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.

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.

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

Rwanda’s landscape is among the most attractive in Africa. From the low-lying plians,lakes and rivers, raised hills and  finally to the high peaked mountains scattered throughout the country. Due to he everchanging altitude, Rwanda national parks have got a diversity of wildlife, birds, aquatic animals and reptiles living in the savannah grasslands, swamps, lakes, rivers, shrubs, forest and mountain vegetation.
Rwanda lake and Vegetation

Volcanoes mountain gorilla national park
Is situated on the Virunga mountains and hosts different families of mountain gorillas that can be seen on a safari to Rwanda by trekking up Mountain Volcanoes. The Mountain Gorillas have to be tracked because they travel long distances looking for food and breeding areas. They keep migrating  away from Rwanda to either Uganda or Congo but the different families travel at different times.

Nyungwe forest National Park
Supports the largest rain forest in Africa, Nyungwe forest. The forest has chimpanzees inhabiting there that are the main attractions. It has approximately 260 tree species recorded and over 100  species of orchids and giant lobelias

Akagera national park
Is set to the Tanzania border toRwanda with River kagera running through, six lakes and Mitumba Hills. It is a home to many primates, birds. Fish and many aquatic plants and animal species.

Activities in Rwanda Safari Parks include:
- Game Drives
- Sport Fishing
- Boat Rides
- Nature Walks
- Birding
- Chimpanzee Tracking
- Gorilla Trekking Safaris
- Sight Seeing
- Photography
- Cultural and Historical Experiences
- Mountain Climbing
- Self drive safaris

A centre with a difference, rich in floral variety, the forest has over 200 distinct kinds of tree, and a myriad of flowering plants constituting the other-worldly giant labelia, and a host of colourful orchids.

Nyungwe is most charming, because of its primates: the species tantamount to 13, involving human kind’s nearest living relative the chimpanzee, and the handsome L’Hoest’s monkey and hand red-strong troops of the pleasurable acrobatic Angola colobus. The most important ornithological site in Rwanda, Nyungwe, shelters about 300 bird species, out of which 24 are limited to a handful of montane forests on the Albertine Rift. The avian highlight of Nyungwe is the great blue-turaco- an outlandish blue, red and green bird, which streams from tree to tree like a procession of streamlined psychedelic turkeys.

An extensive network of well-maintained moving trails goes through the forest to many waterfalls as well as sporting sites. A comfortably rural rest house and properly located campsite is found alongside the highway, and the reserve can willingly be toured as a day trip from the towns of Butare and Cyangugu. However, Nyungwe does need more time: anyone who wishes to pursue chimps and look at many diversities of smaller primate, will deserve two days there-and those dedicated to bird watching may not wish to leave.

Rwanda presents to you one of the wonders of Africa with irresistible beauty and a virgin economy. It is famous for gorilla safaris and tours and wonderful culture in Africa. The movie hotel Rwanda presents the fact that the 1994 Rwanda genocide history is phased out of Rwanda. The economy is rising rapidly and the natives have left the past behind for new developments.

On the fore fronts of economy, Rwanda is gaining considerably in the tourism sector. The national parks, mountains and lakes provide numerous habitats for a diversity of wildlife, birds and other safari attractions.

Hotel provide luxury and cheap accommodation to all travelers and the experienced personnels working their offer quality services. Indeed, a safari to Rwanda is truly rewarding!

Transport and communication section has built up standard road network from the different provinces of Rwanda to Kigali main stream.

The education system is improving starting from the grassroots far in the villages to the urban areas. The country is divided into administrative areas according to regions including Kigali province which embraces the capital city of the country in addition to the northern, southern, eastern and western provinces.

More about Rwanda;

Insurance
Art and crafts
Health Service
Rwanda Agriculture
Movies in Rwanda
Museum
Financial sector
ICT and telecommunication

Similar to chimpanzee tracking, tourists on a gorilla trekking activity are allowed to spend an hour watching these apes performing their daily activities, resting, playing, gathering food and feeding. It is your golden opportunity to shoot a picture of the amazing creatures in their natural habitat.

When you travel to Rwanda, access to Volcanoes national gorilla park is via Ruhengeri town; a one and a half hours drive from Kigali city, the country’s capital. Gorilla trackers organize and hire cars for private transportation on their gorilla tour from Ruhengeri; the last stop over town adjacent to the park boundaries and proceed to the headquarters and follow the tracking trails on foot.

Following the well-maintained network of nature trails, we will take you through the forest, encountering creepers, hanging vines, colorful giant lobelia and misty bamboo. Regularly, golden monkeys among other mammals will be seen swinging from one branch to another whereas buffaloes and Duikers will cross your path at the time when you least expect it.