wiki_travel_alltext.txt

wiki_combo	Akagera is a national park on the North Eastern side of Rwanda, bordering Tanzania.
wiki_combo	It is know for it's varied terrain: hills, savannahs, marshes, and woodlands.
wiki_combo	The park is home to many species of animals such as giraffes, zibras, lions, and the rare shoebill stork.
wiki_combo	Many tour companies run from Kigali and offer various levels of service and quality.
wiki_combo	There are one day trips, overnight trips, or multifamily options.
wiki_combo	Private drivers can be arranged by most hotels costing $150-200 for a day trip.
wiki_combo	Car rentals (without a driver) cost around $100 per day, but note that gas prices are around $4/gallon.
wiki_combo	DriversThere are public busses that pass near the park on NR3 and NR5.
wiki_combo	They cost around 5000RWF from Kigali.
wiki_combo	Entrance:$100 per person per night (November 2022).
wiki_combo	The period is not 24 hours (like in Tanzania), but rather your ticket is good until 6pm the following day.
wiki_combo	Guide: $40 per groupCar: There is a $10 per vehicle feeYou are advised to be accompanied by a guide, which costs $40 per day, per group.
wiki_combo	Guides can be picked up day of at the South Entrance which opens at 6am.
wiki_combo	If you wish to rent a car/driver/guide at the South Entrance the cost for all three is $280 per day.
wiki_combo	That does not include the $50 per person entrance fee.
wiki_combo	Akagera is home to the rare Shoebill Stork.
wiki_combo	But in many years of work, guides say they have seen very few.
wiki_combo	100 elephants,22 lions, 50 leopard, over 2000 zebra, around 70 giraffeBoat Tours $35It's a good idea to bring a pack lunch.
wiki_combo	You are not allowed to get out of the vehicle while on Safari.
wiki_combo	If you are not returning to Kigali you can catch a bus going towards Tanzania from anywhere along the NR5.
wiki_combo	Cyangugu is a city in Western Rwanda.
wiki_combo	Pronounced something like "Tchangugu", this is a city right on the southern tip of lake Kivu, as well as Changugu proper the term also refers to Kamembe, a town a few km away just up a hill overlooking the lake.
wiki_combo	Primarily this town is used as a stopover to or from Bukavu in southern DRC, however it is a pleasant place to spend a few days.
wiki_combo	There are regular buses and minibuses to Butare and Kigali in Rwanda.
wiki_combo	The town is right on the boarder with Bukavu and DRC.
wiki_combo	There is also a road south to Bugarama and from there to either DRC or Burundi.
wiki_combo	This is less frequented than the route east to Butare but it should be possible to arrange transport.
wiki_combo	Taxi-moto (motorbike Taxis) are the main form of transport within Cyangugu (and between Cyangugu and Kamembe).
wiki_combo	Nyungwe National Park is 54 km along the Butare road (not 20km as the sign in town says).
wiki_combo	Cyangugu is a useful place to stock up if you're heading to Nyungwe National Park.
wiki_combo	All the usual Rwandan fare is easily available from lunchtime buffets to brochettes.
wiki_combo	There is a range of guest houses and hotels from around 3'000Francs upwards.
wiki_combo	Eastern Rwanda is a region of Rwanda.
wiki_combo	Gabiro is a city in Eastern Rwanda.
wiki_combo	Gako is a city in Eastern Rwanda.
wiki_combo	Gisenyi is a city in Rubavu district in Western Rwanda on Lake Kivu.
wiki_combo	Gisenyi is a town on the north shore of Lake Kivu on the border with DR Congo (Goma).
wiki_combo	Gisenyi is coterminous with Goma, the city across the border in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
wiki_combo	Buses run many times a day between Kigali and Gisenyi (2h30 to 3h) and at least once a day between Kibuye and Gisenyi.
wiki_combo	Minibuses from Gisenyi to Musanze take about 2h, departing when full unless they have a fixed schedule.
wiki_combo	Gisenyi Bus Station is located near the Petite Barriere border crossing on the main road and has bank/ATM services next to it.
wiki_combo	Gisenyi is a small town and can easily be gotten around on foot or bike, alternatively there are hundreds of motorbike taxis around.
wiki_combo	From rubavu to Gisenyi expect to pay 1000 rwf.
wiki_combo	To rent a bike or tour guide, you can visit a tourist office (Green Hills Ecotours) or book them for other tour activities such as: kayak; boat trip; pottery experience; coffee and tea experience.
wiki_combo	Lake Kivu and beaches.
wiki_combo	Amazing bird life.
wiki_combo	Situated on the north of Lake Kivu, it also offers many opportunities for water sports or for excursions on the lake.
wiki_combo	The northern shore of the lake on which Goma and Gisenyi lie is a flat plain featuring lava formations from the eruptions of nearby Nyiragongo Volcano.
wiki_combo	Gisenyi town features a resort on the shores of Lake Kivu, with the best hotels and beaches.
wiki_combo	volunteering, walking & trekking, kayaking & boat trips, community-based tours, sightseeing tours.
wiki_combo	While traveling in Gisenyi you can visit the tourist office of Green Hills Ecotours, they provide space to local artists to sell their arts & crafts from their office and prices are reasonable.
wiki_combo	You can also ask for Kivu Art Gallery has a varied and colourful collection of handicrafts from the DRC, Uganda and Rwanda, including lots of Congolese masks and other wooden items as well as necklaces, paintings and basketware.
wiki_combo	Visit the gisenyi market for fresh vegetables and fruit, fabrics, clothes.
