed to Kimirondo market – colourful, bustling. Many stalls run by women who were friendly and eager to chat. The men not quite so resilient.

Lunch was at a local restaurant called Nutrition – a big plate of cassava, sweet potato, matoke, beans and sukuma wiki. It brought back memories of our Kenya days.

Kigali boasts a convention centre which looks like a beehive – The Beekeeper is super impressed.