Kigali Convention Centre

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  • Why Go on Gorilla Safari in Rwanda

    Gorilla trekking through Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and Virunga Mountains is one of the world’s most sought after wildlife experiences. It’s also one of the greatest, and responsible tours here have contributed to the growing numbers of mountain gorillas.

    Africa’s easiest and most accessible gorilla trekking is the main draw card of a Rwandan safari. After arriving at the capital city of Kigali, you are only a few hours’ drive away from the legendary Volcanoes National Park and its habituated but still wild gorilla families.

    It was on the bamboo-covered slopes of Rwanda’s Virunga Volcanoes that the late Dian Fossey studied the behavior of the endangered mountain gorilla for 20 years, followed by the filmmakers who shot Gorillas in the Mist. Now small groups of privileged visitors can experience one of the most memorable wildlife encounters on earth – gorilla trekking through the pristine Virungas rainforest. Her work really was the beginning of the habituation process of gorillas, a process that still happens today, during which gorillas adjust to small and very strictly controlled numbers of tourists coming in to observe them.

    Mountain gorillas only live in the dense vegetation of Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and along the dormant volcanic Virunga mountain range that stretches across Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest & Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

    Why Gorillas are among the best tours in Rwanda? 

    Easy Accessibility

    In terms of accessibility for gorilla trekking, Rwanda is easier than Uganda. Rwanda is a far smaller country than Uganda, which means it’s a short journey by road from the capital of Kigali to Volcanoes National Park and Rwanda has better roads.

    Many visitors still choose the park because of its location near the capital Kigali. Some visitors have found safari bookings in Rwanda more straight forward. Some also claim that the roads in Rwanda are better and that the gorillas are easier to find.

    The Volcanoes National Park is only two hours’ drive on tarmac road from Kigali and the international airport. For one visit to the gorillas, you will need a minimum of two nights’ stay, and three nights would be ideal.

    Safe & Security

    Rwanda is considered to be one of the safest countries in the world when it comes to tourism. The chances of being mugged or stolen in Rwanda may be lower than in your own country. Security is tight in Rwanda and police can be seen almost everywhere. Security in the national parks is equally tight and there are almost no cases of poaching in Rwanda today. Rebel elements from neighboring countries have no chance in the Volcanoes National Park given the heavy military and police presence.  How about you the tourists? All tourists are escorted with armed rangers while tracking the gorillas.

    Fossey Fund trackers and researchers protect and study roughly half of all the mountain gorillas in Rwanda, with the other half protected by the Rwandan national park authorities.

    Peaceful Creatures

    Mountain gorillas are very calm and peaceful creatures considering their size and strength. They are often referred to as “the gentle giants of the forest”. Gorillas are generally known to be gentle, peaceful and friend primates, and that the mere fact that they share 98% of their DNA with human beings only proves that they are more like us. Gorillas are social animals and only become aggressive towards humans when they feel threatened.

    Gorilla trekking is absolutely worth the money, effort & time spent. Travellers that have experienced gorilla trekking will definitely agree with me that the experience of coming face-to-face with these gentle giants is very worth every effort, money and time put to planning the gorilla trekking holiday.

    More Habituated Families

    There are currently ten main groups that can be tracked in Rwanda; the Susa, Sabyinyo, Amahoro, Umubano, Hirwa, Kwitonda, Karisimbi, Agashya, Bwenge and Ugende

    The groups vary in number from around 9 to 39 individuals and all currently have at least one silverback male. Of the seven groups, there are a couple that tend to be found on the saddle between Mount Sabyinyo and Mount Gahinga which is around a two hour walk from the park entrance.

    Whilst it is not possible to book a permit for a specific group, your chances of having a shorter walk are higher than in Uganda. Nothing is guaranteed though and you may find yourself tracking a group such as the Susa, first studied by Diane Fossey and often found on the slopes of Mount Visoke, a five hour hike away. 

    Availability of Permits

    Despite the higher cost of a gorilla tour in Rwanda, permits must be obtained to visit the gorillas and, as only eight are granted per gorilla group each day, they are extremely limited.

    We will secure permits for you as far in advance as possible and at least four months before you intend to travel. The permits currently cost around US$1500 per person, which entitles you to one hour with the mountain gorillas. This money goes toward conservation of the habitat, anti-poaching efforts and education of the local communities.

    Rwanda has more than twice the number of habituated mountain gorilla groups than Uganda and so permits are generally more easily available.

    Majority Gorillas live in Rwanda

    The Virunga Mountains spanning the borders of Uganda, DRC and Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park are home to over 600 mountain gorillas. Rwanda, known as the Land of a Thousand Hills, is one of the best places to see mountain gorillas.