wiki_combo	It is a market frequented by locals.
wiki_combo	Calafia Cafe is located on the lakefront road in town near the Big Border crossing.
wiki_combo	Exquisite coffee and gourmet sandwiches, salads, smoothies, toast, tapas, baked goods, and cocktails.
wiki_combo	Great for dining in or grabbing a packed lunch for your car ride, trek up Nyiragongo, or hike.
wiki_combo	Other good restaurants include Thai Jazz, Super Five, Paradis Malahide, Palm garden Resort, Palm Beach Hotel and Inzu Lodge.
wiki_combo	Ask around for the locally made banana and sorghum beers.
wiki_combo	Some restaurants will assist with sourcing this.
wiki_combo	The town has a brewery.
wiki_combo	Try the home made banana beersGisenyi is right on the border of DRC and you can easily walk there; however, you should check what visa requirements are needed for the DRC as the rules have recently gotten much tougher.
wiki_combo	Plane trips can be made from here to view the Nyiragongo volcano craters.
wiki_combo	To get more information; process your visa and book your trip, visit office of Green Hills Ecotours in Gisenyi or go to virunga website.
wiki_combo	There are several buses that travel from gisenyi to other towns in Rwanda.
wiki_combo	Ritco buses have air conditioning and free WiFi, with one every half hour to Kigali.
wiki_combo	You can purchase your ticket directly from the driver/ conductor.
wiki_combo	If travelling during Umuganda then expect delays for up to 2 hours.
wiki_combo	Gitarama is a city in Southern Rwanda.
wiki_combo	Gitarama means in Spanish "Guitarra en una rama" or Guitar on a tree branchThere are 2 musical schools in Gitarama.
wiki_combo	You can learn how to play all guitar like musical instruments in there.
wiki_combo	You can learn how to play the guitar in GitaramaYou can buy lots of guitars at cheap prices in GitaramaHuye is the third city of Rwanda, located in the south.
wiki_combo	It was formerly known as Butare and many maps and official documents still refer to Butare.
wiki_combo	Huye is the capital of Huye district, which was again Butare district prior to its dissolution in 2006.
wiki_combo	It is said to have about 80,000 inhabitants.
wiki_combo	It is famous for hosting the National University, the National Museum (unique in Africa) and being near to Nyanza, where the palace of the former king (the so-called mwami) is.
wiki_combo	There are several minibus companies that make their way from Kigali to Huye.
wiki_combo	One of them recommended is Volcano.
wiki_combo	It easy to find in the Kigali domestic bus station.
wiki_combo	The fee is 2500 RFr one way.
wiki_combo	Another option is the Ritco bus, it leaves every 30 min from nyabugogo bus station, costs 2770Rfr and has usb charging ports in the seats.
wiki_combo	Huye has plenty of taxis, motorcycle taxis, and bicycle taxis, all of which will be eager to serve you.
wiki_combo	Also, you can walk from the northernmost part of Huye (the bus station) to the southernmost (the University of Rwanda) in about 20 minutes.
wiki_combo	The taxis exist mainly to take Rwandans to their homes farther outside the city).
wiki_combo	The most reliable restaurant in Huye is the restaurant at the Hotel Ibis on the main street.
wiki_combo	However, much of the Ibis's fare is Belgian instead of Rwandan.
wiki_combo	For Rwandan fare, try the Restaurant Macrobiotique, which is located on the same side of the main road as the Hotel Ibis, but closer to the university.
wiki_combo	It is popular with students.
wiki_combo	For lunch, try the nameless lunch restaurant located across the street from the Ibis and a little to the right (as you face away from Ibis).
wiki_combo	It is to the right of the craft store.
wiki_combo	For lunch they offer classic Rwandan comfort food: brochettes (goat kabobs), plantains, sweet potatoes, boiled cassava, beans, and rice.
wiki_combo	It is excellent.
wiki_combo	An excellent place for dinner is the Chinese restaurant located across the street from the market, behind the gas station.
wiki_combo	Chinese workers built most of the paved roads in Rwanda, and a few Chinese restaurants survived their departure.
wiki_combo	This one serves a variety of chicken, pork, vegetarian, and beef dishes.
wiki_combo	NZIZA
wiki_combo	The first and probably the best place to get ice cream in Rwanda.
wiki_combo	It is run by a local women's cooperative and offers fresh omlettes, sandwiches and milkshakes apart from their frozen specialties.
wiki_combo	Located on the mainstreet near the university, it is a favorite spot for local families and students as well as expats.
wiki_combo	Opposite Hotel Ibis, you have to pass left to enter stairs which lead you to this 1st floor restaurant.
wiki_combo	The buffet is one of the best in town and the place on the balcony outstanding.
wiki_combo	Again on the right side of the main street coming from Kigali.
wiki_combo	Inside it looks quite shabby, it is dark and nobody could call it cozy.
wiki_combo	But it is always stuffed with locals, most of them students or moto-drivers which come here to have lunch.
wiki_combo	The buffet is cheap and good, the chapati are amazing!Hotel Foucon has its own nightclub, opend Fridays and Saturdays.
wiki_combo	There is a nameless dance club in Huye that is open on Friday and Saturday nights.
wiki_combo	It is located on the right side of the road which leads to the market from the main road (a quick inquiry at the Hotel Ibis can yield more specific directions).
wiki_combo	The club serves beer and liquor.
wiki_combo	CxC Cafe ConneXion
wiki_combo	On the main street towards the university, opposite the Anglican Church.
wiki_combo	Delicious, freshly roasted, organic local coffee.
