rwanda gorilla safaris – Walmark Rwanda Safaris

Rwanda Development strategy Boosting Tourism Sector

Rwanda Development strategy Boosting Tourism Sector

First word when one hears “Rwanda” is the inhuman Genocide that claimed almost a million lives and as i write memories often draw a shiver in my soul. Its unspeakable, unforgettable but the bonding of citizens has made it more simpler to forge away forward embracing togetherness and avoid divisive politics but work together for a better tomorrow for us and our generations after we are gone.

Well if you have been to Rwanda of late then you bear witness to the fast pace of development and investments taking place due to its economic stability and of course an iron hard on corruption which is the nemesis of African Governments. But the wounds of the Genocide can be felt when you visit the Genocide museums across the country and you should never miss visiting the “Kigali Genocide Museum” in case you have a minute of your tight schedule. Note its free of charge just a cab or bike to drop you over is the main cost and possibly our coffee/tea in the Museum canteen after the touching tour that will see you shade tears if your not strong enough to handle emotions.

Besides the scars of the Museum, Rwanda is gifted by Nature with the Famous Giant Mountain Gorilla’s in the Volcanoes National Park that have been the main tourism attraction drivers. Besides Gorillas you can also sight other unique primates like the Golden Monkeys, White colubus Monkeys and Chimpanzees in the Nyungwe Rain forest National park that stretches around Lake Kivu and also home for diversity of bird species and canopy walks for the strong hearted ones.

Introduction of Lions that had become extinct in the Akagera National park will give you a complete coverage of Africa world life experience from Primates, Birds to nature wildlife.

Hotels and Restaurants offer cuisine diversity for people from all walks of life to ensure Rwanda becomes your Home away from Home coupled with the Warm hospitality and reception of the locals who are always available to offer all necessary guidance when needed.

Lake Kivu offers beautiful beaches and water sports to keep you relaxed and busy during your stay in Rwanda.

Truth about Mountain Gorillas after Harambe’s Zoo episode

Truth about Mountain Gorillas after Harambe’s Zoo episode

After the killing of Harambe Gorilla at Cincinnati zoo which is unfortunate, people need to know more what Gorilla’s are really like. Among the primates, mountain gorillas are the largest, unique, shy and adorable which make them more attractive in the many primate species across the world. In the world, Mountain Gorilla’s can only be sighted in Three countries in their Natural Habitants in Uganda (Bwindi impenetrable rain forest national park and Mgahinga national parks in south western Uganda), Rwanda (Volcanoes national park) and Democratic Republic of Congo in Virunga park. This is one unique adventure in the regional attracting Thousands of travelers to experience an awesome encounter with our human affiliated relatives. Interesting, there are two types of gorillas in the wild and the world. The Eastern gorilla’s are the most tracked and most desired because of their size and nature. They are huge and sited in Rwanda at Volcanoes National park and Uganda in both Bwindi and Mgahinga national park.They include the mountain gorillas and lowland gorillas. However the second type of the western gorillas is smaller in size and less in number but look similar like the other.

Feeding. Gorillas’ love eating leaves, shoots, roots, vines, berries ,grass, and fruits while in their natural wild habitat and Small insects spicy up their meal sometimes. Eating is one of their daily main activities in the wild because they have large stomach which demand so much in order to get filled up. The funny bit with these animals is that despite the plenty of food around them, still they will always move to other places in search for more. Their movements irritate some unfit gorilla tracking tourists but its rewarding experience to fit travelers who visit different Africa countries for Gorilla tracking safaris. After knowing the gorilla favorite dishes, gorilla tracking travelers can now start looking at gorillas and new friends in the wild unlike the thinking that they can eat fresh. But always remember to respect all the park Gorilla tracking rules and regulations because the Gorillas are wild animals that can harm humans in one way or the other.

Gestation period. Gorillas spend 8.5 months in the gestation period which is approximately around 257 days less that for humans’ 265. This period allows the fetus to mature and infant are born helpless as real babies. Its takes a while for them to crawl and walk. Mother gorillas care and nurse their babies for about three year, 2 months to crawl, 8-9 months to walk and the other to adapt to being independent. Normally gorillas give birth to single babies but rare twin birth occurs in them once in a while. Twin birth to gorillas is tough because mothers always find difficulty in raising the two infants. Lot of monitoring has to be done by gorilla doctors and conservation rangers to see that the two infants grow up together and health. Movements of baby gorillas is too minimal that can only be moved from one place to other by the mother gorilla a hassle she faces if they are born two. However, there are some interesting reflexes in young gorillas which are common in human newborn babies like natural searching for the nipple and the teat fitting reflex. Same characters grow as months pass by and babies cling more to their mothers without help.

Intelligence. When comparing primates’ intelligence, gorillas come first close to humans. Gorillas are shy, peaceful, tolerant and reserved evidenced by the large number of tourists who visit them in their natural wild habitats daily. Also there has been an increase of gorilla habituated families ready for trackers each day in all the gorilla parks since 1970 a good sign of gorilla intelligence. If intelligence was judged according to size of brain, gorillas would come last because they have the smallest weighing approximately 500gm. Chimpanzees have a close look like the gorillas but have completely different characters and level of intelligence. Scientists say that gorillas can recognize themselves unlike other animals and their intelligence develop according to the environment where they live. Gorillas live in families/groups headed by one Silver back male together with several females and infants. However, in mountain gorillas about 40% of groups contain several adult males who are closely related. According to researchers the wild gorilla forest has many roaming male gorillas who count on the gorilla population though the silver backs dominate the group until death. After his death the group dissolves or gets a new silver back but normally the son of the dead leader. The silver back intelligence is just like for a caring father in a home. The silver back makes the decisions on when his group wakes up, eats, moves and rests for the night because protecting its family is the main priority though it also goes with benefits.

