rwanda safari

Hidden Treasure in the Rwandan Culture.

Hidden Treasure in the Rwandan Culture.

Rwanda is a landlocked East African country which is inhabited by the Hutu, Batwa, and Tutsi. Their main language is Kinyarwanda and French. Previous Rwanda was known for the 1994 genocide but now it is globally known for the Volcanoes National Parks. The Volcanoes National Park is home for the endangered mountain gorillas and golden monkeys.

However, apart from that, it is one of the richest nations in terms of diversified cultural heritage. The heritage is visible in archaeological excavations, museums, memorials and historical sites.

Rwanda emerged global top ten countries as far as visitors safety is concerned as per World Economic Forum 2017 biennial report. Iby Iwacu cultural village is the best place to be for its unforgettable experience in the Rwandan culture.
This is a small village that speaks more about the lifestyle of the inhabitant of thousand hills. The village is located in Musanze district in Kinigi area, Nyabigoma cell around Parc National des Volcanoes. It is a village with the true demonstration of Rwanda’s rich culture. The Iby iwacu means treasure of our home.

The cultural village was started with the intention of harmonizing conservation and the local community. This was an alternative to benefit the community adjacent to the park and deter them from poaching of wild animals. Iby Iwacu cultural village is the best place to relax and fresh your mind after memorable gorilla trek in Virunga National Park.
The hospitality of the community members will make you feel like to stay in their community and not to leave. Your presence is of great value to the community. In the company of a professional friendly tour guide, the community members will share and showcase details of their past. The village brings a clear picture of the traditional lifestyle of a Rwandan including dress code, food crop growing, food processing and preparation, traditional ceremonies and interpersonal relationship with the community.

 Local people at Iby'Iwacu Cultural Village

Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village

At iby wacu cultural village, you will visit the king’s house where you learn more about the king and queen lifestyle. At the king’s house, you get the opportunity to be enthroned and installed as a king where you can take part in exercising the power of leadership as the village elders give you a ceremony. This will give you nothing but a favor and immense experience of a real African royal for a moment. The favor of being a king or queen can only be found in Rwanda.

You will enjoy the rare Intore dance and Ibyivungo performed by the community members using traditional musical instruments like Umuduri, Ikembe, Iningiri, Inanga, Ingoma, Amakondera, and Agakenke among others. Listening to the famous songs of the gorillas sang by the Ngayabatema showing you the experience in the wild of mountain Gorillas where you can also join the dance leaves you with a story to tell.In addition, you get the chance to learn to drum and play the drums its lot of fun.

Thirdly you will visit the traditional clinic, meet the traditional healers. These traditional healers here are not witch doctors. At the traditional clinic, you will learn about different plant species and their medicinal significance to locals, the prescriptions of those medicines and tasting the medicines at your own will.

Not forgetting that visitors are allowed to participate in traditional activities of  Rwanda people. This will include crop cultivation, millet grinding using ancient grinding stones, preparing local dishes like Ubugari and Igikoma served with the local beer made out of banana. At Iby iwacu you will also learn traditional methods of making the banana beer, hear stories of traditional techniques of hunting from the ex-poachers, learn pottery experience and crafting skills from the local women.

These experiences will surely give you a sense of belonging to this lovely community.

 

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How to Book a Rwanda Gorilla Safari

When planning a safari to Rwanda expect a real life adventure as the country is endowed with interesting and adventurous attractions most of them can’t be seen elsewhere in the world. Rwanda’s volcanoes national park is the only destination in Rwanda housing the endangered mountain gorillas, this gorilla species is rarely seen and only three African countries world-wide house these endangered apes the other two are Uganda in (Bwindi and Mgahinga national parks) and the democratic republic of Congo (Virunga national park). Rwanda is perhaps known as the leading home to these endangered apes and also known as a chief mountain gorilla safari destination in the world.

Safari planning to Rwanda in the Volcanoes National Park starts with the identification of your travel dates and gorilla tracking dates, selecting a reliable safari operator/ a tour and travel company that offers best gorilla safari packages to Rwanda at an affordable price. Also identification of reliable Airlines from your home country to Kigali international airport, know also the things to pack for a gorilla safari in the volcanoes national park among many others are very vital when planning a safari to volcanoes national park in Rwanda.
volcanoes national park is known as the best Rwanda national park to visit, with very many safari activities one can enjoy, although gorilla tracking is the major highlight to many safaris in volcanoes national park,  the park also offers other safari activities like golden monkey tracking safaris, bird watching safaris, hiking safaris, Dian Fossy hike among many others. You can also combine gorilla tracking with chimp tracking in Nyungwe forest national park and wildlife viewing in Akagera national park.

