As I visit different parts of Rwanda, I participate in different activities and acquire new skill sets. My participation in a wide range of economic activities has enabled me to learn in a hands-on way and experience the day-to-day lives of my hosts.

In addition, while on a tour, I take every opportunity to exercise and maintain high fitness levels. Life is good when you are in a good shape. Investment in health brings money-can’t-buy benefits.

While in Rubavu, I tried kickboxing for the first time ever. I didn’t have a sparring partner but there is a punching bag in the premises of La Bella Lodge where I stayed during my two-day sojourn. That means, I could kick and punch as hard as I wanted without hurting anyone.

The stuffed, cylindrical bag is suspended on a branch of a tree a few yards from the lake. As mentioned above, this was my first ever kickboxing experiment. There was no instructor but I didn’t have any problem whatsoever, thanks to my karate and boxing background.

Kickboxing is a combination of karate and boxing. it is a contact sport which doubles as a self-defence tool. As far as I am concerned, the sport is an effective mood booster. Obviously, it improves fitness.

After warming up and stretching, I activated my fight mode. I put on a battle face and attacked the bag vigorously. Kicking, punching and bouncing repeatedly is physically taxing. At the end of the 30-minute drill, I was drenched in sweat while panting like a dog. However, I felt like a million bucks. I am talking about the flow of macho hormones one experiences after a good workout.

The author is an adventurer on a mission to discover what Rwanda has to offer. Follow his awe-inspiring expeditions on Twitter @GeoExposure.