wiki_combo	Despite it's misleading name - no, there is no internet available, this is the right place to get truly delicious espresso and buy roasted coffee beans to take home.
wiki_combo	By far the best hotel in Huye is the Hotel Ibis, which has been a Huye (Butare) landmark since the 1940s.
wiki_combo	Run by a Belgian family for several decades, the Ibis is the only hotel in Huye that has a reliable restaurant open every day of the week, as well as hot water and electricity virtually 24/7.
wiki_combo	A large patio with outdoor seating is ideal for consumption of Mutzig or Primus (popular beers in Rwanda) or the occasional sorghum beer.
wiki_combo	Of course, one popular strategy is to stay at another (cheaper) hotel and eat at the Ibis restaurant, which is open to everyone.
wiki_combo	The concierge at the Hotel Ibis is usually an excellent source of information.
wiki_combo	Wikipedia:ButareKibungo is a city in Eastern Rwanda.
wiki_combo	Kibuye is a city in Western Rwanda.
wiki_combo	Located on the shore of Lake Kivu, the surrounding area offers some stunning views of the lake.
wiki_combo	Kibuye is also a major stop on the Congo-Nile Trail, which is a popular route for hiking or bicycling that extends from Gisenyi to Kamembe.
wiki_combo	A couple of express bus companies, including Capital, run from Kigali to Kibuye and back every hour on the hour.
wiki_combo	As of August 2017, the cost is 2500 RWF.
wiki_combo	The trip will take you about two hours and forty-five minutes- leave at least three hours.
wiki_combo	A second option is to take a local bus (matatu) which costs slightly less, but will feel more cramped.
wiki_combo	Look for the 'Kibye' signs at Nyabugogo taxi park.
wiki_combo	Onatracom runs a bus from Gisenyi to Kibuye most everyday.
wiki_combo	The bus is extremely crowded and you often won't get a seat.
wiki_combo	However, with a price of only 2000 RWF it is great deal.
wiki_combo	The ride takes around 5 hours.
wiki_combo	From Gisenyi, the bus leaves at around 730 AM.
wiki_combo	Get there well ahead of time if you want to have a seat.
wiki_combo	A second bus line, Zam Zamu, runs a camper-bus service between Gisenyi and Kibuye.
wiki_combo	This bus leaves at around 11/12 o'clock and costs 3000RWF.
wiki_combo	It is smaller and more comfortable than the Onatracom.
wiki_combo	The trip takes roughly the same amount of time.
wiki_combo	It is supposedly possible to catch a ride from Gisenyi to Kibuye on the boat (Primus boat).
wiki_combo	This fleet of boats will run whenever there is a need to transport beverages from the Bralirwa bottling facility in La Brasserie (Gisenyi) to either Kibuye or Cyangugu.
wiki_combo	Frequent busses travel to/from Kigali.
wiki_combo	3 hours to Gisenyi.
wiki_combo	You can get an Express bus with Kivu Belt bus company for 2500RWF.
wiki_combo	From Gisenyi you can transfer to Ruhengeri, 1.
wiki_combo	5 hrs, 1300RWF with Virunga or RitCo bus companies.
wiki_combo	Walking or taking a moto (motorcycle or scooter) are your options.
wiki_combo	Moto prices:From Kibuye town to most of the hotels listed should cost around 500RWF.
wiki_combo	From Kibuye town to KHI Nyamishaba - college campus with good internet and computers - 400 RWF.
wiki_combo	Visit the Genocide Memorial and Catholic Church at Home Saint Jean.
wiki_combo	Take an hour boat ride around Lake Kivu for 15,000 RWF.
wiki_combo	Go swimming at the very small beach at the Moriah Hotel or across the street from Golf Eden Rock Hotel.
wiki_combo	The Kigali Health Institute (KHI) has its smaller campus located in a part of Kibuye called Nyamishaba.
wiki_combo	The school offers the best internet access in town and the computers and internet are available for a nominal fee.
wiki_combo	As of late June 2010, the price from Kibuye town to KHI/Nyamishaba is currently 400 RWF and will take approximately 5 minutes.
wiki_combo	There is a local market everyday in Kibuye town.
wiki_combo	You can find local produce, used clothing, and lots of things from China.
wiki_combo	If you are looking for more exotic (expensive) things - bread, spices, snickers, potato chips, etc.
wiki_combo	, - go to the shops at the two gas stations in town.
wiki_combo	It is assumed that people who can pay for gas can also pay for expensive things.
wiki_combo	All hotels have a restaurant with decent food.
wiki_combo	Again, eating at the hotels will be more expensive than eating in Kibuye town at a local establishment.
wiki_combo	Prices range from 2,000 to 10,000 RWFThe following prices are for most Rwandan bars around Kibuye town (as of late June 2010)-Goat brochettes will cost 300-400 RWF-Cooked potato will cost 100 RWF-Plate of fries will cost 400-500 RWFNormally there is a lunch buffet available at some restaurants in town.
wiki_combo	Generally speaking, they cost around 800 RWF or around 1000 RWF if you chose to get a piece of meat with your meal.
wiki_combo	All hotels listed under the hotel section (minus Saint Marie) offer drinks at a slightly elevated rate and with a slightly better selection or variety than you'll find in Kibuye town.
wiki_combo	If you go into town you can find a number of local bars offering local prices for local beers - mainly Primus, Mutzig, Skoal and Turbo King.
wiki_combo	A list of prices at local bars, shops and restaurants as of late June 2010:-Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite, etc.