    Tracking gorillas in Rwanda is safe and relatively accessible. At the latest count, there are approximately 1,000 mountain gorillas in the wild, with 604 in the Virunga Massif. The population is slowly increasing, thanks to concerted efforts between our governments, communities and NGOs.

    Proper Health of Gorillas

    Gorillas that come into contact with humans can be vulnerable to human diseases, which gorillas experience in more severe forms. Mountain gorillas can even die from the common cold. However, studies have found that mountain gorillas that are regularly habituated with researchers and tourists have survived better than unvisited gorillas; they benefit from the greater protection available in those areas and from regular monitoring. Increased survival is also largely due to better veterinary care of sick and injured gorillas.

    Tourists are allowed to be in the presence of the mountain gorillas for strictly one hour, which is intended to minimize chances of disease, spread from the human’s to mountain gorillas. There are high chances of disease spread from humans to the gorillas because about 98%of their DNA is similar to humans.

    In conclusion, Rwanda gorilla trekking is designed for visitors who are probably ready to come and visit in Rwanda and want to go for a tour of the Gorilla families in the Volcanoes National Park. All these are the reasons as to why Gorilla safari is still one of the best tours in Rwanda.

  • Cultural and Heritage Tourism Vie for Top Slot in Rwanda

    To India it is a visit to the Taj Mahal, to Egypt it is a visit to the ancient and towering pyramids. This is a developing and crucial segment of the tourism industry and it is non other than cultural and heritage tourism.

    Perhaps to explain it better, one would define this concept as tours done to experience the places, artifacts and activities that authentically represent the stories and people of the past and present of the given area. It includes cultural, historic and natural resources.

    A little search on the internet will reveal that tourism is one of the world’s leading industries, and the concept of cultural and heritage tourism is its fastest-growing segment.

    According to www.virginia.gov today’s national and international travelers look for fulfilling travel destinations that provide authentic historical, cultural, and natural experiences of an area or region.

    To be able to provide exciting and competitive packages, travel-related organizations can maximize their strengths by forming public and private partnerships within communities and regions. Such partnerships leverage resources to develop and promote programs that meet travelers’ needs for enriching, integrated experiences

    Rwanda, famous for its mountain gorillas in the tourism industry, is leaving nothing to chance. Thanks to the varying tour and travels agency in the country. A random survey of different itineraries in Rwanda will show that despite all tours packages provided are geared to ending with a visit to the Virunga National park, home to almost 300 of the worlds 1060 mountain gorilla, those packages are not entirely all about visiting these gorillas only.

    If one took a closer look at these itineraries, randomly, you will discover that principle among the tour destinations here in Rwanda, is the king’s palace in Nyabisindu town.

    Formerly known as Nyanza town, Nyabisindu holds a lot of cultural significance to the Rwandan people since it is home to the traditional seat of Rwanda’s feudal monarchy. Housed in an enormous domed construction made entirely with traditional materials, the 19th century impressive Royal Palace is now maintained as a museum and is attracting hundreds of tourist coming to Rwanda and those from within.

    Provided by the various tour agencies is another of the numerous cultural attractions in Rwanda, The National Museum. Located in the southern region of the country, a two hours drive out of the capital Kigali, in Butare town, this museum provides an engrossing display of traditional artifacts set on a fascinating selection of state-of-the art monochrome photo graphs.

    Providing an insight into the pre-colonial life styles and the subsequent development of Rwanda as a modern state with its varied archeological and ethnological artifacts, the museum would easily rank the best in East Africa.

    Staying with museums, is the new entrant on tour and travel itineraries. The genocide memorial site in Kigali, which provides a grime check on the reality that is the history of Rwanda, Gisozi genocide memorial site, located in the capital Kigali, the site chronicles with vivid images and horrifying video clips, the history of the Rwanda genocide in macabre details.

    Leaving the sites, perhaps the finest exponent of Rwanda’s claim to cultural tourism, would be the varied and dynamic traditional musical and dance styles, also a must see item on the various packages provided by the numerous tour and travel agencies.

    However when speaking of traditional dance and music, mention should be made of the Intore Dance Troupe. Founded several centuries ago, the Intore – literally means ‘The Chosen Ones’ – once performed exclusively for the Royal Court, but today their exciting act can be arranged at short notice through the National Museum in Butare and sites else where around the country.

    Hot on the heels of the afore mentioned attractions are the all too famous traditional handicrafts. Locally produced, these artifacts range from ceramics curios to wooden carvings and colorful tradition baskets like the famous Agaseke basket. All these are not to be missed.

