Led by Rwanda Tourism Board, the Office Rwandais Du Tourisme Et Des Parcs Nationaux (ORTPN), the tourism sector is rapidly developing from the wounds of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.

A number of historical sites have been developed mainly the museums, art and crafts centre and genocide memorials to remember the death of thousands of people. The national museum is located in Butare town not very far from the main city of Kigali.

The tourism board has also worked towards development of the national parks which now have good road and communication network to allow easy access while on a safari to Rwanda. Gorilla tourism in volcanoes national park has been developed most since it has more demand but other attraction include primates in Nyungwe forest safari park and more wildlife in Akagera national park.

There are numerous lake that support fishing and are home to aquatic life and various mountain for birdwatching, hiking or mountain climbing tours.

When traveling for a vacation to Rwanda be sure of comfortable accommodation and quality services provided on discount Rwanda Hotels. The music and dances are also entertaining.

An Africa vacation or holiday to Rwanda will be truely rewarding!

The next inhabitants were the agricultural and pastoralist immigrants from the west. It is alleged that before the 15th century a ruler called Gihanga forged a centralized Rwanda state with similar roots to the Bunyoro and Buganda empires in the neighboring country of Uganda.

The precursors of the modern-day Tutsi and Hutu were a cattle owning nobility and agriculturalists respectively. The well established and powerful state was able to protest earlier attempts at the advent of European imperialism.

However, after the 1885, Berlin conference, Rwanda became a German colony.
Rwanda was later mandated to Belgium in the 1918 resulting into the implementation of indirect rule that actually triggered off to the acute divisions between the Tutsi and Hutu; a practice that has persisted up to date.

It should be noted that traditional music and dance is a vital component of the Rwanda people. Natives have a variety of music and dance associated with acts and performance that demonstrates epics commemorating bravery, harmony and humorous lyrics to hunting root. Musical instruments accompanying traditional songs include; a harp-like instrument with eight (8) strings and the Lilunga whereas eminent celebratory dances are backed by a drum; , Orchestra; comprising of seven (&) to nine (9) members who produce a hypnotic and thrilling sounds of organized rhythms.

The most popular traditional dance troupe is the “Intore Dance troupe.” The word intore means the chosen one’s, it was established centuries ago and once performed for the Royal court; currently their memorable performance can be arranged upon a short notice through the National museum at Butale. The music of Rwanda is also soothing, so don’t miss this activity.

Crafted handicrafts also contribute to richness of the country’s culture.

The magnificent volcanoes together with the dense tropical forests dominate the northern region of the country; Savannah and dense tropical vegetation dominate a larger area with rivers therein whereas the gentle hills and valleys comprise of lakes.

The Volcanoes host the mountain gorillas that are the major safari attractions in Rwanda.  The gorillas migrate thousands of miles looking for food and often end up in Uganda and Congo. Volcanoes mountain safari park has different family so the tourist have to decide on which family to track on their gorilla tracking safari. Holiday packages for mountain climbing are also organized in this park.

Primate safaris, birdwatching, mountain climbing and wildlife tours are carried out in Nyunwe forest and Akagera safari park and reserves all year round.

Rwanda historical and cultural safaris and tours are also organized to the national museum, genocide memorial centers and cultural dances by traditional dancing groups.

The value of products and services is increasing to become a function of their knowledge content and the information used to produce them instead of the raw material content.
Thus, the ability to access easily and share knowledge and apply stimulus to the formation of new ideas or views, is looked at as basic to the up keep of an economy that is strong and promoting quality of life of all citizens in all countries of the globe.

Access to telecommunications is censorious to the growth of all events of the country’s economy involving manufacturing, banking, education, agriculture, trade and commerce, and good governance and the effect of these is seen in both public and private sectors.

Telecommunications networks are now making at able for developing nations to get involved in the global economy in states, which simply were possible for the past years. Telecommunication has been having fast development all over the world.

Increased acquisition of ICTs, in developed communities means that business in growing nations must either acquire ICTs or become less competitive and therefore continue to remain behind. Interesting enough, not so far in the past, the growing economies begun to set up new strategies by forming and enabling the environment to enhance development of ICT infrastructure and its use. With the stride made so far, available indications reveal that the big gap which was there between the developed and developing world has begun to gradually become smaller through the support and desire by the governments to fully get involved in the ICT policy formations and implementation.

Effect of Internet communication tools for example telephones and the Internet, are increasingly censorious to countries’ economic success and personal progress. The  beginning of the internet has been described mostly as significant for community as the development of the personal computer, the telephone or even the media press.

The Internet performs various roles like virtual community electronic market place, and information source, employment portal those looking for jobs, research center, discussion forum and entertainment center, to mention but a few.

Through the Internet, people form new businesses or promote the delivery of essential needs, for example medical care plus education. Nearly all countries of the world are on-line and at the beginning of the year 2004, there was an approximated number of more than 600 million people all over the world. Those who use the Internet grow at a very stable rate very year.

The development of the Internet brings out chances for new high sped data networks, new multimedia applications, voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP), sharing of knowledge among those who use the Internet and coming together of technologies.

