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Essential Guidelines on Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda

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Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda

Of recent, we had a client who traveled with us for a gorilla safari in Rwanda, and all that she wanted after her tour is; to share the experience with others and also give some tips on what is required while trekking gorillas in Rwanda and below is her story.

First and foremost, gorilla trekking was the main activity on her trip and she would like to use this opportunity to recommend all people interested to try and have the same trip. She said Rwanda is an incredible country, safe and stable, clean with realistic governance and hospitable people.

Gorillas in Rwanda are found in Volcanoes national park which is situated in Musanze province at the foothills of the Virunga Volcanoes. Trekking gorillas was a well-arranged activity that began as they reported at the park headquarters to be briefed about the gorilla trekking including all the dos and don’ts while with the gorillas. Afterward, she was assigned a gorilla group to visit; however, she wasn’t sure if anyone can request a gorilla group of his or her own interest.

To our experience, it’s possible to request a visit to a particular gorilla group that you could prefer to track. This is always done earlier mainly through your safari guide as he will approach the park officials and addresses your issue which is fine if done in time. This is done to some clients who need a specific gorilla experience such as gorilla groups that involves much hiking while others want those which are easy to find. She added that it is unpredictable how long the trekking will take because it varies from 2-6 hours depending on the movement of gorillas in the forest.

On her first visit; she trekked the Amahoro Group made of 18 gorillas varying through all ages. It was a 30 minutes drive on a rough road from where she had spent a night to the park headquarters. On reaching, they spent 20 minutes being briefed and later had to put on the trekking gears such as the waterproof-type pants gumboots among others.

Afterward, they started off the trekking in a forested bamboo area, it was a sunny morning but they still continued to a reasonably open grounds area but with less light where they got the gorillas as they were running their daily activities. She was happy because she trekked in good weather with no rain. She went on and recommended all trekkers put on layers due to the fact that the weather is unpredictable however you can get quite hot after walking.

On her second visit; she trekked the Kwitonda Group consisting of 17 gorillas including 3 Silverbacks. It was a 20 minutes drive on an uneven road from her place of accommodation to the park headquarters. It took them 1-hour trekking in the forest, walking up and down the steep forest through a worn path. The path had little stinging nettles. On reaching the gorillas, they spend 1 hour with the gorillas as it is the maximum time allowed while taking some memorable photographs. She went on and advised on the best type of camera required in taking photos;

  • Fast lenses are needed in order to take clear pictures since the gorillas are always in areas without direct sunlight however sometimes gorillas can be found in places with direct sunlight. Most of her photos were taken around ISO800, f2.8-5, and shutter speed of 1/10-1/240
  • She had bought a monopod but she did not use it just because gorillas were all around and the guide was regularly making them move to make sure they maintain a 7m buffer distance between them and the gorillas. The monopod takes a little while to set up, the space can often be cramped as you will have 8 tourists and the guides all stuck in the jungle and the gorillas may be in a pose position that you may want for just a short period of time.
    In her group, there were two keen photographers who had full-sized tripods2 full-frame cameras, a 70-200mm lens plus a wider fast lens. However, both of them left it and shot handheld cameras or occasionally with a monopod when the gorillas started resting after eating.
  • She used a D90 (1.5x crop sensor) and 70-200mm VR lens which looked to be fine for over 85% of the shots she wanted. Their guide on the second trekking was more strict on the distance between them and the gorillas however it could reduce from 2-5meters since the gorillas were mobile. This made her 70-200 mm lens on a Nikon crop sensor somehow long but a bit ok for most of her photos.
  • A zoom lens is better since it becomes too difficult while taking steps forward or backward while in the jungle.
  • It became tricky for her to get a clear view of the gorillas due to the little light in the jungle as well as the dark colour of the gorillas, so she advised all trekkers to keep checking while shooting.
  • Her first sight of gorillas was really amazing. ”I couldn’t hesitate the urge to blaze away with the camera taking memorable photos (particularly knowing I only had 1 hour with them), however later on I found it was nice to sometimes just stop taking photos and enjoy the little time with these beautiful creatures, watching their behavior e.g. eating, playing and grooming each other.” She added.
  • It wasn’t all that way easy for her as she was aiming at one or two gorillas at a time so as to get the best shot. The hour didn’t last for so long and by all means, she took the most incredible photos to treasure and also show to her friends.

