Blogs from Rwanda, Africa - page 11

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Africa » Rwanda » Ville de Kigali May 24th 2011

I guess I'm supposed to make this blog to be really deep, inspirational and meaningful. I'll try, but my main purpose is to keep in touch with friends and family, and share photos and experiences. Already, I'm amazed by this city and the people. The language barrier makes it so hard to communicate but they are such a beautiful, friendly people. Although English is now the official language, the main languages are Kinyarwanda and French, neither of which I know. I've had a few days in Rwanda and think I'm settling in well. I've been staying with my wonderful hostess/supervisor, Ginny Baresch. Tonight we got home early enough for me to take a short walk around the neighborhood and take some photos. I hope you enjoy some of the scenes from Ginny’s neighborhood. ... read more
Flora 2
Flora 3
Scenery 1


With only one month left in Rwanda, we finally went to see the gorillas. Our trip began with a three hour drive to Volcanoes National Park. Along the way, Alex had a speaking engagement on behalf of the US Embassy, recognizing a local NGO for their conservation efforts and education awareness programs in the area. Courtesy of Jenn’s mother, Dorothy, we stayed at a very nice lodge with individual cabins and excellent meals. The following morning, we got up super early to head to the park headquarters where we were assigned to trek the Hirwa group (meaning “lucky” in Kinyarwanda due to the birth of twins). Unfortunately for us, the group was very active in the morning, resulting in a three hour hike up, down, and around the mountain in very slippery and humid conditions. With ... read more
Gorilla2
Juvenile playing
Twins and mom

Africa » Rwanda » Ville de Kigali May 10th 2011

My eyes filled with tears fit for overflowing as I began to process the shocking information at the Kigali Memorial Centre. The genocide exhibition leaves one consumed with an overwhelming sense of anger, frustration and outrage, as visitors slowly come to grips with the tragedy of the Rwandan genocide. To be honest it's almost unbearable having to deal with such an unflinchingly honest and graphic portrayal of the lead up to; horrifying reality of; and devastating aftermath of the events in Rwanda in 1994. This tiny country shocked the world during an horrific three months of madness that cost up to a million lives. The journal continues in Rwanda, dear reader, where visitors to the Memorial Centre reflect on the pervasive inhumanity that resides within the darkest recesses of the human mind. Mankind must continue the ... read more
Kigali Memorial Centre
Kigali Memorial garden
Entrance to Kigali Memorial Centre

Africa » Rwanda » Province de L'Ouest May 5th 2011

Anyone fancy tracking animals through near impenetrable forest in teeming rain, while climbing steep slopes with slippery mud up to the ankles, and surrounded by nasty stinging nettles that will get ya for sure every time there's a fall? Well, if the final destination results in an intense face-to-face encounter with a silverback gorilla you can count me in! Tracking the rare eastern mountain gorillas is one of life’s great experiences, and I chose Rwanda as the base for this once in a lifetime adventure. There are only three countries in the world where it’s possible to track the gorillas, those being Rwanda, Uganda and Congo. The journal continues, dear reader, from where we left off rather dramatically with riots engulfing Kampala. Obviously I needed to get out of town at the earliest opportunity, and to ... read more
Silverback gorilla
Business partners
Mother and baby

Africa » Rwanda » Province de L'Est May 2nd 2011

An African peace now sits over the church at the edge of Nyamata, a town just south of Kigali. The creaking of the iron roof as it heats up in the sun, the birds singing in the trees, and the fluttering of flags in the wind - the only noises breaking the peaceful silence of the afternoon . But 17 years ago, this very spot was the location of a scene of utter horror. A scene that defies words, and left me in complete shock. Seaking an escape from the genocide that swept through the country, 10,000 people gathered here - 6,000 packed shoulder to shoulder inside the church, while 4,000 saught shelter in the shade of the walls outside. But there was no escape, as the army, the militias, and the Interahamwe, advanced on the ... read more
A fluttering flag - one of the few noises breaking the afternoon calm

Africa » Rwanda » Province de L'Ouest February 18th 2011

After spending a month in Kigali, we drove south to the rainforest with friends to a five star lodge. Six hours later, we arrived at the lodge set in the midst of a tea plantation bordering the rainforest. The main building incorporated the best of Rwandan art with modern design. Our room was part of a cabin with a balcony overlooking the forest and a giant bathtub. We spent the weekend dining on excellent food, hiking, playing cards, and getting massages at the spa. The hike included the new canopy walk, over 200 feet off the ground giving us an amazing view. ... read more
Canopy walk
Orchid
Rainforest waterfall


GREAT GORILLA NEWS is that the population of this critically endagered species living in Africa's Virunga Massif has grown by whopping 26.3% to approximately 480 individuals in the past seven years. According to a new census which was conducted in 2010, gorillas in the area are on the increase. The last mountain gorilla census of the Verunga region was done in 2003 whereby there was estimated to be around 380 individuals. It should be noted that the Virunga Massive encompases national parks in three neighboring countries: Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Within Uganda is the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, an estimated 302 - 340 individuals survive. This number is not included in this years increase but is a totally separate number. How is a census done? During ... read more

Africa » Rwanda » Ville de Kigali December 17th 2010

As we keep going the image of a peaceful farmland gets less blurry, less fuzzy as my ride strained up the hill. Could there be a worse feeling in travel? Sitting patiently behind some poor bloke busting his nuts cycling to get me to a site where a relative of his most likely was slaughtered to death… And all this for a dollar! Genocide will forever be part of tourism in Rwanda, heck that’s the only thing I knew about this country before I arrived. I came here for a 2-day dose of depression and instead I got the impression of a successful up lifting place. Possibly the most organised country in Africa, which is spoiled by the constant reminder that it once was not like that. Bicycle taxis are hard to take but I was ... read more
Garden in museum
Place de I'Unite Nationale
Hotel des Mille Collines


Even when 220kg of gorilla muscle is standing in front of you they look cuddly and shy. Being so close to them is surprisingly not intimidating at all. The only time intimidation can happen is that moment when the biggest silverback is coming right for you! My initial plan was to have a very private experience in Congo DR but with my failed effort to enter the country (explained earlier) I went to Rwanda’s Parc National Des Volcans. Booking a long time in advance was not needed and I booked in Kigali to go the following day. I went to Musanze the closest major town and stayed overnight. The cost to see the gorilla spectacle is $500, which is about the maximum it should be I feel. Rumours are that as of 2011 it is going ... read more
2- Gorillas Park
3- Silverback
4 - View at Gorilla HQ

Africa » Rwanda December 5th 2010

AFRIKA. Rwanda- Zaïre- Oeganda - Kenia Inleiding. Voordat wij op reis gaan vertel ik eerst een mooi verhaal-. De paspoorten moesten worden opgestuurd naar Brussel voor een visum van Rwanda. Niets aan de hand, paspoorten komen netjes retour met een stempel erin. Weer de paspoorten opgestuurd naar Brussel voor een visum van Oeganda (13 december 1991) . Volgens onze informatie duurt een visum aanvraag één dag en twee dagen heen en terug met de post. Eén week voor vertrek zíjn de passen nog niet terug. We krijgen het wat benauwd en ik bel de ambassade in Brussel op. "Ja, we hebben ze ontvangen en 20 december 1991 retour gezonden". 30 december 1991 hebben we ze nog niet terug. Ik heb de PTT, de douane en weer de PTT gebeld (Nederland geeft de Belgen de schuld en ... read more
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