The opressed Tutsis later decided to form the Rwandan Patriotic Front a rebel guerrilla army to rebel against the ruling government. This army, later in 1990, forced the then President Juvenal Habyalimana to sign an agreement that the two tribes would share the powers.

To the Hutu extremists, this was impossible and this increased tension among the natives of the country. Rwanda and Burundi presidents carried out peace talks since Burundi President was a tustsi but they were killed in a jet crush on their way from the peace talks in Tanzania as the descended into Kigali Airport by a missileon April 6, 1994.

This gave an opportunity to the Hutu extrimists to start killing the prominent Tutsis and moderate Hutu already on their death lists. The killing later spread into the country an mass killings continued for the next three and a half months. About 800,000 Tutsis are estimated to have been killed with clubs and matchets during the Rwanda Genocide.

Rwandex S.A.
Email: 08 775583
Email.rwandex@rwandal.com

Rwandex S.A
Box, 42 Gisenyi
Tel: +250-540242
Mob: 08 502204
Email: rwandex@rwandal.com

Agro Coffee Industries Ltd
Box, 1284 Kigali
Tel: +250-514626, 514627
Fax: +250-14628
Email: agrocoffee@rwandal.com

CBC – Coffee Business Center
Box, 4144 Kigali
Tel: +250-517960
Fax: +250-517958
Email:coffee-bc2002@yahoo.fr

Coferwa
Box, 3492 Kigali
Tel: +250-574565.510236
Fax: +250-510120
Email:caf_rw@hotmail.com

Coffee Business Center
Box, 4144 Kigali
Tel: +250-517958
Fax: +250-517958
Mob: 08301906
Email:coffee_bc2002@hotmail.com

Coffex
Box, 1 748 Kigali
Tel: +250-584469, 5U5395
Fax: +250-585396

Ocir Cafe (Offices des Cafe)
Box, 104 Kigali
Tel: +250-575277, 574643, 57560U
Fax: +250-573992
Email: ocircafe@rwandal.com

Rwacof Sarl
Gikondo
Box, 2699 Kigali
Tel: +250-516033, 515872
Fax: +250-572024
Email:rwacof@rwanda1.com

Rwandex S.A
Box, 356 Kigali
Tel: +250-575180
Fax: +250-573967
Email: Rwandex@rwanda1.com

Sicaf (Societe Industrielle du Cafe)
Box, 5161 Kigali
Tel: +250-84583,517635
Fax: +250-82593

Rwanda Agricultural Chemical Suppliers
Agro S.A
Box, 580 Butare
Tel: +250-530218
Mob: 08 507824

Agrophar
Avenue du Lac Ihema
Box, 2039 Kigali
Tel:  +250-574263
Fax: +250-574263
Mob: 08 300055, 08 502095

Agrotech Sarl
Nyarugenge Road
Box, 263 Kigali
Tel: +250-573489
Fax: +250-576511
Email: kiphagro@rwanclal.com

Association De Distribution Des
Semences Selectionery
Commerce et Intrant Et
Pesticides (ADSS)
Avenue De Cooperatives
Box, 6822 Kigali
Tel: +250-501332
Email:aminsibomana@yahoo.fr

Phaimakina
Nyabugogo
Box, 2038 Kigali
Tel: +250-517214
Fax: +250-517232
Mob: 08 302949

Rurangirwa Damascene
Box: 2039 Kigali
Tel: +250-574263
Fax: +250-574263

Agricultural Commodities
Rwanda Agricultural Commodities and Inputs

Perimetrie Rizicole De
Bugarama
Box, 101, Cyangugu
Tel: .537400
Mob: 08 539564

Configi
Box, 300. Butare
Tel: 530941

Agashya Nyirangarama
Box, 3652. Kigali
Tel: 573804
Fax: 517425
Mob: 08 302999

Agro Business
Box, 2721, Kigali
Tel: 587141

Big Five, Mburabuturo
Box, 1287 Kigali
Tel: 17422
Fax: 571942
Email:inyange@rwanda1.com

Kabuye Poultry
Box, 3480, Kigali
Tel: 578614

Rwandex Chillington
Box, 356, Kigali
Tel:  575180
Fax: 573967
Email: rwandexarwandal.com

Safari Center
Box, 509.Kigali
Tel: 573330
Fax: 572219

Sorwatom SA
Box, 1431 Kigali
Tel: 520998
Fax: 520511
Mob: 08 306334. 08 350277
Email: sorwatom@rwancla1.com

Sodis Agri
Box, 5038, Kigali
Tel: 572877
Fax: 577467

Sorwaton
Box, 1431. Kigali
Tel: 574955
Fax: 574947

Bair
Box, 241 Kisenyi
Tel: 540727
Mob: 08 523126
Email:balr@rwanda1.com

Agricultural Supplies

Africhem Rwanda
Box, 1396 Kigali
Tel: +250-571536, 578384
Fax: +250-578382

N.A.H.V. Rwanda
Box, 626 Kigali
Tel: +250-575449, 576978. 575458,
Fax: +250-574337
Email:nahav@rwanda1.com

Rwandex Chillington
Box, 356 Kigali
Tel: +250-575180, 575821
Fax: +250-573968
Em:rwanctex@rwandal.com

As a way to achieve Vision 2020 and the Milenium goals to eradicate poverty, Rwanda has improved the agricultural sector by sensitising its citizens about farming techniques to increase productivity.This will help do wipe out poverty and improve the standards of living for every one.