Hope the above tips and experience will help you while planning a tour. Don’t miss trekking the gorillas as it is the best experience of a lifetime!

The Best of Rwanda’s Tourism

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Birding in Gishwati

There are several unique tourism activities to do in Rwanda; this country is long past its war torn days and now it’s one of safest countries visited in Africa. You will feel the real true African country with lots of unique attractions which have attracted many safari tours to Rwanda. This country is extremely small and there is one unique thing about this small country, this is gorilla trekking which is done in Volcanoes National park and it has raised increased revenues for the country.

There is the Kigali city which is in the heart of Rwanda, this gorgeous city with great weather can get you taste the history here through visiting the genocide memorials and here you will learn about the turbulent past of this country. You will also have a chance to visit the different local markets which are found in the city as well as the art facts and the craft shops which are found within the city. These have also attracted many safaris to Rwanda.

Thinking about Rwanda makes you come close to the mountain gorillas and these can be spotted in volcanoes National park which is found some few kilometers from Kigali city. You will enjoy a very unique experience taking Rwanda Gorilla adventure, take this advantage and experience the largest group of gorillas  when you come for a  safari . Gorilla trekking can also be carried out in Uganda and the Democratic Republic Congo.

Rwanda has also got three national parks and these include; Akagera National park, Nyungwe National park and Volcanoes National park, there are many animal species which can be spotted in these national parks and some of these include; the chimpanzees, bird species, elephants, lions, leopards, and the monkeys. Lake Kivu also makes a border between Rwanda and Congo and it’s a great region where the tourists are safe to visit and swim, you will also visit the safari cities like Kibuye and Gisenyi near DR Congo border.

The other attractions which are found in Rwanda include; city tours, cultures, bird species and many wild animal species. The Butare is a cultural hub for the country and was once the most important city before 1965. You will also visit the great national museum which will help you explore the great history of Rwanda

Dates Set for Uganda’s Debut Gorilla Festival

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Uganda will hold its debut gorilla festival on October 6-8 at the foothill of the Virunga Mountain range in Kisoro district.

Organised by the Mgahinga Cultural and Crafts Centre, the three-day festival is expected to attract over 200 attendees from within the country and abroad, including conservationists, tourism industry players and domestic and international tourists.

According to Herbert Mugisha, Mgahinga Cultural and Crafts Centre’s top honcho, the festival’s main goal is to highlight the plight of the critically endangered mountain gorillas that reside in the Virunga Massif, a chain of eight volcanic mountains that straddle Rwanda, Uganda and the persistently volatile Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Even though the mountain gorillas are shared by the three countries, it’s only Rwanda that has been dedicating an entire annual festival to the iconic primates, yet more than 50 per cent of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas reside in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla national park.

Rwanda’s annual gorilla festival – dubbed Kwita Izina – is a baby gorilla naming ceremony that attracts more than 20,000 regional and international tourists, dignitaries, conservationists, locals and the international media.

During this year’s Kwita Izina, slated for September 7, 18 baby gorillas will be named at the foot of the Virunga Mountains near the entrance to the Volcanoes National Park where the majestic primates reside.

Mountain gorillas are the region’s star attraction as they draw thousands of tourists and millions of their cash every year.

Activities within the festival

Some of the activities within Uganda’s debut gorilla festival will include cycling, village walks, showcasing of local cuisines, cultural music performances, caldera hills expeditions, mountain hiking and caving, among others.

“The key activity during the festival will be cycling, which we are organising in partnership with Ultimate Cycling Uganda and the Uganda Cycling Federation,” Mugisha said.

Organisers of the festival are putting more emphasis on cycling because it’s “the most environmentally friendly means of transport and conserving the environment around us is our ultimate goal,” Mugisha told Thousand Hills Mag.

“We also want the locals to be part of the tourism value chain and there is no better way of connecting tourists with the local community than through cycling,” Mugisha added.

During the event, every rider will be obliged to plant a bamboo tree. Mugisha says that bamboo trees are the centerpiece of the Virunga Massif as both mountain gorillas and communities in the area depend heavily on these trees.

