RWANDA (Africa) - Land of a Thousand Hills
It is a small country bordered by Uganda, Congo, Burundi and Tanzania.
Rwanda is popularly known as ‘the land of a thousand hills' because of which a
large number of tourists are attracted to this place each year. Rwanda also has
some of the most incredible landscapes. However, the most popular travel and
tourism destination in Rwanda, Africa is The Volcanoes National Park and famous
for mountain gorillas.
Volcanoes National Park (French: Parc National des Volcans)
The Volcanoes National park, Rwanda is famous for mountain gorillas spread out in an area of 130 square kilometer. This popular travel and tourism destination is best organized and most popular mountain gorilla sanctuary. It is home to about 400 rare African gorillas. Dian Fossey a famous primatologist did study on these gorillas for years, on their habitat, habits and population. This place has a unique location, it has the lush green slopes of north-west Rwanda of Central Africa, Rift valleys in the west and ecosystems of Congo basin. This biodiversity created is not found nowhere else in Africa. To protect the gorilla population of Volcanoes National Park there are restrictions on the number of people who can visit this park.
To sit with a gorilla for an hour on a Virunga Volcanoes Safari is an undisputable highlight of any trip to East Africa and your contribution to their future survival will enrich your travel experience. To reach Volcanoes National Park, you need to drive from Ruhengeri or organize transport for a 90 minute journey. All tours to Volcanoes National Park are under the supervision of well trained guides. To reach there you will walk through the an open grassland and bamboo trees, pass through the Virungas mountains, crossing streams and keep treking towards your way up. You will reach the rainforest which is a true tropical paradise and lies in the heart of the park. This place is about 4500 meters from the forest bed. You will hear the chirp of birds and often see golden monkeys, hyena and may even find elephant or buffalo. You will find the silver back Gorillas here, these African gorillas are very tolerant to humans if viewed from a safe distance without making loud noise. Your guide will ensure that you have proper instructions. There are 178 known bird species with quite a few found just here. This is a paradise on earth and not to be forgotten. Another Karisimbi volcanoes is a two day trek with overnight camping at an altitude of 3,800 m.
Due to the altitude it is generally quite cold, especially during the evenings. Gorilla viewing is possible all the year round. Volcanoes National Park, named after a string of magnificent peaks that range from 2,500 to 4,500 meters (8,000 to 14,850 feet) in altitude, is well known as the home of the largest wild population of mountain gorillas. Thousands of tourists visit the gorillas each year, making the wildlife an important part of Rwanda's tourism industry. Accommodation is available at the Kinigi guesthouse (Asoferwa) is situated only 200 meters from the park headquarters.
Excursions around Volcanoes National Park:
The lake circuit to the lakes Bulera and Ruhondo offers breath taking sceneries. Unfortunately the dirt road needs to be repaired and its actual state is quite dangerous due to the incredible steep hills.