Some of the achievements include the formation of cooperative societies in which farmers work together and are given education. Through education they have learnt modern farming methods, management and administration to manage their groups.

The services offered by Insurance companies in Rwanda are evidencing remarkable growth in the range and nature of insurances provided by this dynamic industry.

The focus has been to stick to the traditional roles of insurance in community, which are to spread risk, and if the risk materializes, to spread the resulting loss but at the same time making diverse the range of products provided. Incidental to this task, but increasingly a significant subordinate task of insurance in itself, has been the management of risk and the prevention of loss.

The Insurance companies offer various types of services ranging from life, retirement fund, medical fund, automobile, to property coverage.

We have selected the best holiday resorts, safari lodges & luxury hotels to feature on wonderafrica.com so that you get the best accommodation facilities when traveling to Rwanda. Find out more on Hotels in Kigali, Butare and other cities or provinces of this country.

The hotels and safari lodges offer facilities comfortable beds, breakfast, satellite TV, direct dial phone, dining and restaurants, bars, swimming pool, cheap and discount rates and other services to cater for both tourists and business travelers.

The Rwanda Tour Operators will be able organize your travel arrangements from Kigali International Airport on arrival and take your to your discount holiday resort or game lodge and back to the airport after your Rwanda Trip. It is also possible to book charter flights and regional flights in Rwanda for a scenic and faster form of transport to the various national parks you are to travel to on your safari.

Hotel Rwanda has been referred to as an African Schindller’s list. Each movie shows one individual who is not perfect-who uses his social position, interpersonal skills, together with quick wit to rescue thousands of lives form a holocaust. Different from its more popular cousin, Hotel Rwanda failed to win any Oscars, though it was chosen for three, including best Actor (Cheadle), best supporting Actress (Sophie Okonedo) and best original screen play.

Synopsis
The make is based on actual events which happened during the genocidal violent acts, which broke out in Rwanda in 1994, between the Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups, the Hutu military and interahamwe militias put to death approximately one million Tutsis in merely three months. The main culprit is Paul Rusesabagina (Don Cheadle), a Hutu who owned the four-star Sabena-owned Hotel des Mille Collines in Kigali.

Amidst the fast de-generating  confusion of the genocide, and afraid of losing his wife who was a Tutsi, friends and others, he endeavours to keep his luxury hotel as an oasis from the violent acts, changing it to a refuge for as many individuals as it could hold. The remaining part of the world is shown turning its back Rwanda. A well-intended but rather less-resourced UN peacekeeping commander known as Nick Nolte is unable to put to an end the bloodshed, and baffled at the lack of support or concern from outside countries. The harness and failure to provide answers by the international community and the clamorous terror of the genocidal militias and generals, all totally differ from the humble effective life-saving manipulations of Rusesebagina.

Collection at the Museum
The artifact collection is essentially historical, ethnographic, artistic and archaeological. The public collection is displayed in seven rooms with the remaining artifacts in storage. In Room I, there is a ticket-counter, and gift shop where handicraft items, booklets and other are sold. This room is also usually used for temporary displays. Exhibits are formed basing on topics that can awaken awareness in a particular circumstance or a given event.
Room II has maps, photos and graphics that offer geographical and linguistic knowledge concerning Rwanda. Both Rooms II and IV exhibit items used in several economic activities for example agriculture, cattle-breeding, bee-keeping, hunting and, fishing, basketry, pottery and wood curving. Room V portrays several kinds of Rwandan architecture, ancient ways if living and also social organisation. Room VI mainly portrays traditional clothing, adornment, together with recreation. Room VII puts forward pre-historic knowledge and presents the chronology pf the Kings, the Bami based on written and oral history. There are also displays about science of the extraction, working and properties of metals and their alloys, traditional religious practices, marriage and music.

The museum is the best ethnographic museum of East Africa. It properly reflects the time spirit at the end of the 19th Century when the East African kingdoms came into contact with the first Europeans. The rich penetrations concerning Rwanda’s traditional life and culture together with the subsequent growth during history, will pay a better understanding of African history.

Beautiful crafted handcraft can be bought from street stalls and the main markets through out Kigali as well as the capital centre for the formation of ARTS, at a fair price.

Art and Craft

The traditional villages of Nyakarimbi located near Rusumo falls at the boarder with neighboring Tanzania are renowned for producing “cow-dung paintings.”

A wide selection of these paintings are locally made by a local co-operative within the village; characterized by brown, white and black whorls and many more geometric abstractions.

These handicrafts can be bought from Kigali, the country’s capital. Visitor can also make private arrangements to visit Nyakarimbi village to get first-hand information and witness production of the unique cow-dung paintings.

Banking service operations date back in early 1960, originating from the oldest banks of BCR and Bank of Kigali respectively.