Gorillas depend on bamboo shoots for food while people depend on bamboo for construction of houses, making crafts and firewood, among many other things.

Also, planting of more bamboo trees will help curtail conflicts between the local community and park rangers, Mugisha argues, citing an example of a recent event in which a local was shot allegedly trying to harvest bamboo trees from the park.

During the festival, cyclists will be helped by children to plant the bamboo trees as a way of inculcating into the young generation a culture of planting trees.

Hiking Virunga volcanoes

Participants will also have the opportunity to hike any of the three Virunga volcanoes, Muhabura, Mgahinga and Sabinyo. Each of these mountains has a unique, awe-inspiring feature at the top: Mount Muhabura has a crater lake with crystal clear water, Mgahinga has a crater swamp, while it’s at the summit of Sabinyo where Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo meet. Here you will be in three countries at the same time!

Promoting Kisoro’s new tourism products

The other major objective of the gorilla festival is to showcase Kisoro district’s new tourism products that have recently been developed by Mugisha’s organisation and the Uganda Tourism Board.

Caving, caldera expeditions, ‘gorilla cycling’ and homestays are some of the latest tourism products in Kisoro, Mugisha says.

There are two caves that have been identified around Mount Mgahinga – caves estimated to be thousands of years old. Mgahinga Cultural and Crafts Centre has already trained guides and acquired the necessary equipment for caving expeditions.

Currently, there is only one cave in the area that is open to tourists – the Garama Cave that has been developed and packaged as the Batwa Trail.

Transport, fees and accommodation

The gorilla festival attendees will be required to pay an admission fee, starting from of Ugsh200,000 (about $55), which will cover transportation from Kampala, meals and all tour activities during the festival.

Participants will pay an extra fee for accommodation, with options ranging from tents for those interested in camping, as well as low-end and high-end lodges and hotels for those who can afford them.

Tips To Get Discounted Rental Cars in Rwanda

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The car hire service provision may not seem to be a popular means of transport in Rwanda but in recent days , it has been developing not only for frequent travelers or people who have their own vehicle in the garage in most areas in Rwanda and Kigali, but especially for people on holiday to the land of a thousands .

At the airports in Rwanda that include Kigali International airport, GYI airport and Kanembe Airport,  you will find a desk of multinational companies, national or international in the terminal building. But at popular tourist destinations like Nyungwe forest National Park, Lake Kivu, amazing Nyamata Church in Kigali , Ntarama church, Akagera national park. You will also find a choice of local car hire companies with a similar philosophy as the low-cost airlines offering cheap all inclusive car rental prices both in Kigali and in Nyagatale.

Aside from the type of car you would like to rent , An important consideration tom make is the optional insurance coverage, also called CDW (Collision Damage Waiver) that is mostly provided by the majority of car hire companies. This service, which is relatively inexpensive, will cover any damages to the vehicle hired.

Unlike the multinationals most local car hire companies in Rwanda offer a fully inclusive insurance without excess, which means that you do not have financial liability in case of an accident or damage to the rental vehicle. Generally, if insurance is not purchased, the customer may be held financially responsible for any damages that occur with the car during the rental period stated on the rental agreement.

If the insurance does include an excess consider that, while on the road, anything can happen. Insurance coverage is often the only link between a holiday with complete peace of mind or considerable additional expenses in case of damages to the car or an accident.

Normally there is a fee to be paid if a certain amount of kilometres has been exceeded Although rental agreements generally include unlimited mileage, there are still agencies offering rental cars with mileage limits.. But, as said before, in Spain unlimited mileage is usually included in the rental price.

Most of Car rental companies in Rwanda will usually deliver a vehicle that is filled with fuel, although this may vary depending on the location as local car hire stations do sometimes not have a facility close by to fill up the vehicles returned by previous customers. When vehicles are returned to the car hire agency, some expect that you take care of refilling the fuel tank yourself, whilst others may request you to return the car with an empty tank when you sign the rental agreement

Please note that if a client is not able to provide a valid credit card on the driver’s name at the pickup of the vehicle, some car rental companies will refuse to deliver the car to your preferred place in time or never .In order to rent a car in Rwanda especially in Kigali, most companies require the customer to provide a valid credit card in order to confirm the booking. In some cases, the credit card is not actually charged until the rental period expires on the date specified in the rental agreement.