After identifying your travel dates, check availability of international flight to Kigali international airport, if the available flights fit your travel dates go ahead and make a tentative booking, the second step is to check the availability of gorilla tracking permits, if they are available go ahead and book your flight, if they are not available regarding to your travel dates better get a better alternative. Once you arrive at Kigali you will find a representative from the company you booked with waiting for you usually they carry a placard bearing your name, however getting this you should inform your agent about your travel date and time.  And if you organize with a local company, they will transfer you to your pre-booked hotel in Kigali. Gorilla permits are best to be booked through a tour and Travel Company or a tour agent since they have a high chance to purchase them in advance than an individuals, and gorilla tracking permits are sold at the Rwanda tourism board in Kigali or at the park headquarters in Kinigi.
The demand for gorilla permit in Rwanda is very high so it’s better to book your gorilla permit early at least 2-3 months prior to your travel dates to avoid last minutes bookings. Rwanda gorilla permits are sold on first come first serve basis, the earlier you book your gorilla permit the better. Furthermore you should book accommodation you will be staying while at the park. If you need, you can also rent a car and take a self-drive to Volcanoes National Park. Volcanoes national park is located just 2-3 hours’ drive from Kigali to Ruhengeri Musanze district passing through rolling hills and beautiful scenery.

How to pack for gorilla safari, packing for a Holiday Safari is very vital especially when going for gorilla tracking, it’s advised to pack light clothes to reduce on the weight as gorilla tracking involve hiking the jungle forest to search for the endangered mountain gorillas in the wild deep into the forest. Packing lights helps you to reduce on the charges that the airline may impose on you as Extra Charges. packing list for gorilla tracking include 1-2 long sleeved shirts or blouses, 1 pair of shorts, sun glasses, insect repellent, water proof and wind proof jacket like a Gortex, 1 sweater or sweater shirt, strong water proof walking shoes/boats, a bag, camera, hat-wide brim or with a visor from sun protection, lightweight wool socks, gloves-gardening or similar, all these are suitable for gorilla tracking safari in volcanoes national park. Gorilla safaris in volcanoes national park is regarded as one of the most memorable and interesting safari activity on earth. Enjoy a guided gorilla safari this year and win a chance of a discounted package to view the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Follow the above tips and you’ll find that Safari planning for your holiday travel and flights will be simpler than you ever.

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Primate Safaris in Rwanda?

Rwanda like its counterpart Uganda has no seaport and it’s known as one of the smallest countries in the world occupying an area of about 26,338 sq km (10,169sqmiles), and it’s known as a densely populated nation, UN estimates 2013 put its population at 13 million people. This land of ‘’a thousand hills’’ as its sometimes referred to is  known as a gifted nation when it comes to tourist attractions, it competes very many countries world-wide when it comes to tourist attractions, and it attracts a huge number of travelers who jet into Rwanda to have a glace on the many of the attractions Rwanda offers.

Rwanda suffered much in the 1994 genocide, the war claimed a lot of people over 1 million people lost their life and many fled the country to seek refuge and many infrastructures where destroyed, however all those came to pass, the country is now considered one of the safest with a cleanest city in the world and it has got no political insurgency, giving room to tourists to visit the country without fear.

Rwanda is much known for its primate species than any other tourist attraction, this is because primate tracking is much adventurous than any other attractions, as the activity involves moving deep into the forest and have a close exchange of eyes with these animals making the all process adventurous, this is not the case when compared the experience to wildlife safaris which involves moving in a tourist vehicle during a game drive in a national park (Akagera National park). A wonderful moment to see the primate species involves spending some memorable time with the primates deep in their natural habitat. Chimpanzees are the close relative to humans and the mountain gorillas are considered the second relative to man sharing almost 98% of human DNA make up.
To mention some of the key primate species to track in Rwanda include the mountain gorillas, golden monkey and chimpanzee, and any safari to Rwanda with a primate watch to see one of the above mentioned primate specie is considered incomplete. However sometimes the treks to meet them may be challenging since the activity involves passing through the deep and muddy forest of volcanoes national park and Nyungwe forest during the search of these apes, so a reasonable degree of fitness as well as tracking gears are highly recommended, some treks are tough and others are a bit easy to trek. In details let us talk about these Rwanda primate species and Rwanda primate safaris.
Mountain gorillas: when Rwanda Is talked about what comes to many people’s ear is the endangered mountain gorillas, mountain gorillas is one of the sub-species of gorillas and its regarded as one of the endangered species. According to the last population census, estimates shows that only 900 mountain gorillas are left in the world and this number is shared by three African countries including Rwanda, Uganda and the democratic republic of Congo. Rwanda is blessed being among these countries in the world to host these animals and perhaps Rwanda is known as the leading mountain gorilla safari destination in the world something which makes it special with almost a half of these remaining endangered mountain gorillas. Mountain gorillas have attracted many people to Rwanda to stay with these apes for at least one or two days in their natural habitat. Rwanda gorillas are inhabited in the volcanoes national park. The park is located in the northern part of Rwanda in Ruhengeri Musanze district and it’s a drive of about 2-3 hours from Kigali Rwanda’s capital to kinigi park headquarters the starting pointing for gorilla tracking.
Rwanda gorilla safaris  are the leading tourist attraction in Rwanda and the government of Rwanda has acquired a lot of money from revenue collected from tourist and the local people have benefited from the activity especially those who stay near the park.