Recently, most commercial banks have centered their operations on trade finance as opposed to long-term debt financing. This has triggered off to lack of productive investment activity, thus there is urgent need to focus attention on the reform and strengthening of the financial sector. This appeals for introduction of more banks, financial products and capital market.

There are ready opportunities for investment into mortgage banks to enhance access to property, agricultural banks to offer agricultural banks to offer agricultural credit to farmers and introduction of new financial products including leasing and venture capital to minimize hardships of opening business as well as its continued successful operation.

Economy

Rwanda’s economy is predominantly agricultural. However, with the recent political stability, its GDP growth rate has increased to 9.9% whereas currency depreciation has reduced to 6.5% per annum and inflation to 3.2%.

The banking system is generally prosperous with liberalized foreign exchange controls.

The country is currently embarking on privatization and liberalization in a comprehensive perspective to attain sustainable economic growth; as a major objective of eradicating poverty stipulated in the country’s vision 2020.

Rwanda is aiming at establishing a modern and broadly based economic platform, that attracts investors, creates employment as well as diverse new opportunities as opposed to its current over dependence on subsistence agriculture.

Rwanda’s leading export earners are coffee, tea, cassiterite, pyrethrum and Wolfranite. It is vital to note that coffee comprises of 50% of the total export value.

Related to this, is the country’s mountain grown tea which is some of the world’s finest.

The New industries such as exporting fresh flowers, fish farming and tourism have been taken on largely by the private sector. The country‘s natural resources have not been fully exploited for instance there is a high in Lake Kivu is just upcoming.

Through the Rwanda Investment and Export Promotion Agency (RIEPA), the government is willing to partner with the private investors to boost and sustain the country’s economy.

Banks in Rwanda
List of Banks and Financial Services in Rwanda

Banks in Butare
Banque De Kigali
Tel: 530358
Fax: 530350
Mob: 08 302484

BCR – Banque Commerciale Du Rwanda
Tel.:.531U59
Fax: 530508
Mob: 08 302995
www.bcr.co.rw

Cogebanque
Tel: 532247
Email:cogebank@rwandal.com

Banks and Financial Services in Byuma
BCR – Banque Commerciale Du Rwanda
Tel: 564211
Fax: 564430
Mob: 08 302996
Bancor S.a
Tel: 537298
Fax: 537294
Email: bancor@rwandal.com
www.bancor.co.fw
Changugu 1

Banque De Kigali
Box, 221 Kigali
Tel: 537068/69
Fax: 537067
Mob: 08 302067
Email:bkigl0@rwandal.com

BCR – Banque Commerciale Du Rwanda
Tel/Fax: 537629
Mob:  08 302991
www.bcr.corw

Cogebanque
Email: cogebank@rwanda1.com

Banks and Financial Services in Gikongoro

Cogebanque-Gikongoro
Tel: 535407
Email: cogetiank®rwanda1.com

Bancor S.a
Box, 171 Kigali
Tel.: 540120
Fax: 540121
Email: bancor@rwandal.com
www.bancor.co.rw

Banque Du Kigali
Box, 171 Kigali
Tel: 540279
Fax: 540676
Mob: 06 302068
Email: bktglOQrwandal.com

BCR – Banque Commerciale Du Rwanda
Box, 169
Tel: 540090
Fax: 540733
Mob: 08 300886
www.bcr.co.rw

Cogebanque-Gisenyi
Tel: 08 304867
Email: cogebank@rwanda1.com

Gitarama Banks and Financial Services

Banque De Kigali
Tel: 562558
Fax: 562559
Mob: 08 302496
Email: bhig10@rwandal.com

Kibungo
Fina Bank
Tel: 566393
Fax: 566394
Email: Finabank@terracom.rw

Kibuye
ACEFI Ingoboka
Box, 884 Kigali Qakinjiro
Tel: 574136, 573504

Banks and Financial Services in Kigali

ACEFI Ingoboka Remera
Tel: 586934
Email:bacar@lrwanda1 .corn

Bacar
Box, 331 Kigali
Tel: 572427, 576795

Bacar, Kibuye
Tel: 568305

Bacar Ruhengeri
Tel: 546305

Bancor S.A
Plot 1232 Avenue de la Paw
Box, 2059 Kigali
Tel: 575763/80, 511194/95
Fax: 572501,575761
Em:bancor@arwanda1.com

Banque De Commerce De Developpement ET D’lndustrie (BCDI)
Plot 13 Avenue de la Pain
Box, 3268 Kigali
Tel: 577881/3, 574455, 574143
Fax: 573790. 572551,574437
Email:info@bcdi.co.rw
Banque De Kigali s a.
Plot 63 Avenue du Commerce
Box, 175 Kigali
Tel: 93100, 73461, 575504
Fax: 575504,553461
Email:bkig10@rwanda1.com

Banque Nationale Du Rwanda (BNR)
Avenue Paul VI
Box, 531 Kigali
Tel: 574282,574471.574432
Fax: 577391,572551.573790
Em.bnr45bnr.rw
Ws. wwwbnr.rw

Banque Rwandaise De Developpement (BRD)
Plot 54 Boulevard de la
Revolution
Box, 1341 Kigali
Tel: 575080,575079, 575932
Fax: 573569
Email: bid@hrdcoin.tw
www.bid.com-rw