GTVC Ministerial Council Spearheads Measures to Foster Conservation Best Practices

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The Extra-Ordinary Council of Ministers of the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC) convened yesterday in Kigali to discuss both the five-year transboundary strategic plan as well as the GVTC’s budgetary requirements. The GVTC is comprised of Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.

The Council of Ministers is an organ governing the Transboundary Collaboration and provided in the Treaty signed by the three countries, through which they commit themselves to the sustainable conservation of the Greater Virunga Landscape, including the Virunga Massif and Bwindi ecosystem, which are both home to the endangered mountain gorilla.

The Minister of Trade and Industry, Vincent Munyeshyaka, led the high-level Rwandan delegation that included Clare Akamanzi, the Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Development Board.

Speaking at the opening of the meeting, Minister Munyeshyaka said, “Our wish is to see this transboundary collaboration become an engine of regional integration.  Not only at socio-economic level but also cultural, through building a regional identity.”

This is the second Ministerial meeting that has been held since the GVTC treaty was ratified in 2015.

Hon Kiwanda Godfrey Sssubi, Minister of State for Tourism Wildlife and Antiquities, represented the Republic of Uganda and Mr José Ilanga, who represented H.E Hon Dr Amy Ambatobe Nyongolo, the Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, represented the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Greater Virunga Transboundary Treaty aims to enhance the protection of both flora and fauna in the region, increase peace and security and promote inclusive growth.

Experience Kigali Nightlife

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Kigali Nightlife

Nightlife is the collective term for any entertainment that is available and more popular from the late evening into the early hours of the morning. It includes the public houses, nightclubs, discotheque. There is nothing interesting on a Rwanda tour like enjoying a night in Kigali city in the very place where your trip starts. Kigali city is an exciting world to explore from the Business centre, clubs, bars, cinemas sited just in the heart of the city. Nightlife in Kigali is great around the business center and one can enjoy a wide range of nightclubs, cafes, cinemas and bars that keep the city burning up the entire night.

To get the real beauty of the city embarks on the Kigali city tour during both day and night and experience the unbelievable of Rwanda holidays. Get a chance to meet up with young and rich Rwanda locals, experts and business associates during your stay as you chill around with drinks and eats which are the order of the day. You can run out of choice due to variety on display but still your favorite can never be missed.

The dance floor are organized and equipped with mirrors and weekends are always fun because many show up in celebration of ending the hectic week. The music played is a mix of all cultures including African, western pop and in most cases the songs played can’t leave one seated however reserved you are. Don’t miss the chance to take your Rwanda holiday on to new heights of action, drama and fun all within the span of a few hours in the wonderful sleepy city of Kigali.

Being in a new place and environment, many travelers like to start nights with delicious and favorite meals out with cool drinks in places that have positive reputation. In Rwanda still tourists do same and some fancy spending a few hours in a nice place with friends as they knock off a few drinks. However, those who love dancing ,clubbing also start the night by chilling in calm places but later head out for more exciting night clubs and bars.

Apart from Kigali city tours, the capital has a lot to offer in terms of good food and fun atmosphere for the day, evenings and nightlife. It’s good to chill and relax in the home of unique cultures, creative professionals and many recreational grounds. Check out Heavens Restaurant & boutique hotel one of Kigali’s most appealing place for tourists and expats.

Quality food and wide selection of cocktail in quiet ambience can occupy your stay in the city any time of day for through the week. The right timing for this hotel is during lunch and diner hours between 12pm-10.30 pm on week days but Sundays and Saturdays they open quiet early and also close early. There promotions make you double your fun by paying for one drink and get the other for free. Wines here are of class and surely of great taste. Also other restaurants like Khana Khazana, Brachetto, Meze Fresh, Africa Bite, Zafran, caiman among others are worth checking out.

Another bar and restaurant places in Kigali include KGL fast food a close place to get fast” food in Kigali especially in the afternoon and evenings for burgers, Sundowner a restaurant and bar with everything one can ever ask for, one love club, Papyrus close to Sundowner one of the most popular nightlife busiest spot in the city. Its opening hours stretch into early morning and serve everyone who spends a night in their premise. For an evening meal and jazzy music, try City Beach another fantastic Kigali restaurant known for hosting live jazz bands every weekend and end of month. However if jazz isn’t on other live music are ever in place to keep you entertained and also keep the trend of the restaurant.