wiki_combo	, costs 250 or 300 RWF-Small bottle of water: 300 RWF-Large bottle of water: 600 RWFBeers:-Mutzig: 800RWF-Primus: 600RWF-Skoal: 800RWF-Turbo King: 1000RWFSaint Marie offers rooms from 3500 RWF a night.
wiki_combo	Jean A basic hotel/guest house.
wiki_combo	Hot water, electricity in clean rooms with double beds.
wiki_combo	They have (slow) WiFi and stunning views over the lake.
wiki_combo	Rooms cost 11-20,000 RWF depending on bed size and quality.
wiki_combo	The more expensive ones have a better lake view.
wiki_combo	They do have dorm rooms, which are not advertised on the website, for 8000 RWF including breakfast.
wiki_combo	Bethanie A beautiful setting on the water with mediocre, inflexible service and decent food but poor wine selection.
wiki_combo	Swimming is possible directly from the hotel.
wiki_combo	There is no beach, only slimy rocks.
wiki_combo	Terraced rows of rooms with nice gardens and trees everywhere.
wiki_combo	Single room, self-contained, as of May 2012 is 15000Rfr -- or $28US, which is a terrible exchange rate of around 535 (whereas the hotel's exchange rate is 570 so just change your dollars first then pay for the room).
wiki_combo	Holiday Inn (not affiliated with the chain)5.
wiki_combo	Moriah Hill Resort, ☎ +250 (0) 252 56 86 67, [x].
wiki_combo	Probably the nicest (and most expensive) place to stay in Kibuye.
wiki_combo	editAs of June 2010 you could get a room at most of these hotels - excluding the Moriah and Holiday Inn - starting at around 10 to 12,000 RWF.
wiki_combo	All hotels have a view of Lake Kivu, with Bethanie, Moriah and Holiday Inn being directly on the water.
wiki_combo	English/French language broadcasts are available from BBC World Service in Kibuye/Karongi on 93.
wiki_combo	Kigali district is a region of Rwanda surrounding the capital of the same name.
wiki_combo	Kigali is the capital of Rwanda.
wiki_combo	The centre of political and commercial life, Kigali dominates Rwanda and few visit the country without passing through.
wiki_combo	The city is developing fast and is very much a modern showpiece capital designed to impress visitors: from the humble tourist to foreign investors and visiting dignitaries.
wiki_combo	With a population topping 1 million, the city spreads out over several hills and valleys, with many of the better restaurants and hotels at a distance from the traditional downtown area.
wiki_combo	The Kigali City Masterplan outlines the future for this burgeoning metropolis – with plans for a new city to be built south of the current city centre.
wiki_combo	As a clean, comfortable and ordered city, Kigali is very popular with long term expats, and the city is teeming with westerners, from young church or NGO volunteers having their first experience of Africa to career development workers enjoying a relaxed lifestyle where it is safe to bring up young children.
wiki_combo	This in turn means the city supports numerous restaurants, coffee shops and supermarkets that cater to this demographic.
wiki_combo	The country is also rapidly developing, with huge infrastructure and construction projects expanding rapidly, taking advantage of the country's stable peace period.
wiki_combo	Residents are quite openly proud of the progress the country has made and are widely supportive of it.
wiki_combo	New, well-maintained roads have been extended throughout the country and you'd be hard pressed to find a single piece of litter.
wiki_combo	Schools, clean energy projects, water services, and cellular and broadband connectivity are all being rapidly developed nation-wide.
wiki_combo	However, visitors are cautioned to be respectful on matters related to ethnic / tribal affiliation and the genocide in the 1990s.
wiki_combo	While tribal / ethnic affiliation in other countries in the region is commonly discussed, it is not appropriate to ask or refer to individuals what their ethnicity or tribal affiliation is in Rwanda.
wiki_combo	Rwanda has gone to great lengths to preserve and remember the tragedy of the genocide - with it frequently held in schools and memorials as a call to ensure such tragedy and atrocity can never happen again.
wiki_combo	However, it remains a sensitive topic and should not be raised as light conversation with Rwandans.
wiki_combo	Certainly take time to pay your respects at one of the many memorials in country, but do not expect this to be a topic for small talk with Rwandans.
wiki_combo	Also when referred to in appropriate settings, the generally accepted terminology is 'genocide against the Tutsis', and not 'Rwandan genocide'.
wiki_combo	Dinky Kigali International is a delightful airport - small and organised, it is rare to encounter any problems.
wiki_combo	Be aware that plastic bags are illegal in Rwanda, so please pack using a different material.
wiki_combo	Security and check in also often operate differently here.
wiki_combo	When driving into the airport, you'll be stopped and asked to exit your vehicle with all of your bags.
wiki_combo	You'll go through an airport scanner at this road block and your bags and car will be checked by a security team independently, likely with a K9 unit.
wiki_combo	You'll then load your bags back in and continue on to the airport.
wiki_combo	Check-in times are more tightly scheduled, so you won't be able to enter the airport until around 2-3 hours before your flight time.
wiki_combo	Once you do, all airlines are served by AirRwanda staff for check-in.
wiki_combo	You'll then go through passport control and then security again before arriving at the 6 available gates.
wiki_combo	Plans are in progress to transition to the larger airport outside of Kigali as the primary airport - construction has begun to expand that airport and will eventually transition most international flights there.
wiki_combo	[1] started flights to Kigali from Amsterdam on 31 October 2010.
wiki_combo	Brussels Airlines [2] flies to Kigali from Brussels in Belgium.
wiki_combo	Kenya Airways [3] also has frequent flights from Nairobi.
