How to Fully Experience Rwanda
Rwanda is a land of mountains, rain forests, and diverse wildlife—including more than a third of the world’s mountain gorillas. While much of the country’s tourism is driven by safaris, and its name still evokes the horrific events of 1994, the resilience of the Rwandan people may be the most compelling reason to make the trip.
Reconciliation Villages In 1994, an estimated 800,000 people, about 70 percent of the Tutsi ethnic group in Rwanda, were murdered in a 100-day genocide carried out by Hutus, the country’s majority ethnic group. Today, perpetrators and victims live side by side in reconciliation villages, and the next generation has been raised not as Hutus or Tutsis but simply as Rwandans. Wildlife Tours Rwanda leads a one-day Reconciliation Village Tour that picks travelers up in Kigali and takes them an hour by car to a village called Mbyo in the Bugesera district. Visitors will hear stories from both perpetrators and survivors and immerse themselves in the daily life of the village. The day wraps up with a community party known as ubusabane. From $50. wildlifetoursrwanda. com
Gorillas and More On Rwanda’s northwestern border, Volcanoes National Park is home to ancient volcanoes, golden monkeys, and more than 320 critically endangered mountain gorillas. Thanks largely to Rwanda’s conservation efforts, including an expansion of the animals’ habitat and limitations on their exposure to humans, the gorilla population is increasing. With 12 gorilla families approved for visitation and a maximum of eight people per tour, only 96 spots are available each day, so make sure to reserve yours in advance. You can book the $1,500 permits through the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), but the best option is to hire a tour company to handle all fees, transportation, and accommodations for you. Thousand Hills Africa’s Six-Day Virunga Volcanoes Mountain Gorilla Spectacular includes two days in Kigali and four days in Volcanoes National Park. You will take two gorilla treks and a golden monkey trek, and stay at the Bisate Lodge, as writer Tom Rachman did. If you do book through the RDB, on the day of your trek, you’ll need to get to the Tourism and Conservation offices in Kinigi (68 miles from Kigali) at 7 a.m. There, your Volcanoes National Park guide and trackers will lead you into the mountains to find your gorilla family, a hike that could take up to four hours. Once you find the gorillas, you’ll spend one hour with them. Golden monkey permits, $100; gorilla permits, $1,500. Tours with Thousand Hills Africa from $9,300. thousand hillsafrica.com
sources:AFAR July 2018
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