Lakes and Gorillas
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Trip Highlights
Your ''Taste of Volunteering'' Project
A few years ago, two American women visited Rwanda, did an amazing trek with the gorillas, but fell in love with the people.
In Ruhengeri town, near the volcanoes that the gorillas call home, these women got to know orphans and street kids, mostly young girls with no education, and decided to commit themselves to helping them learn skills, and generate a sustainable source of income.
Crucially, this meant they would not be forced into prostitution. The main skill these women have learned is sewing, and they spend part of their day making beautiful handbags, which are exported around the world – you may even already own one of their bags!
The women also learn to dance, to sing and to speak English. This is where your help is invaluable – in 2008 the Rwandan government switched the official language from French to English. Their view is that speaking English will help the Rwandan people compete better on the world stage and ultimately raise their living standards.
It may be a great idea, but it is a huge challenge in small communities, that do not have access to good English teachers. So, your help is needed to overcome this obstacle. All they need is people that are fluent in English and have the patience to converse with them, so they can expand their vocabulary and gain more confidence in speaking the language.
The amazing sights
At Hands Up Holidays we like you to decide what you want to see, so here are some of the highlights that you may want to consider visiting. So that you can get an idea of timing we have created a bit of a sample itinerary (you can find this on the right side bar), but you are always welcome to change it to suit your desires.
Rwanda is fondly known as the "Land of a Thousand Hills". Ample rain, sun and fertile soil make this a region bountiful in spectacular flora and fauna.
Rwanda and its remarkable people have bounced back from the civil war in an astounding way. A new era of security and stability has been ushered in and an entrepreneurial culture is thriving. Rwanda is a refreshing country for all travellers. Tourists remain a relative novelty and the rewards of the present far outweigh the risks of the past.
You may be surprised to hear that Rwanda is planning on being the “Silicone Valley” of Africa and is rapidly deploying fibre optic cable all over the country. So now you’ll be able to download all those amazing Gorilla images straight onto your blog!
Kigali
Kigali is a quaint little city that sprawls over ridges and hills and offers gorgeous views of the intensively cultivated and terraced countryside beyond. It suffered quite badly during the civil war in 1994, but the long rehabilitation seems to be drawing to a close and it now projects a sense of excitement for the future.
Genocide memorial
The Kigali Memorial Centre is a must for all visitors in Rwanda. It serves as a reminder for the world that it must never again sit back and watch as a genocide unfolds in a country. The lessons it brings are important and need to be shared as widely as possible.
Butare
Butare is regarded as the intellectual and cultural pulse of Rwanda. Shady avenues and breezy terrace restaurants make this an attractively compact and sedate town.
The National Museum, in Butare, houses one of the finest ethnographic collections in East Africa. Traditional artefacts are brought to life by a selection of turn-of-the-century monochrome photographs, giving insight into pre-colonial lifestyles.
In nearby Nyabinindu (formerly Nyanza) you’ll find the magnificent Royal Palace. This traditional seat of Rwanda’s feudal monarchy, encompasses an enormous domed construction that is made entirely of traditional materials, and was painstakingly restored to its 19th century state.
Nyungwe Forest
Nyungwe Forest recently received National Park status, making it East Africa's largest protected high-altitude rainforest. This forest’s biodiversity is astonishing by African standards and is one of the most endemic species-rich areas in all of Africa.
It also happens to be a fantastic place for you to go on a chimpanzee trekking. Watching these energetic and fun primates interact and play in the wild is a unique experience not to be missed.
Kibuye on lake Kivu
Rwanda is famous for gorillas, but on the shores of Lake Kivu you’ll discover some of the best inland beaches on the continent. The Lake is more like an inland sea – emerald green waters surrounded on all sides by magnificent mountains.
Kibuye, on the eastern shore of Lake Kivu, has become very popular with local and international visitors alike. Bizarrely, the nearby hills planted with pines and eucalyptus give the town an almost Alpine rather than tropical atmosphere.
If you are looking for a place to unwind, relax and explore you won’t go wrong here. There are loads activities both on the lake and on its many islands. If you are looking for something different you can take a traditional boat on an exciting nature discovery tour.
Gisenyi
Gisenyi is also located on the northern shores of Lake Kivu and is contiguous with Goma, the city across the border in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Just like Kibuye, Gisenyi is also known for water sports. However, the beer drinkers may be interested to know that Gisenyi is also home to Bralirwa, the only brewery in Rwanda, which manufactures various local beers such as Primus and Mützig.
Volcanoes National Park
The Volcanoes National Park consists of a dramatic chain of seven volcanoes, which form a natural border with the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. It is one of the most beautiful landscapes in Africa, and the steep dense forests serve as one of the last refuges for the endangered mountain gorillas. There is no habitat more evocative of the gorillas than the lush vegetation and the mist that envelop the Virunga volcanoes.
You’ll be surprised by your sense of anticipation, as you embark on your gorilla trek. Your hearing will be that little bit more acute and your eyes will be straining to spot movement in the foliage.
You may even be a little tired by the time you find the gorillas, but stumbling on Kwitonda’s group after a solid hike is one of those unforgettable moments – no moat, no bars, a silverback thumping his chest as infants and juveniles frolic all around. You’ll feel like you stepped into Gorillas in the Mist, which is a must read before you come here.
Did you know that gorillas can be uniquely identified by their noseprints, similar to how humans have distinct fingerprints? So, why not go and see if you can tell the difference when you get up close?
For more information on any part of Rwanda or if you would like us to put together a special trip just for you, please contact us.
If you like this trip, you may also be interested in:
Kenya - Kenyan Encounter in Style
Malawi - Malawi Magic
Malawi - Malawi Parks and Falls
Namibia - Delta, Dunes and Falls in Style
South Africa - Cape Classic
South Africa - Southern Hospitality in Style
Feel free to contact us if you have any enquiries about this trip.