Cogebanque
Centenary House, Ground Floor
Box, 5230 Kigali
Tel: 503326
Mob: 08 30b964
Email: cogebank@rrwandal.com

Commercial Bank of Rwanda (BCR)
Plot 11 Boulevard de la Revolution
Box, 3M Kigali
Tel: 575591.575592/9
Mob: 08 303894
Fax: 573395
www.bcr.co.rw

Compagnie Generale De Banque (Cogebanques)
Boulevard I’ muganda
Box, 5230 Kigali
Tel: 503326.
Fax: 503336
Email; cogebank@rwandal.com

Fina Bank-Kigali
Plot 20, Boulevard tie la Revolution
Box, 331 Kigali
Tel; 574456.574456
Fax:  573484
Email: finabank@terracom.rw

Union Des Banques Populaires Du Rwanda
Plot 32 Avenue de I’ Armee
Box, 1348Kiqali
Tel: 573561, 573559, 573564
Fax; 573579
Email: info@upbr.co.rw
www.ubpr.co.rw

Union Des Caisses Des Travailleurs (UCT)
Box, 7076
Tel: 585631
Fax: 585631
Email:uct@rwandatel1.rwanda1.com

Forex Bureaux in Rwanda
Money exchange centres in Rwanda. Currencies includes, dollars, pounds,etc
Dufatanye Forex Bureau
Rue Cartier Mateus
Fax: 08557517

Express Forex Bureau
Box, 6746 Kigali
Tel: +250-577456
Mob: 08 454356
Fax: +250-517456

Forex Leadership
Box, 186 Kigali
Tel: +250-572473
Fax: +250-572472

Give & take
Box, 663 Kigali
Tel: +250-571138

Great Lakes Forex Bureau
Avenue Du Travail
Tel: +250-511239

Group Carrefour
Box: 2351 Kigali
Tel: +250-57556
Fax: +250-577743

Group Ramji
Box, 205 Kigali
Tel: +250-576840
Fax: +250-575450

International Forex Bureau
Avenue du travail
Tel/Fax: +250-576843

K Forex Bureau
Box, 2922 Kigali
Tel/ Fax: +250-570187

Kigali National Forex Bureau
Box, 3148 Kigali
Tel: +250-571095
Fax: +250-571096

Leadership Sarl
Box, 1864
Tel: +250-572473

M & M Forex Bureau
Box: 517 Kigali
Tel: +250-577914

Monicom Fores
Box: 41 Kigali
Tel: +250-577419
Fax: +250-514719

Papiforex Leadership
Rue de L’Epargne Opp.GPO
Tel: +250-572473

Rexco Forex
Avenue de la Revolution
Kigali
Tel: +250-501927
Fax: +250-510927

Satguru Travel & Tour Service
B0x 2111 Kigali
Tel: +250-573079, 5i77497
Fax: +250-572231

Taurus Forex Bureau
Avenue la paix
Tel: +250-305096

Verma (ETS)
Tel: +250-572649,574612
Fax: +250-574177
Mob: 08 300051
Email:verma@rwanda1.com
Coffee dealers

Kigali became the capital when Rwanda gained Independence in 1962. It is endowed with a wonderful climate because of the tropical climate and hilly nature of the country.

Since the end of the 1994 genocide between the Hutu and Tutsi tribes, Kigali city infrastructure has greatly developed with a good road and communication network and better administration.
This is a list of the districts that constitute Kigali City

* District of Butamwa,

*  District of Gikondo,

* District of Gisozi,

* District of Kacyiru,

*  District of Kanombe,

*  District of Kicukiro,

*  District of Nyamirambo,

*  District of Nyarugenge

In this district is where the National Museum and the King’s court, which continue to attract a considerable number of tourists are found. The Southern Province shares its Southern border with the provinces of Ngozi and kayanza of Burundi, it shares its Eastern border with Kigali city, as well as the Eastern province and Kirundo (Burundi), it shares the northern one with the Northern province, while in the west it borders the Western province.

In the recent redistricting arrangemen, the province got 8 new districts which include; Komanyi, Muhanga, Huye, Gisagara, Ruhango, Nyaruguru, Nyamagabe as well as Nyanza and  all these are being headed by Mr. Evariste Kabere, who is assisted by the Provincial Executive Secretariat (P.E.S)-Ms Izabiliza Jeanne.

In addition to commerce, mines and services that make an economic domain, thee are other areas where people who mainly live in rural areas indulge, and those are agricultural and animal husbandry.
Meanwhile, it is mainly by road transport, that people move and even transport the goods.

The Province, which abounds in varied diversity of fauna ad flora, has an uneven relief dominated by high mountains and over hanged by a chain of volcanoes, which the climax is the Karisimbi summit with 4507 meters of altitude plus an average altitude of 2000m.

The Northern province was allocated districts during the new redistricting arrangement, and it is important still to note that Mr. Bucagu Boniface heads this province as the Provincial Governor and he is assisted by the Provincial Executive Secretary (P.E.S) who is Kabagamba Deo

With the redistricting arrangements, which were carried o recently, the eastern province therefore got Theoneste Mutsindashyaka heading. It is the Provincial Governor, while the Provincial Executive Secretary-Gasana Charles is his assistant.