On the day of tracking, after an early breakfast, you will be driven to the park headquarters in kinigi to receive short briefings from the park wardens/senior ranger guides about the whole process of gorilla tracking, after the briefing, you will be driven to the starting point where you will follow the ranger guide to the forest to begin the search of gorillas.  The time taken to meet the gorillas is unpredictable, since gorillas are wild animals; they keep on moving from one place to another in search of food, so the trek can go from 2-8 hours while in the jungle, a reasonable degree of fitness is needed as well as tracking gears like sturdy pair of walking shoes/boots, bottled water and sometimes packed food. Rwanda gorilla groups are distributed according to age and physical ability, the weaker and old are assigned to easy to track gorilla families and younger and physical trackers are assigned to tough gorilla families. However it’s not a guarantee the one seem to be easy on bad day may turn to be difficult and vice versa. Once the gorillas are met you are only restricted to one hour with them while studding as well as learning their behaviors. After tracking, you drive back to your booked accommodation or departure depending on your itinerary.
Rwanda gorillas permits costs usd750 per person per tracking. Rwanda gorilla permits are at very high demand and they are sold on first come first served basis the earlier you book your tracking permit the better to avoid disappointments of last minute booking. Permits are sold at the Rwanda Tourism Board in Kigali Rwanda’s capital or at the park headquarters in Kingi, it’s better to book a gorilla permit through a travel agent or a tour company organizing your tour, as they have easy access to these permits than an individual. Volcanoes National Park has 12 gorilla families and in each gorilla family only eight members are allowed to visit these giants on daily occasion for to safety purpose.

Golden monkeys are also known as endangered species, and are regarded the most beautiful primate on earth. This endangered species of primate inhabit the forest of volcanoes national park, so for more primate experience at the park if you have extra days at the park, you can opt for golden monkey tracking. Golden monkey are fabulous fun to watch when playing in fruitful trees or bamboo forest.  like mountain gorilla tracking, the track to see the monkeys begins very early in the morning after reporting at the park headquarters to receive short briefings about the dos and don’ts while with these apes, follow the ranger guide to the forest to begin the search of them, trekking time is an unpredictable, however the tracking time can go from 2-7 hours searching them. Not like mountain gorillas which can be seen on ground, golden monkey are jumpy, they like jumping from one tree to another, so you are recommended to carry a first camera good at shooting. However even when tracking the gorillas, you can still watch these apes and the ranger guide will help you to take photos of them. one hour is allowed to stay with them once they are met. The number for tracking golden monkey is not restricted to eight members like that for mountain gorilla tracking. Tracking gears like study pair of walking shoes/boots are long sleeved shirts is needed and some level of physical fitness.

Chimpanzee tracking is another primate species that attracts travelers to Rwanda specially primate lovers. Rwanda is a home to over 13 species of primates coupled with chimpanzee the closest relative to human sharing almost 98% of human genes. Other primate species include owl-faced monkey, black and white colobus monkeys, baboons, more than 300 Colobus monkeys, mona monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys among others. These entire primate species are inhabited in Nyungwe forest national park Rwanda’s habituated park chimpanzee safaris.
The park is located in the south-western part of Rwanda just about 5-6 hour’s drive from the capital Kigali. chip tracking is one of the selling adventurous safari package in Rwanda, meeting these close relative of man in their natural habitat is a regarded as a moment in life very difficult to forget. The one hour allowed staying in presence of these apes while changing eyes is memorable. Chimps are excellent to watch when jumping from one tree to another, while observing their daily activities including feeding, making nest, mothers feeding their young ones, socializing among others makes the activity more exciting.

However like mountain gorillas and golden monkey, the time taken to meet these apes is unpredictable, since they are wild animals, they keep on moving from one place to another in search for food, the search can go from 2-5 hours. Indeed primate safaris dominates many other safari activities in Rwanda, many other activities are just a complement to primate safaris. However on safari to Rwanda you can still enjoy many other tourist activities including wildlife safaris in Akagera national park, Kigali city tour to visit which will take you and visit some of the interesting things around, visit Lake Kivu Rwanda’s freshest water body among many others.  Put Rwanda on you must visit destination this year.

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