Gorillas also have the most fun and interesting time of their life when they play, wrestling, hug, hold each other, and even smile for themselves in the loudest voice ever a thing which keeps them young and health though they are said to live up to 50 years of age. Gorillas laugh, grumble especially the young ones as the silver back and female gorillas watch over them.

Above all gorillas are known as unique beautiful creatures in the wild but have you ever wondered why the silver back is too outstanding and attractive? Their body is mass with striking and fearful face though in the real sense it’s a friendly animal. Looking into their eyes makes you feel feverish if not strong and being close to it is a miracle. The mixed up colour hairy body makes tourists admire what nature presents and give thanks to the park conservationist who keep an eye on the apes and even care for them like their own children. Be one of those to meet the Silver back this year in wild by booking a Rwanda or Uganda gorilla tracking holiday any time of the year.

Besides the Gorilla tracking safaris, travelers too enjoy other primate treks such as Chimpanzee’s, Monkeys (Golden and colubus monkey unique and rare species), Birding with over 500 bird species in the region, nature wildlife game drives and water games such as rafting and boat cruises besides people and culture tourism that is life touching adventure to know how people have evolved with modernization in Africa while preserving their heritage.

A Must Bucketlist Apes and Primate safaris in Rwanda

A Must Bucketlist Apes and Primate safaris in Rwanda

Apes and Humans differ from all other apes because they lack external tails, and they are more intelligent with their survival instinct being defendant on learned behaviors over time. Human and primates share almost 98% of their DNA genetic make up which brings us closer to the primates. Rwanda is one of the main Destinations for primate treks in Africa with its Thick Rain Forest Jungles harboring a diversity of primates such as Mountain Gorilla in the Volcanoes mountain park, Chimpanzees and Monkeys such as the unique Colobus and Golden Monkeys in Nyungwe Forest park besides other Forest affiliated animals and bird species.

With a history of the inhuman Rwanda Genocide which almost tore the country apart, Rwanda has made tremendous strides in developing and conserving its Tourism industry and heritage sites making it a preferred destination in Africa with travelers making multiple travels to the same destination over the year.

Gorilla safari tracking is one main breath taking encounter experience, just coming face to face with the biggest primate in its Jungle forest with the Silver back Male watching closely over its family to protect it from any danger at all costs, taking those life catching memory photo’s as guided by the Tracking guides is worth the time and cost in Rwanda. Africa is the only destination for Gorilla tracking safaris in their nature wild and this is only available on the continent in the Thick rain forest Jungles of Rwanda (Volcanoes Mountain park), Uganda (Bwindi Impenetrable Rain forest park and Mgahinga park) and DR Congo in the Virunga park.

Primate tracking in Rwanda is one of the breaks you shouldn’t miss out while in Africa since it involves meeting new friends across the globe, walking and hiking in the beautiful natural bamboo forest and also observing Gorilla families (apes) in their nature wild habitat in the company of the park ranger guides who ensure that safety of every visitor as well as implementing the conservation rules and regulations of the Mountain Gorilla’s. Experienced ranger guides are assigned to different groups of trackers and all keep in touch with those who know exactly where the Mountain Gorilla’s spend a night a day before the trek.

As you drive off from Kigali city to the Volcanoes mountain park, you will enjoy the beautiful landscapes and hills of Rwanda with terraces conservation practices to mitigate erosion’s along the hill sides and with locals going on with their daily activities but friendly and beautiful people. French, English and Kinyaryanda are the main communication dialects to ensure your at ease including Swahili often spoken at that country side since it nears DR Congo and Uganda Borders. Rwanda gorilla treks end quite early depending on the particular gorilla family which one tracks so tourists utilize the afternoon by engaging in other park activities including culture and nature walks/hikes.

However there is no estimated time for Rwanda gorilla tracking tours because tourists are given a chance to request for either hard or easy gorilla families to track which results into different tracking duration but the estimated time is two to eight hours. It’s natural that Gorillas are still wild animals though habituated and can’t be found in one place, so the search continues for different tracking groups of tourists through the forest following the path made by the ranger guides. Sometimes sky’s open up for forest showers during the trek a fantastic experience for one to meet the Gorillas while wet and fresh. If your Gorilla family has babies, take a close look at mother Gorillas holding their babies too exciting and they care like humans. The juvenile always play around and when mamas notice that you getting closer they climb up the trees with their little’s as a way of protecting them from human. If lucky they may spend some times around on the ground as they plan for their next move. During the 1hour stay with apes in the wild, one gets a chance to see how hug the Silver Back Male Gorilla is as it gallops in the trees and grass.

If time permits on your side, you can enjoy other primate adventures such as Chimpanzee and Monkey treks in Nyungwe forest park and for Bird safari lovers its one main diversity affiliated forest to see various bird species too and forest water falls, Nature wildlife game lovers can opt for Akagera national park to sight the Big five and other wild game with amazing beautiful landscape that is breath taking and the meandering Akagera River as it traverse to Tanzania before emptying in Lake Victoria. Kigali city tour is a must for first time visitors not forgetting visiting the Genocide Museums that tell the horrible stories of the inhuman genocide of 1994 that left almost one million lives out of sight due to political intrigues. We learnt our lessons and we hope the future stands to unit Rwanda people together and the world too can learn from our progressing steps to amend our mistakes to live in harmony with one another. Rwanda is a small country and drives to connect to various heritage sites and parks is equally short in case your time cautious.