Some parts of the province are located in a region, which is covered by a chain of mountains with so many rivers snaking between them. Despite the fact that these rivers produce an attractive scenery, they are still accounted responsible for the soil erosion especially during the rainy season, which they cause to the province.

The provincial authorities have therefore opened up a campaign of planting trees where they have been cut as well as reserving the old one, and they do these in the name of solving this problem-Soil erosion. Putting the artificial forests aside, the province has also got natural forests, where various species of animals reside and these include Nyungwe and Mukuru forests.

With the new redistricting arrangement, the Eastern province is then made up of 7  districts, which are being headed by the Provincial Governor-Sheik Harelimana Moussa Fazil, with his assistant Ngabo Amiel who is the Provincial Executive Secretariat (P.E.S).

Roundpoint Kigali

Kigali, a city that is located almost in the center of Rwanda, went through the recent redistricting arrangement too, and the city is at the moment headed by the Executive Secretary-Ndayisaba Fidèle while people in Kigali continue to wait for their Mayor to be elected-democratically.

The city has experienced a high population increase over the past twenty years, which was even boosted by the genocide period, when the returning Rwandans flocked the capital in the name of looking for security. The population is therefore believed to have shot from 6,000 in 1960 to 603, 049 to-date.

Kigali City

Kigali city, which is almost in the center of the country, with altitude of 1057’S and on longitude 30004’Eis now facing a number of challenges. The city needs to get more modernized so as to look a real capital city, it needs to form jobs for all those who can,  making the city  more attractive, supportive or business and investment, both within the Central/East African region as well as within the world’s economy.

Bwanacyambwe, which  is an area of interlocking hills surrounded by two major hills of Jali and Kigali is th natural region of Kigali.

The old provinces of Rwanda Included the following;

Kigali City ( 8 Districts)
Kigali Ngali Province ( 10 Districts)
Gitarama Province ( 10 Districts)
Butare Province ( 10 Districts)
Gikongoro Province ( 7 Districts)
Ruhengeri Province ( 11 Districts)
Cyangugu Province ( 7 Districts)
Byumba Province ( 9 Districts)
Kibuye Province ( 5 Districts)
Umutara Province (8 Districts)
Gisenyi Province (10 Districts)
Kibungo Province ( 10 Districts)

Rwanda administrative divisions known as provinces where unites and finally divided into;
–Kigali province
–Western Province
–Northern Province
–Eastern Province
–Southern Province

The old provinces of Rwanda Included the following;

Kigali City ( 8 Districts)
Kigali Ngali Province ( 10 Districts)
Gitarama Province ( 10 Districts)
Butare Province ( 10 Districts)
Gikongoro Province ( 7 Districts)
Ruhengeri Province ( 11 Districts)
Cyangugu Province ( 7 Districts)
Byumba Province ( 9 Districts)
Kibuye Province ( 5 Districts)
Umutara Province (8 Districts)
Gisenyi Province (10 Districts)
Kibungo Province ( 10 Districts)

Rwanda administrative divisions known as provinces where unites and finally divided into;
–Kigali province
–Western Province
–Northern Province
–Eastern Province
–Southern Province

This is a dance, which tells the stories of heroes and kings of Rwanda, accompanied by instruments such as ingoma, ikembe, iningiri, umuduri and inanga. The inanga, which is a lyre-like string instrument, has produced several Rwanda’s finest known performers internationally, involving Sentore, Maitre de Rujindiri, Kirusu, Sebatunzi, Sophie and Victor Kabarira.

The Rwandan-Belgian Cecile Kayirebwa is the most popular Rwandan musician. Prior to the 1990’s which had mush chaos, Rwanda produced famous local bands such as Imena, Nyampinga, les 8 Anges, Les Fellows, Impala,, Abamarungi, Los Compagnons de la Chanson, Bisa, Ingenzi and Isibo y’Ishakwe. They captured influences from all over Africa, mainly the Congo and Caribbean Zouk and reggae.

After the civil war, music slowly came back to the nation, and new stars came up, the most conspicuous of which is perhaps Aime Murefu, a guitarist that draws upon American rock and blues guitarists such as Jimi Hendrix, BB King and Carlos Santana.

Currently, singer Jean-Paul Samputu, together with Ingeli his group, won two Kora awards (African Grammy), for being the most Inspiring Artist ands also the Best Traditional Artists in the year 2003, for their performance of neo-traditional Rwandan music. The group goes around the world proclaiming the Christian message  of peace and reconciliation, and helps collect money for the number of orphans in Rwanda.

The male dance, referred to as Intore in the Kinyarwanda language, were worriors in the past. On the other hand, the female’s dance is usually compared to ballet. It is meant to display the grace as well as the beauty of the women of Rwanda and emulating cattle’s movement.

Cattle is a kind of wealth in both Rwandan and Burundian culture.
However, the Rwandan dance is done by all the three ethnic groups of Rwanda including the Hutu, Tutsi and Twa.