It’s one of the best places to visit or chill from for everyone who love cool music nad relaxing environment. If you’re looking for more than an evening of eating, drinking and socializing, K-Club is a home to fancy people and responsible young and old a place worth spending some good time while in Kigali. Dressing nice here is a hobby that whoever comes around looks just great. Historically Kigali is Rwanda’s business hub and holds the most Unique Rwanda treasures, hotels, hospitals, schools, Airport etc.

2014 Tour of Rwanda to Be Held in November

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Tour Du Rwanda

The Rwanda tour race has been modified in terms of a new and competitive course so that people from other areas can also have the opportunity to view the race and enjoy it. The new course will include Ngoma and Nyanza which will be the fourth stage covering a distance of 173 kilometers,” explained Ferwacy president Aimable Bayingana.

The competition, which will start with a 3,5km time-race around Amahoro stadium, will run through seven stages: Kigali-Kibungo, Rwamagana-Musanze, Musanze-Muhanga, Muhanga-Rubavu, Rubavu-Nyanza and it will conclude in Kigali.

The most difficult and longest stage will be the 5th from Rubavu-Nyanza, Bayingana said.

“The total budget of the country tour is estimated to be Frw 400m, slightly more than last year’s Frw 370m. 16 teams, including professional ones, have already confirmed their participation; there are teams attending from USA, France, and Kenya,” the chairman said.

Bayingana further said Rwanda will be represented by three teams. “We need them to have adequate time to prepare and where necessary, a competitive test tour will be staged by our teams to go through the course before the competitions,” he noted.

The director of sports in the ministry, Emmanuel Bugingo, said the Tour is one of the biggest sports events in Rwanda which has put the country on the international scene since it attracts participants from all over the world hence promoting Rwanda safaris in the country.

Valentine Rugwabiza, the CEO of the Rwanda Development Board, said the event is very important to the country because it is a platform to attract tourists. It helps to show Rwandan tourism sites and beauty.

Rwanda Named Among Top Tourist Destinations

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rwanda Thousand Hills

Rwanda has been ranked among the top 10 world adventurous places for 2013, according to Globe Spots, an international travel guide for tourists. Rwanda has once again been named a top tourism destination.

The travel guide on Monday released a list of 10 countries in the world that are of classic travel for great sights and convenient travel,  adventurous places for those who are going above and beyond, seeking out the best travel, and hardcore places for those who are willing to travel anywhere just for the buzz.

According to the web portal, Rwanda was ranked sixth globally. Portugal comes number one on the list, followed by Mozambique, Kyrgyzstan, Panama, Armenia, Cuba, Ukraine, Malawi, and Canada in that order.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Rica Rwigamba, head of tourism and conservation at Rwanda Development Board (RDB), said that the ranking provides confidence to tourists.

“In Rwanda, we have much more to offer to tourists beyond the mountain gorillas. And we are proud of that. We are committed to showcasing Rwanda’s beauty to the world,” she said.

According to the Globe Spots website, there is more to visit in Rwanda than gorilla tours and Genocide sites, such as stunning ubiquitous mountains, national parks, excellent lake beaches, great culture, and a dynamic capital city.

“The country has a lot to offer its visitors and is working really hard to convince them to forget about its dreadful past. And with its incredibly well-paved roads, clean and safe streets, and friendly helpful people, Rwanda makes a perfectly smooth introduction to Africa,” it says.

For the fifth year, the travel guide magazine has captured what’s happening on the travel scene. As usual, they focused on destinations they thought will be hot – or at least should be.

Since the beginning of 2012, the country hosted about 493,744 visitors, representing an increase of 22 percent compared to the same period in 2011.

It recorded a remarkable 16 percent increase in leisure visitors as well as an eight percent increase in business visitors.

Last year, the tourism industry generated $252 million in revenues. Some of the popular tourist attractions in Rwanda include mountain gorillas, canopy walks, national museums, Lake Kivu, bird watching, Congo Nile trail, Akagera National Park, and Nyungwe National park, culture, among others.

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