wiki_combo	Ethiopian Airlines [4] has daily flights between Addis Ababa and Kigali.
wiki_combo	Rwandair [5] the national carrier, has several flights a day to other African destinations, as well as Dubai, Brussels, London, Mumbai and Guangzhou.
wiki_combo	It's a modern affair, with ticket sales and online check-in available.
wiki_combo	South African Airways [6] will resume flights to Kigali from Johannesburg in 2012.
wiki_combo	Air Uganda [7] flies six times a week to Kampala.
wiki_combo	Turkish Airlines [8] started flights to Kigali from Istanbul in May 2012.
wiki_combo	On flying out of Kigali airport keep in mind the need for a Yellow Fever Certificate at your destination (eg South Africa) - Airport officials will ask for this.
wiki_combo	Also be careful of waiting in the cafe for your flight - some flights (eg Kenya Airways to Nairobi) are often overbooked and you won't hear any announcement when they decide to start boarding early, and you could miss your flight.
wiki_combo	Also be prepared for at least 2-3 security checks before the departure.
wiki_combo	Checks are pretty thorough.
wiki_combo	Alternative Entebbe, Uganda
wiki_combo	Some international fliers find it much cheaper to fly into Entebbe in Uganda and then take the bus to Kigali.
wiki_combo	Depending an how long they stop you at the border, the bus trip takes about 9 hours.
wiki_combo	Try to get a seat on a Jaguar bus, on which WiFi is currently being introduced.
wiki_combo	The seats should be booked a day or two in advance in order to get seats #1 to #4.
wiki_combo	Roads in Rwanda are famously well-paved and clean, thanks to huge investments in infrastructure over the past decade.
wiki_combo	However, rules are strictly enforced.
wiki_combo	Speed traffic cameras are commonplace on roads through Rwanda - from small streets to larger intercity roads.
wiki_combo	Police presence is also extensive - and regular roadchecks are commonplace - often with police officers setting up in the middle of a street and having each driver pull to the side while their licence plates are run.
wiki_combo	Corruption in these cases isn't a real concern so these stops shouldn't be equated with similar exercises in other countries where police may be looking for a bribe.
wiki_combo	Just follow their directions and it should move along quickly (a bribe offer will likely instead get you in a world of trouble).
wiki_combo	Buses arrive and depart to many parts of Rwanda regularly.
wiki_combo	For buses around Kigali, there are several companies that have each won contracts for separate lines in the city.
wiki_combo	These are identifiable by their bus line number (for example 300 series which includes bus lines 302, 304, 305, etc, and are usually white with a dark green stripe).
wiki_combo	Buses can either be minibuses like matatus, or quite standard looking municipal city buses.
wiki_combo	Most Rwandans will have a contactless card that can be loaded with funds and tap in on entry.
wiki_combo	If you don't have one, you can pay the driver in cash - though won't get exact change (while there are technically smaller coins in circulation, most transactions in Rwanda round to 100 francs - so for example, while the fare on the 305 bus is 264 Rwf as of Nov 2021, if you give the driver 300, don't expect change).
wiki_combo	You'll need to flag down the bus if you're waiting - don't expect it to stop at every stop.
wiki_combo	Similarly if you're on the bus, you need to request the stop.
wiki_combo	This is easier on minibuses / matatus, but on the larger city buses, even if there is a call button, this is usually done by banging the plastic handholds on the safety rail against the rail repeatedly.
wiki_combo	Also don't be surprised to see people with big luggage, huge sacks of grains, or large bags of fruit and vegetables.
wiki_combo	These will usually be stowed in the front by the driver.
wiki_combo	There is an e-hailing app called Move which is run by VW.
wiki_combo	The app doesn't function well but you can phone the driver up directly to arrange a pick up.
wiki_combo	Payment is cash or card and at a fraction of the price of other taxis depending on the type of vehicle you choose.
wiki_combo	For airport trips expect to pay an extra 3000rwf for airport parking.
wiki_combo	Take a trip to a craft centre, like the Dancing Pots Craft Centre or the Cards for Africa workshop and sales room in Kigali.
wiki_combo	Learn a bit of French, maybe even a bit of Swahili and Kinyarwanda, all three are extremely useful here.
wiki_combo	English is also widely spoken, at least in Kigali.
wiki_combo	A useful Kinyarwanda vocabulary cheat sheet is available hereKinyarwanda is most widely spoken, though English is increasingly important and a mandatory part of the curriculum as an official language - supplanting the traditional role of French.
wiki_combo	French still has a clear presence though is largely only used by older, well-educated Rwandans.
wiki_combo	Most Rwandans, especially younger Rwandans and those in client service jobs, will speak English quite well.
wiki_combo	Swahili was more recently included alongside English and Kinyarwanda as a mandatory part of the school curriculum as part of the wider East African Community integration.
wiki_combo	While most Rwandans will understand and speak enough of it, most of it regularly manifests as loan words and phrases in day to day use.
wiki_combo	English will likely be the easiest and most widely understood lingua franca for most visitors - though it's still well-appreciated to learn at least a few of the basics in Kinyarwanda (hello - muraho, goodbye - murabeho, thank you - murakoze).
wiki_combo	Your best bet would be with an aid organization or NGO.
wiki_combo	If you are a resident of the US or EU, keep in mind that you can avoid paying for an expensive residency permit simply by declaring yourself a tourist upon arrival and then traveling outside of Rwanda once every 90 days for the length of your stay.
wiki_combo	Your 90-day tourist visa (automatically granted upon entry) will be renewed each time you leave and reenter the country (and it's a convenient excuse to go on vacation!