From the Iinimba through the Imishayayo up to the Intore, men dance to depict love and care. Ikinimba is part of the traditional courtship ritual. It is danced by men and un married women. When a woman gets married, she may stop performing in the dance. Even after they have married.

Visitors who are lucky might get the opportunity to spontaneous traditional dances in the villages of Rwanda. The Intore Dance Troupe is the best exponent of Rwanda’s several and dynamic traditional musical and dance styles. Started many hundreds of years back, the Intore-literacy ‘The Chosen ones’-at the time danced exclusively for the Royal court, however, today, their exciting dance can be organized at short notice through the national Museum in Butare. A more   modern type of Rwandan music is the up beat and harmonious devotional singing, which can be heard in any church service all over the state.

Direct flights from Rwanda to other countries include;
Entebbe, Nairobi, Bujumbura, Kilimanjaro and Johannesburg.

Nairobi – In  Kenya – Daily Flights.
Entebbe – In  Uganda – Daily Flights.
Bujumbura  – In  Burundi – Five Flights a Week.
Johannesburg – In South Africa – Three Flights a week
Kilimanjaro – In Tanzania – Three Flights a week

Some of the domestic flights within Rwanda those to the western border with Congo in Changugu-Karembe.

A narrow search on the Internet, will show that eco-tourism is a mixture of both tourism and the environment, for example planning before development, sustainability of resources, economic viability of a tourism product, no negative effect on either the environment or local communities, responsibility for the environment from developers, the tourism sector and tourists, environmentally-friendly practices by all parties concerned and economic benefits going to local communities.

Ever since its beginning in the late 1980’s the countries over the world, whose tourism industry deserves writing about, have engaged in an active campaign to support the type of tourism which is not so extractive, but instead sustainable. For example, the current economic assessment of the rainforest land use in Brazil, where conservationists concluded that logging the forest offered an initial high return, followed by low income. Changing of the forest into pastureland was even less rewarding and needed substantial initial investment and the study determined that eco-tourism offered the most income for the long time.

The similar high end practice in tourism is echoed in Kenya, where local communities are  perceiving the economic benefits of eco-tourism and are usually induced to protect resources and acquire conservationist ways and this has therefore turned into serious revenue, a case in point is Amboseli National Park in Kenya, where each lion is approximated to be worth 27,000 USD and each elephant herd is worth 610,000 USD in tourist revenue each year therefore their new motto: “Wildlife pays wildlife stays”.

What is not needed to say, is the Rwandan tourism industry controlled by ORTPN (Office Rwandais Du Tourisme Et Des Parcs Nationaux) its governing body, are not spared in the advocacy of the advocacy of the eco-tourism in the touring sector. Rwanda together with its eco-tourism activities which involve Golden monkey trekking in Nyungwe Forest, Gorilla tracking of the five families in the Volcanoes National Park, the over 300 bird species to watch, which involve the Rwenzori Turaco, giant lobelias and more than 200 distinct kinds of trees and flowers, which also involve the famous wild orchids, has embarked on important ways which are geared at directing Rwanda’s tourism industry to an eco-tourist based one.

The policy at the ORTPN is one aimed at high end type of tourism, in contrary to mass  tourism. In the high end tourism system, you do not get many tourists, but then you get a big amount of revenue from it. This is aimed at the preservation and management of the environmentally sensitive regions.

According to ORTPN, the focus has viewed such measures being put in place, like the five gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park, have to be toured by a maximum of eight people per day, and they get to spend with the family less than an hour each tour. All this will be at a cost of 375 USD each day for visitors coming from outside the country, 250 USD for the local visitors who are not non-nationals and frw10, 000 for nationals.

Concerning Nyungwe forest, which is popular for its attractive nature walks to the Kamiranzovu big swamps and the wonderful cascading water falls, visitors are supposed to use gazetted trails and when deep in the forest, are obliged to be led by the forest guides, to look at hundreds of the bird species, hundreds of colobus monkeys and the different plant species found there.

However, here again the policy is that nobody is supposed to get out of the forest with anything, even if the wild orchid. With a limited number of visitors and activity, the tourism of a sustainable tourism.

The ORTPN activities, which are geared toward eco-tourism, have put effect on the several tourist place, in a way that has in turn, approved responsible tourism.
An example is Banda, which is a small village in Nyunguwe Forest, that is often times toured by the visitors. The inhabitants of this place have managed to tap directly from the visitors, owing to their crafts that they sell to the visitors.

The office itself, has been able to contribute to communities surrounding these tourist attraction, in sharing revenue schemes all over the country, an amount  in the year which has come to frw 42 milliom, for their several projects of self-development, which have no attachement at all on tourism and which is a developing tendency.

Just like tourism in places, the tendencies in Rwanda are changing and welcoming tourism since it aims at long-term benefits in a sustainable tourist atmosphere.

Wildlife
On a vacation or holiday to Rwanda, a tour to Akagera national park will give you the opportunity to watch big game like the elongated Giraffe, Butchel’s Zebra, Topi, Gazelles, herds of antelopes, elephants out to quench their thirst at the banks of the river and lake shore, the tiny Oribi, eland and chestnut-coated Impala. The leopards are also inhabitants of this park together with the hyenas, bushbuck, bush baby, lions, baboons, and the awkward Tsessebe.

