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| Rwanda Attractions |
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Rwanda is enjoying an increasing number of visitors, whose main interests are the mountain gorilla tracking in the Parc National des Volcans, the primates of Nyungwe Forest and game drives at Akagera National Park.
Other Attractions include:
PARC NATIONAL DES VOLCANS (PNV)
In the heart of Central Africa, so high up that you shiver more than you sweat," wrote the eminent primatologist Dian Fossey, "are great, old volcanoes towering up almost 15,000 feet, and nearly covered with rich, green rainforest - the Virungas". Situated in the far northwest of Rwanda , the Parc des Volcans protects the steep slopes of this magnificent mountain range - home of the rare mountain gorilla - and the rich mosaic of montane ecosystems, which embrace evergreen and bamboo forest, open grassland, swamp and heath. The park covers the Rwandan side of Virunga Conservation area.
Species
In the forested hills of the park can be found the rare golden monkey and a populations of buffaloes and elephants. The park is most known for hosting a population of mountains gorillas, Gorilla Gorilla Beringei specie. About 200 bird species have been recorded in the park, with 13 species endemic to the Albertine Rift, including the Rwenzori turaco.
Activities
Trekking can be arranged to hike two of the Virunga volcanoes, accessible from the Rwandan side, through the cultivated foothills: Karisimbi (4.507m) and Bisoke (3.711m). The climb to the peak of Karisimbi requires two days, with clients sleeping in a tent on the mountain. It does not require technical skills, but clients have to be fit and healthy as the walk is quite arduous and conditions can be wet, cold and muddy. Bisoke is a day's walk and although less steep than Karisimbi still requires walkers to be fit. The paths go through afromontane forest, bamboo, and woodland. Higher up there is Afro-alpine moorland, grassland and marsh, giant lobelia and senecio. Another important activity is t racking the habituated rare Golden Monkey of the Kabatwa group and Musongo Group. Visits to "Old Karisoke" Dian Fossey Research Centre are available. The walk takes about 6-8 hours in all and is a fascinating way to explore the park and get a glimpse of the remains of this historic place. Dian Fossey graveyard is located on Bisoke volcano, where she spent most of her time when researching on gorillas.
Four habituated families of mountains gorillas make the gorilla tracking the most exciting activity in the Parc des Volcans. |
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AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK (ANP)
Set at a relatively low altitude on the border with Tanzania, Akagera National Park is different than the cultivated hills that characterise much of Rwanda. Dominated scenically by the labyrinth of swamps and lakes that follow the meandering course of the Akagera River, the most remote source of the Nile, this is archetypal African savannah landscape of tangled acacia woodland interspersed with open grassland. Created in 1934 it covers an area of 2.500 kms.
Species.
Akagera offers big game viewing, with herds of elephants and buffaloes emerging from the woodland to drink at the lakes, then other mammals include leopards, spotted hyenas and lions. Giraffes and zebras haunt the savannah, and more than a dozen types of antelope inhabit the park, most commonly the chestnut-coated impala, but also the oribi and bushbuck, as well as the ungainly tsessebe and the world's largest antelope, the statuesque Cape eland. The lakes of Akagera are inhabited by hippos and crocodiles, a part from some of the continent's densest concentrations of waterbirds. The connecting marshes are the haunt of the endangered and exquisite papyrus gonolek, and the bizarre shoebill stork.
Activities.
The Park offers well developed trials for game drives. Also possible to arrange boat trips on the lakes along the Akagera river. |
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NYUNGWE NATIONAL PARK (NNP)
Extending for 970 kms across the majestic hills of southeast Rwanda , Nyungwe National Park is the largest block of montane forest in East or Central Africa , and one of the most ancient, dating back to before the last Ice Age. It is located in Southern Rwanda bordering Burundi.
Species
A uniquely rich centre of floral diversity, the forest has more than 200 different types of tree, and a myriad of flowering plants including the other-worldly giant lobelia and a host of colorful orchids. Nyungwe is most alluring for its primates: 13 species in all, including the chimpanzee, as well as 'Hoest's monkey and hundred-strong troops of the Angola colobus. The most important ornithological site in Rwanda , Nyungwe harbours about 275 bird species of which two dozen are restricted to a handful of montane forests on the Albertine Rift. The avian highlight of Nyungwe is the great blue turaco - an outlandish blue, red and green bird which streams from tree to tree. There are 270 species of tree and 70 species of mammals.