wiki_combo	).
wiki_combo	The first thing to be aware of is that Kigali is expensive.
wiki_combo	As a cash strapped landlocked country costs of imported goods are high and import duties and VAT considerable.
wiki_combo	Foreigners often complain that wine, olive oil, breakfast cereals, kettle chips and other mundane foodstuffs cost a fortune, so beware.
wiki_combo	Costs can be lowered considerably by buying Rwandan or East African Community goods - Kenya in particular produces a wide range of produce that often cost half the imported European equivalent.
wiki_combo	Outside of supermarkets and restaurants most venders are used to a bit of haggling (even over fruit and veg) although as always keep things in perspective - but don't let storekeepers charge you double what you think you should be paying.
wiki_combo	When changing money at a forex bureau or on the street, be aware that only US dollar bills dated Series 2009 or newer will be accepted.
wiki_combo	What to buy
wiki_combo	Rwandan coffee is generally very good (although stay away from the cheapest stuff, which will be the sweepings from the grinding factory floor).
wiki_combo	Expect to pay around Rwf 4,000 per 500g.
wiki_combo	Rwandan honey is great, especially the Nyungwe Highlands type.
wiki_combo	Around Rwf 1,750 per 500g.
wiki_combo	Rwandan tea (both black and green) is also pretty good.
wiki_combo	Rwandan handicrafts and kitenge products can be found almost everywhere, but Tubahumurize Association is a unique spot that uses the profits from their sales to fuel their trauma counselling, vocational training, micro-credit loans, sewing school and cooperative programs.
wiki_combo	The prices are affordable and you'll find everything from yoga bags and circle scarves to agaseke baskets and gorgeous quilts.
wiki_combo	Local markets are stocked with Rwandan handicrafts, clothing, fabulous colourful fabric from West Africa and just about anything else.
wiki_combo	The large market in Kimironko is a good place for fruit, veg, rice and other basic foodstuffs - and it can be good fun looking through the secondhand clothes section.
wiki_combo	Kimironko is organised with food up front - with butchers and fishmongers lining much of the outer edge, and on the inside square, there's eggs and nuts, followed by fruits and vegetables, and then grains and flours.
wiki_combo	After food, the outer edge shops change to luggage, phone accessory, and housewares shops.
wiki_combo	The inside square changes to hardware (hammers, nails, picture frames, buckets) to shoes, then tourist / souvenir items, and then finally fabric stalls where you can have clothes, bags, or shoes custom made.
wiki_combo	Kimironko is smaller than it looks and often involves squeezing tightly through spaces.
wiki_combo	The shops are all 'booths' so you can pass from one to the other.
wiki_combo	If you are visibly foreign, expect to be called after and followed for business, but if you give a firm no - you're more easily left alone than in some other markets.
wiki_combo	As always, everything is a negotiation and they'll often high-ball you on prices with an expectation to negotiate down, especially if you're buying a lot.
wiki_combo	You're expected to negotiate but don't be too ruthless if you can - if you can afford to pay some of the 'foreigner tax' on products, a lot of these resellers are making pennies on the margin - for most travellers, a couple hundred francs is negligible but makes a big difference to them.
wiki_combo	For the woven baskets, as of 2021, you can probably expect to pay pretty fairly pay around 4,000 - 5,000 Rwf for large ones, 2,000 Rwf for the smaller ones.
wiki_combo	Amahoro baskets (famous from Rwanda and a national symbol) usually come in 'nesting' sets of 5 - and will usually go for around 8,000 - 10,000 Rwf depending on quality.
wiki_combo	Gorilla staffs will usually be around 17,000 - 22,000 Rwf.
wiki_combo	Custom clothing often won't be the most careful stitch-work but if you offer a bit of a tip upfront, you'll usually get a better product.
wiki_combo	A custom dress usually runs around 45,000 Rwf for a rather simple design.
wiki_combo	Cash machines / ATMs- More and more bank ATMs are starting to accept Visa cards, including the Bank of Kigali and Ecobank.
wiki_combo	Ecobank's headquarters are located in the center of town next to CNLS and near UTC / Nakumatt.
wiki_combo	There is a Visa ATM at the airport too.
wiki_combo	There are banks in Kigali with counter service for withdrawals (and Ecobank can do MasterCard withdrawals at a price).
wiki_combo	Note that most shops are closed on Sundays.
wiki_combo	By any standards Kigali is an excellent city in which to dine.
wiki_combo	A combination of Belgian culinary influence, plenty of cows, plenty of freshwater fish, and plenty of fresh vegetables equates to some of the best eating in the region.
wiki_combo	And it's all pretty affordable.
wiki_combo	Note that Kigali restaurants and bars go in and out of fashion, not to mention close down, quite frequently.
wiki_combo	Check for the latest once you are in town and be aware that some places mentioned in some print guidebooks no longer exist.
wiki_combo	The oft-mentioned Turtle Cafe has been closed since 2003!
wiki_combo	Finally note that as with the rest of the region restaurants take their time – with a usual 45 minutes to 1 hour wait between ordering and your food arriving, especially for dinner.
wiki_combo	If you are after a quick eat at lunchtime there are several ‘African buffets’ dotted around where you pile your plate high and are out the door in 30 minutes.
wiki_combo	As Kigali is quite a sprawling city eateries are organised by suburb.
wiki_combo	The local corner cafes serve decent quality food at excellent prices.
wiki_combo	Bottled water is recommended for foreign visitors.
wiki_combo	Accommodation in Kigali is noticeably more expensive than neighboring capitals like Kampala and Nairobi.