In the lake, bloats of hippos are seen swimming while protecting their silky bodies from the sun. At dusk, they leave the water and trek inland, to graze on short savannah grass that is their main source of food. Bulky crocodiles often viewed at the sunbathing shores.

Bird Life
Akagera safari park hosts about 525 bird species mainly constituting of water birds such as, Sand pipers, Ibis, Jacanas, fish Eagle and herons. It also supports some of the endangered species like the peculiar shoebill stork and lovely papyrus gonolek.

Activities in Akagera National Park

* Fishing

* Game Viewing

* Bird watching

* Boat Rides

* Nature walks

* Picnics

* Camping

Accommodation in the park:
Akagera Game Lodge
Umbrella Pine Hotel in Kibungo
Hotel Dereve in Rwamagana
Campsites.

Getting into the park
Akagera can be accessed through the Kiyonza and Kabarando gates.  Accessing the part by air is possible in case you book early before you holiday.

****************Read More on
Vsitor Instructions for Akagera National Park
Tariffs for park activities

Nyungwe Forest is the largest block of montane in East and Central Africa comprising of a diversity of flora and fauna including 13 species of primates make 25% of primates in Africa, such as chimpanzees, Acrobatic Angola Colobus, Vervet monkey, Silver monkey, Golden monkey, Owl-faced monkey, Grey-cheeked mangabey, three species of bushbaby, Red-tailed monkey, Olive baboon and L’Hoest’s monkey. Chimpanzee tracking is the main activity in the park. Other animal include; Leopard, African civet, marsh mongoose, side stripped jackal, golden cat, Genet, slender, duikers, Congo clawless otter, tree hyrax and  flying squirrels. Nyungwe forest also has 120 species of butterflies and three species of horned chameleons contribute to the reptiles.  Floral attractions include the over 2000 species of trees and flowering plants such as the giant Lobelia and colorful orchids.

Over 300 bird species can be viewed in the park, out of which 24 species are restricted to montane forests positioned on the Alpine Rift. The star attraction specie of the birds is the great Blue Turacco. Other species of birds include the Ross’s turaco, Red-breasted sparrow hawk, Grey –cheeked hornbill, Regal sunbirds, Red-throated alethe, Ruwenzori batis, Kungwe apalis, Blue-headed and White-headed wood-hoopoe.

Amidst the forest undergrowth are numerous walking trails spread through out. A number of viewing points and water falls are spotted a long the network of trails spread through out. A number of viewing points and waterfalls are spotted a long the network trails. A long side the main road is a campsite and a rest house set amidst nature. The reserve is large and rich in large and rich in biodiversity. So visitors will have to spend two or more days to explore the treasures of the jungle.

The beauty in it all is that the park can be easily accessed from Butare (90km) and Cyangugu (54km) towns for excursions. It is 225 km from Kigali town.

Park Activities comprise;

* Trekking Mt. Bigugu

* I  day tour to Lake Kivu

* Bird watching

* Chimpanzee tracking

* Primate watching

* Nature walks following the trails

* Excursions to Kamiranzovu Marsh.

Note: In case you want to include Chimpanzee tracking on your safari itinerary, your advised to book early enough in order to secure a tracking permit.

Accommodation:
Gisakura Guest House
Uwinka Rest House
Ortpn campsites

Tarrifs for activities in Nyungwe National Park

Cultural safaris in Nyungwe

The undulating mountains ecosystem harbors the endangered mountain Gorillas. The park also comprises of the montane ecosystem with bamboo forest, heath, swamp and open grasslands. Guided nature walks through the rain forest and cultivated foothills of the Virungas expose you to mystical views of the wilderness- listen to sounds of the golden monkeys and graceful birds. The park is spotted with buffaloes, elephants and giraffes.

An exhilarating trek through the cultivated foothills of the Virungas offers stirring views in all directions. Then, abruptly, the trail enters the national park, immersing trekkers in the mysterious intimacy of the rainforest, alive with the calls of colourful birds and chattering of the rare golden monkey, and littered with fresh spoor of the mountains’ elusive populations of buffalo and elephant. Through gaps in the forest canopy, the magnificent peaks are glimpsed, easily accessible and among the highest in Africa, beckoning an ascent.

The bustling market town of Ruhengeri has a memorable setting at the base of the Virungas. On the outskirts of town, the natural bridge at Musanze – a solidified lava flow  is a fascinating relic of the volcanic activity that shaped this scenic area. Also within easy day tripping distance of Ruhengeri are the seldom visited but lovely Lakes Burera, Ruhondo and Karago.

Accommodation

• Virunga Safari Lodge
• Ruhengeri offers a good selection of reasonably priced small hotels and guesthouses, including the newly renovated hotel Gorilla’s Nest.
• Visitors could also base themselves in Gisenyi or Kigali and – with an early start – head to the Parc des Volcans and Ruhengeri as a day trip.

Gorilla filming fees and Volcanoes park Tariffs