    Working at full capacity, these sectors of the Rwanda tourism industry, are soon to be giving the gorilla trekking sector a run for their money. They are looking to tap on the throngs of tourists who come from the world over to visit and trek gorilla families in the Virunga National park and this is a strategy that is geared to diversify the tourism industry in Rwanda and in the end Rwandans reaping big.

    Finally one would say that the above is probable because studies have consistently shown that cultural heritage travelers stay longer and spend more money than other kinds of travelers. Good cultural heritage tourism improves the quality of life for residents as well as serving visitors. As of now, Banda a small village in Nyungwe forest has started reaping big owing to the frequent visits by the tourists. On their way to visit the captivating Flora and Fauna of Nyungwe Forest, the residents of this village have been able to tap directly from the tourists owing to their crafts that they sale to them.

  • Rwandan Travel and Touring Agencies in Itinerary Galore

    The world over, travel and touring companies are a by-word for reception, guide and information, in the touring industry, needless to say Rwandan touring and travel agencies are not an exception in this mad dash to welcome tourists and arrange the sight seeing desires of the varying tourist.

    While neighboring countries have taken to advertising on international televisions, the tourism sector here has taken to investing the meager resources available in the hospitality industry and in the event wooing the throngs of tourists heading to this country.

    Rwanda, being the bridge between the eco-systems of the Congo basin and the Great Rift Valley, is home to 324 of the world’s 700 mountain gorillas, those gentle giants with whom we share 97% our DNA, then home to Nyungwe Forest, the largest and most ancient Afro-montane forest remaining in East and Central Africa dating back to the last ice age coupled with the fact that it harbors the world’s largest ever recorded arboreal troop of black and white colobus monkeys, is drawing lots of tourist and in the end augmenting the service sector and those involved in the destination business.

    Owing to all the above attractions and much more, the growing service sector in the country especially the touring and travel agencies, are going on to improve their services, tailor making their itineraries along the lines of the above tourist attractions and much more.

    A random sampling of packages offered by the numerous tourist agencies revealed varying and interesting itineraries.

    These range from eight day packages which include among so many stop overs, visiting the Akagera national game park, with full day game drives in the park, visits to the National Museum in Butare, with a stop over in Ibis hotel, then over to Nyungwe National park a trip which includes primates trekking and then a drive to lake Kivu.

    There after, the trip continues on to a two day gorilla trekking trip in the Parc National Des Volcans, which is also climaxed with a night in five star intercontinental hotel in Kigali.

    To a four day itinerary package which includes tours around the city, including the genocide memorial site in Gisozi, over nights in the five star intercontinental Kigali, then a two day gorilla trekking trip to the Parc National Des Volcans in Ruhengeri and then departure, all as offered by Primate Safaris Rwanda, a privately owned tour and travel agency in Kigali.

    Another randomly picked touring agency, Great lakes Tours and Travels, offers an itinerary that is designed along virtually the same attractions as the ones offered above however spiced up with visits to cultural ceremonies, visits to Goma where visits are paid to the lava flows of Nyiragongo volcanoes at a paltry entrance fee in Congo of $ 50.

    Visits to the National University in Butare, the National Museum and the kings Palace in Nyanza, complete the eight day package offered by this agency however there is also the added possibility of redesigning the itinerary to suit individual needs.

    The above itineraries have not only been upped, facilities and improved services have been put in place to enable the best service delivery. A case in point is Kiboko Safaris a member of IATA that not only offers its similar but varying packages, boast of well trained tour guides with four wheel safari vehicles and a speed boat. As a matter of fact, it has included a new service on their itinerary which they have called Kiboko marine safaris with a boat, on Lake Kivu with a carrying capacity of 8 people to allow its clients more exposure to the secret hideaway islands, ideal for a getaway or a cozy picnic and more so the boat is an alternative to the bumpy winding roads and provides a faster access to and from Cyangungu/ Kibuye/ Gisenyi.

    Encouragingly the Kiboko Safari agency is not alone in giving a tourist a highly enlightening and enjoyable eco-tourism experience. Primate Safari is also on this one, boasting 14 fulltime employees who include a sizeable number of professional driver-guides, experienced gorilla trackers and all backed by a sizeable fleet of specially converted four wheel drive jeeps.

    A majority of the surveyed touring agencies also provided other miscellaneous services, for foreign tourists and local tourist, such as domestic and international air ticketing, assistance in immigration formalities such as visa application and hotel reservation, upon request.

    All the above highlighted services offered along with the varying itinerary packages and more, if continuously improved, the targeted goals of this nation, in building a robust economy whose weight would greatly hinge on its tourist industry, is very attainable.