wiki_combo	Kigali has three international class hotels.
wiki_combo	English/French language broadcasts are available from BBC World Service in Kigali on 93.
wiki_combo	Kigali is relatively safe and friendly as far as African capitals go.
wiki_combo	Keep your eyes open and your wallet out of the reach of pickpockets, especially in crowded areas.
wiki_combo	Avoid walking after dark if possible, especially alone.
wiki_combo	Take extra precaution in the area between New Cadilac Nightclub and Carwash bar.
wiki_combo	Police officers are generally helpful if you're in a bind, but don't expect speedy results.
wiki_combo	Fun outdoor activitiesFurther along the wayTo Uganda
wiki_combo	As of Jan 2019 it was possible to get a VOA into Uganda for $50.
wiki_combo	To get from Kigali to Uganda is very easy.
wiki_combo	There are many buses to Ruhengeri for around 5000rwf, 3+hours.
wiki_combo	From there take a Moto or matatu (500rwf) to Cyanika.
wiki_combo	Cross at the Cyanika border, take another Moto (4000USH) or Matatu to Kisoro.
wiki_combo	In Kisoro, change for other buses onto the country.
wiki_combo	The Visa requirements for Tanzania are a little fuzzy (January 2019).
wiki_combo	Online the embassy says that some nationalities can get visas at some ports of entry, but it is strongly advised to get a Visa in advance, especially if doing a land crossing.
wiki_combo	At the Embassy/High Commission for Tanzania in Kigali, their exact words were "Is possible, but things could go wrong and they could run out of visas".
wiki_combo	So best to be safe and get one ahead of time.
wiki_combo	$50 for most countries, $100 for US residents; good for 90 days.
wiki_combo	The Tanzanian High Commission is open for visa applications M-F from 8am-12pm.
wiki_combo	Pick up the following day between 2:30-3:30pm.
wiki_combo	No appointment needed.
wiki_combo	They only accept USD.
wiki_combo	To get to Tanzania from Kigali, there are buses to the border town of Rusumo, or directly to Nyakanazi (which leave at 4am).
wiki_combo	Koyonza is a city in Eastern Rwanda.
wiki_combo	Northern Rwanda is most famous for being the home to Rwanda's mountain gorillas.
wiki_combo	Most sites in the region are within a few hours drive of Kigali, and can be visited on day trips if time is limited.
wiki_combo	Nyungwe National Park is in Western Rwanda.
wiki_combo	Nyungwe rainforest is in southwestern Rwanda bordering Burundi along the south with Lake Kivu and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west.
wiki_combo	It is probably the best preserved rainforest in the mountains throughout Central Africa.
wiki_combo	It is located in the watershed between the basin of the river Congo to the west and the basin of the river Nile to the east.
wiki_combo	From the east side of the Nyungwe forest is one of the sources of the Nile.
wiki_combo	The National Park was established in 2004 and covers an area of approximately 970 km² of rainforest, bamboo, grassland, swamps, and bogs.
wiki_combo	The nearest town is Cyangugu, 54 km to the west.
wiki_combo	Mount Bigugu is located within the park boundaries.
wiki_combo	Important to Rwanda and the world for its biodiversity, beauty, and natural resources, today Nyungwe is officially recognized as a protected area.
wiki_combo	Nyungwe forest is hundreds of thousands of years old.
wiki_combo	People’s presence in Nyungwe dates back at least 50,000 years.
wiki_combo	1903 Colonial Crown Land
wiki_combo	Nyungwe is declared a forest reserve, first by the German colonial government then by the Belgians, with restrictions on clearing.
wiki_combo	Protection is not consistently enforced.
wiki_combo	Nyungwe is reduced by over 150 km2 due to fires, woodcutting, hunting of animals, and small-scale agriculture.
wiki_combo	Nearby Gishwati and Virunga forests are cut in half at this time.
wiki_combo	Elephants still number in the hundreds in Nyungwe.
wiki_combo	The last buffalo is killed in Nyungwe by hunters.
wiki_combo	Nyungwe is divided into areas that allow for sustainable use and harvesting of timber.
wiki_combo	The Government of Rwanda develops a plan for a buffer zone that can still be seen today.
wiki_combo	1984 Wildlife Revealed
wiki_combo	Biodiversity surveys conducted by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) with RDB document colobus in groups of up to 400 members—an unheard of phenomenon.
wiki_combo	Trail system begins to be formed at Uwinka.
wiki_combo	1994 War and Genocide
wiki_combo	War and genocide devastate the country and destroy many of the research and tourist facilities in Uwinka.
wiki_combo	Most senior staff are forced to flee, but many junior staff members at Nyungwe stay on to protect the park.
wiki_combo	The park begins to rebuild, but security and stability are still uncertain.
wiki_combo	The last elephant in Nyungwe is killed in the swamp by poachers.
wiki_combo	The Rwandan Government makes Nyungwe an official National Park, giving it protected status, the highest level of protection in the country.
wiki_combo	Revenue Sharing and Outreach projects
wiki_combo	Benefits from TourismHandicrafts and beverages purchased by tourists create local income and the Rwanda Development Board gives a portion of park revenue to surrounding communities, who help protect the forest.
wiki_combo	Community Tourism at Banda Village“When tourists come to Banda, they pay to watch dancers and purchase handicrafts.
wiki_combo	Tourists buy food, water, and soda.
wiki_combo	This began as a nature conservation club.
wiki_combo	The objective was to transmit messages, and people used dancing.
