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VOLCANS
NATIONAL PARK
The
125 sq. km Volcanoes
National Park in
north-western Rwanda,
bordering Uganda
is part of the six
Virungas Volcanic
Mountains and home
of the rare Mountain
Gorilla. The mountains
and park are an
evergreen and bamboo
forest, open grassland,
swamp and heath.
Visitors
to Volacanoes National
Park usually go
there to track the
Mounatin Gorillas.
The climb to the
gorilla’s natural
habitat of shady
bamboo forest offers
fantastic views
in all directions.
Tracking takes anything
from 1 to 4 hrs,
trekking through
the forest. The
tracking is always
accompanied by experienced
tracking guides.
During the tracking,
guests may spot
golden monkeys,
buffalo, duiker
and a variety of
birds. But the highlight
of the tracking
is the eventual
coming face to face
with the gentle,
giant Mountain Gorillas.
A fully grown Silverback
Gorilla can be up
to 3 times the size
of an average man,
yet it is remarkably
peaceful and tolerant
of human visitors.
Visitors are allowed
to spend up to one
our hour of viewing
as the gorillas
go about their daily
life, feeding, playing,
resting, raising
their young. Viewing
time is limited
to 1 hour, max.
8 visitors per group.
When near the gorillas,
keep your voice
low.
To
minimize possible
transmission of
human diseases,
visitors are asked
to maintain a distance
of 7M (about 22
feet) from the gorillas.
If you are sick
with a cold, flu
or other contagious
illness, please
do not visit the
gorillas. Should
you need to cough,
cover your mouth
and turn away from
the gorillas. Spitting
in the park is strictly
prohibited
At
1700M above sea
level, it is generally
cold, particularly
in the evening,
so warm clothing
is advised.
Bring
a water bottle and
a small snack although
eating, drinking
and smoking near
the gorillas is
forbidden.
AKAGERA
NATIONAL PARK
Akagera
National Park is
near the Rwanda/Tanzania
border, and is dominated
by numerous swamps
and lakes along
the path of the
Akagera River. The
Akagera National
Park is said arguesd
to be the real source
of River Nile. The
park a typical African
savannah, an acacia
woodland interspersed
with open grassland.
Game
found in the park
include elephant
and buffalo, lucky
visitors may find
leopard, spotted
hyena or even a
stray lion. Giraffe
and zebra are in
abundance. There
are also more than
10 species of antelope,
the most common
the chestnut-coated
impala. The very
small Oribi, Bushbuck,
Tsessebe and the
world's largest
antelope, the Cape
Eland are also present.
Pods
of 50 hippos grunt
and splutter all
day long and large
crocodiles bask
in the sun with
wide open jaws.
NYUNGWE
NATIONAL PARK
The
1000 sq. km Nyungwe
National Park in
southeast Rwanda
is the largest montane
forest block in
East or Central
Africa. It is also
the oldest, dating
back to before the
last Ice Age. The
forest has more
than 200 types of
tree and numerous
flowering plants.
Nungwe
is home to 13 species
of primates including
chimpanzee, L’Hoest’s
monkey and the acrobatic
Angola colobus.
It is the most important
ornithological site
in Rwanda with more
than 300 species
of bird recorded,
two dozen of which
stay within a handful
of montane forests
on the Rift Valley.
The highlight is
the blue turaco
– a blue, red and
green bird which
streams from tree
to tree..
For
more information,
please visit http://www.rwandatourism.com/parks.htm
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