Rwanda

Rwanda, in East-Central Africa, is surrounded by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Tanzania, and Burundi. Rwanda, which is fondly referred to as ‘the land of a thousand hills’, is a land of great diversity and beauty. It has six volcanoes, twenty-three lakes and numerous rivers, some forming the source of the great River Nile.

The landscapes in this green country are truly stunning. Rwanda’s physical beauty of the country is without equal on the African continent. Spectacular volcanoes and dense tropical forests dominate the north of the country, while gentle hills and valleys, calm lakes and turbulent rivers in both savannah and dense tropical vegetation dominate the rest of the country.

Rwanda boasts a wide variety of wildlife. The Parc National des Volcans, in northern Rwanda is home to the world’s largest number of endangered mountain gorillas. Numbering in the hundreds, the gorillas live in a protected area, free from poachers. The gorillas can be viewed in their natural mountain habitats at a fairly close range.

Best known for its wealth of primates, Rwanda also has one of Africa’s richest bird life. A staggering 670 different bird species have been recorded in Rwanda. For botanists, the gorgeous wildflowers of the forests and mountains are capped by more than 100 orchid species in Nyungwe alone.

The Akagera National Park in eastern Rwanda is teeming with wildlife both large and small. They range from Lions, Giraffe, Elephant and Hippopotamus to Hyena, Impala and Gazelle. There is a rich variety of bird life at Akagera as well.

Rwanda also has water bodies which are ideal for water sports and fishing, particularly Lake Kivu in the west of the country and Lake Muhazi in the east. Lake Kivu also offers beautiful beaches, jutting peninsulas and an archipelago of beautiful islands.

Rwanda, in a nutshell, is a nature lover’s paradise. It is also one of the friendliest of countries. A warm welcome is complemented by comfortable facilities, fine food and a rich cultural heritage.

GORILLA TOURISM

When visiting the ‘Land of a Thousand Hills’, one should not miss out on the magnificent opportunity to visit Rwanda's Parc National des Volcans (PNV) consisting of 125 Km2 of mountain forest and home to the six Virunga Volcanoes and the world famous mountain gorillas

Protected within the PNV, the lushly forested slopes of the mountains form an appropriately dramatic natural setting for what is arguably the most poignant and memorable wildlife experience in the world: gorilla tracking. The exhilarating climb to the gorilla’s natural habitat of shady bamboo forest offers fantastic views in all directions, before the trackers are immersed in the mysterious intimacy of the rainforest, alive with the calls of colorful birds and the chattering of rare golden monkey.

Nothing can prepare one for the impact of encountering a fully-grown silverback gorilla, up to three times the size of an average man, yet remarkably peaceable and tolerant of human visitors.

Gorilla visits can entail anything from a 1 to 4-hour trek through the forest, led by experienced trackers who have spent their entire lives living in or close to the forest. Your trek through the forest will be enchanting as you weave through overhanging vines, moss covered Hagenia trees and giant Lobelias that thrive in the tropical climate of the forest. You will spot golden monkeys swinging from the bamboo, or see wild buffalo, bush duiker and a wide variety of bird life.

The Virunga ecosystem is composed of 4 major vegetation zones: bamboo (base altitude), Hagenia and Hypericum forest (2600-3300m), Sub-alpine (3300-4000m), and Afro-alpine (4000m+).

Then of course, nothing could be more of a privilege than to spend an hour watching the gorillas as they go about their daily routine, feeding, playing and resting, as you question your primeval existence and relive the wonder that kept Dian Fossey living in the forest for almost 18 years. To minimize human disturbance to the gorilla groups, visitors must maintain a distance of 7m proximity to the gorillas, the duration of each visit is limited to one hour and maximum number of visitors is 8 people per group.

Guidelines for a gorilla visit:

1. Spitting in the park is strictly prohibited, especially when close to a gorilla group.
2. Once with the group should the occasion arise that you need to cough, please cover your mouth and turn away from the gorillas.
3. When with the gorillas, please keep your voice level low and only talk in whispers.
4. If you get stung by a nettle, please refrain from crying out loud and try not to make any rapid movements that may frighten the gorillas.
5. If a gorilla should charge or vocalize at you, then do not be alarmed, stand still and look away and certainly never run, the guides may ask you to move slowly away if necessary.
6. Never make any rapid movements and do not disturb the vegetation when with the group, there may be a gorilla hidden behind the leaves.
7. Please do not leave litter anywhere in the park.