Activities
An extensive network of walking trails leads through the forest to various waterfalls and viewing points. The main attraction is the guided walk to view large groups of black and white Angolan Colobus monkeys or chimpanzees. The starting point is the information centre and Head Quarter at Uwinka. |
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Chimpanzee Trekking
Chimpanzees are found in the huge afro-montane forest of Nyungwe in Rwanda . This variety, Pan Troglodytes Schweinfurthi, the same than in Uganda, is long-haired and lives in those forests where there is a rich, all year round food supply.
Mountains Gorillas in the Parc National des Volcans
The Virunga Conservation Area, around the upper slopes of the dramatic Virunga volcanoes, comprises three contiguous national parks - Mgahinga National Park in Uganda , Parc National des Volcans (PNV) in Rwanda , and Parc des Virungas, commonly called Djomba, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. About 350 mountain gorillas make their home in these afro-montane forests. In Parc National des Volcans on the Rwandan side, where Dian Fossey worked, there are five habituated gorilla families.
Tracking the Golden Monkey
This monkey is one of the most endangered primates in Africa and it is now thought that the only viable population of these monkeys is in the Virunga Volcanoes. A smaller population may exist in the Nyungwe Forest in Southern Rwanda but this has yet to be verified. The golden monkey is a distinct species of guenon - Cercopithecus Kandti and is endemic to the Albertine Rift.
Two groups are being habituated for visitors in the Virungas. The Kabatwa group is found in the east of the park, on the flanks of the Sabinyo volcano and has about 40 in the group. The Musongo Group lives higher up on the flanks of the Karisimbi volcano at an altitude of about 2800-3000 metres and has about 100 individuals. |
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Volcanic lakes - Kivu, Bulera, Ruhondo
There are five volcanic lakes on the borders of Rwanda and Uganda with their own special attractions. Lake Kivu , on the Rwanda/Congo border, the largest, is like a giant inland sea with some interesting lakeside towns. Kibuye and Gisenyi are a relaxing retreat for swimming, canoeing and water-skiing. The twin lakes of Bulera and Ruhondo are attractive places to visit after gorilla tracking in PNV in Rwanda .
Akagera has beautiful undulating plains with dense, broad-leafed woodland, lighter acacia woodland and rolling grassland with an extensive series of lakes linked by papyrus swamps forming a sprawling wetland. The game in the park includes elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, lions and different antelope.
Butare
Butare is a pleasant university town which contains the exceptional National Museum which has a fine display of the history of the country and people. The Roman Catholic Cathedral, built in memory of Princess Astrid of Belgium , is the largest in the country. At Nyanza, nearby, there is the court of the former King.
Kigali
Kigali
has been the capital of Rwanda since 1965. An attractive city, it spreads over a number of hills. The main shopping and commercial area is around the Hotel Mille Collines, with the government district on the neighbouring Kaciyiru hill. The markets, the handicrafts, the Muslim quarter and a new genocide memorial being built in Gisozi are some of the main places of interest. |
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Nyungwe Forest
This massive montane forest, in southern Rwanda , the largest in Central Africa , has thirteen species of primate including chimpanzee, Rwenzori colobus and l'Hoest's monkey. The colobus live in large groups, including a four hundred-strong semi-habituated group thought to be the largest troop of arboreal primates in Africa . Around 300 bird species, 24 of which are regional endemics and over 100 varieties of orchids and butterflies are other attractions.
The remains of Dian Fossey's Karisoke Research Centre - "Old Karisoke"
Dian Fossey set up a research centre in the Virungas in the early sixties and began the well documented habituation of the gorillas there. She became well known internationally through the film "Gorillas in the Mist". Although Fossey was killed in 1985, the Centre continued to operate in the forest with other researchers until 1992. During the ensuing civil war in Rwanda it was destroyed and although rebuilt in 1993, it was destroyed again. Since then it has not been rebuilt. The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International now runs its research on the gorillas in the forest from the Karisoke Centre in Ruhengeri town.
Visits to old Karisoke are available as one of the activities in the Virungas. Old Karisoke is located in a beautiful meadow between the Karisimbi and Visoke volcanoes with the Mikeno volcano in the distance. Remains of the old buildings can be seen as well as graves of some of the research gorillas that have died over the last 30 years, including the famous Digit which was killed by poachers, as well as that of Fossey herself.
The walk takes about 6-8 hours in all and is a fascinating way to explore the park and get a glimpse of the remains of this historic place. Prior booking is required and should be done when booking a safari. |
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