wiki_combo	In 2003, the community got a permit to be a cooperative with the general aim of ecotourism development of Nyungwe National Park using Banda culture and handicrafts.
wiki_combo	The objective is to reduce poverty in the cooperative and in the general population while promoting nature conservation.
wiki_combo	” (Nyanwi Fidele, VP Banda cooperative).
wiki_combo	Teaching kids about the forest through nature clubs will protect the park for generations to come.
wiki_combo	Nyungwe Communities Depend on the Forest
wiki_combo	Rwandans depend on Nyungwe as a source of natural resources and water, and protection from erosion.
wiki_combo	A Source of Income
wiki_combo	People depend on Nyungwe to make a living—it provides jobs for guides and trackers, and opportunities for the local economy, like the selling of handicrafts.
wiki_combo	Environmental ServicesNyungwe forest provides estimated hundreds of millions of US dollars (billions of RFW) worth of “ecological services” to surrounding communities, Rwanda and the entire planet every year—such as slowing global warming and watershed protection.
wiki_combo	Natural Resources
wiki_combo	Rope, bamboo, and other traditionally used forest plants are still important to people for weaving, medicines, building and more.
wiki_combo	They must be harvested sustainably to protect the forest’s integrity.
wiki_combo	Local LoreThe bark of the umugote tree makes a good cough medicine.
wiki_combo	Medicinal plants in Nyungwe National Park: Several plants found in Nyungwe have important medicinal value.
wiki_combo	A list of these can be see by clicking here.
wiki_combo	Some medicines have yet to be discovered!Animal life
wiki_combo	Nyungwe forest has a wide diversity of animal species, making it a priority for conservation in Africa.
wiki_combo	The forest is situated in a region where several large-scale biogeographical zones meet and the variety of terrestrial biomes provide a great span of microhabitats for many different species of plants and animals.
wiki_combo	The park contains 13 different primate species (25% of Africa's total), 275 bird species, 1068 plant species, 85 mammal species, 32 amphibian and 38 reptile species.
wiki_combo	Many of these animals are restricted-range species that are only found in the Albertine Rift montane forests ecoregion in Africa.
wiki_combo	In fact, the number of endemic species found here is greater than in any other forest in the Albertine Rift Mountains that has been surveyed.
wiki_combo	The forest, which reaches its maximum altitude of 3000 meters above sea level, is of particular interest for the presence of colonies of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes - Blumenbach, 1775) and Angola colobus (Colobus angolensis - Sclater 1860), the latter now extinct in Angola for the intense hunt for which they were subjected.
wiki_combo	Primate species
wiki_combo	Nyungwe is home to 13 species of primates.
wiki_combo	Nyungwe Forest
wiki_combo	Common Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes
wiki_combo	The only ape in Nyungwe, 500 live in this park.
wiki_combo	Your guide can help you spot them and their signs: calls, nests, or scat.
wiki_combo	Adolf Friedrich's Angolan Colobus (Colobus angolensis ruwenzori
wiki_combo	Nyungwe is the only forest in Africa where these monkeys form large “supergroups” of over 350 individuals.
wiki_combo	L'Hoest's Monkey (Cercopithecus l'hoesti)/Sun-tailed Gabon/Preuss’ Cameroon
wiki_combo	These three monkeys were most likely one species that lived in a continuous larger forest before the last ice age.
wiki_combo	Over time the forest split into fragments and each monkey adapted to its own forest.
wiki_combo	Today they are separate species.
wiki_combo	Blue Monkey ( Cercopithecus mitis doggetti
wiki_combo	These tree-dwelling guenons can be found around Uwinka.
wiki_combo	Silver Monkey (Cercopithecus doggetti
wiki_combo	Golden Monkey (Cercopithecus kandti
wiki_combo	Hamlyn's Monkey (Cercopithecus hamlyni
wiki_combo	Red-tailed Monkey (Cercopithecus ascanius
wiki_combo	Dent's Mona Monkey (Cercopithecus denti
wiki_combo	Vervet Monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus
wiki_combo	Olive Baboon (Papio anubis
wiki_combo	Grey-cheeked Mangabey (Lophocebus albigena)Birds of Nyungwe
wiki_combo	Nyungwe is classified by BirdLife International as an “Important Bird Area” (IBA), which means that the park has “true significance” for the international conservation of bird populations…” In their fact sheet, they say that Nyungwe is one of the most important forests for conservation of montane birds in the region.
wiki_combo	A birder’s paradise, Nyungwe is home to 278 species of birds—26 of those are found only in the few forests of the Albertine Rift.
wiki_combo	Grauer’s Rush Warbler is an Albertine Rift endemic that thrives in isolated mountain swamps, such as Kamiranzovou.
wiki_combo	Turacos such as this Ruwenzori Turaco are rare elsewhere but abundant in Nyungwe.
wiki_combo	You are likely to hear their loud repetitive call resonate in the forest.
wiki_combo	Spectacular and rare sunbirds, such as the endemic Purple-breasted and Blue-headed can be seen feeding in flowering trees.
wiki_combo	The Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill, one of two hornbill species in the park, is known by its huge bill and honking call.
wiki_combo	Some Albertine Rift Endemics Found in Nyungwe:Red-throated Alethe
wiki_combo	Alehe poliophrysKungwe Apalis
wiki_combo	Apalis argenteaRuwenzori Apalis
wiki_combo	Apalis ruwenzoriiRuwenzori Batis
wiki_combo	Batis diopsStripe-breasted Tit
wiki_combo	Parus fasciiventerRuwenzori Nightjar
wiki_combo	Caprimulgus ruwenzoriiArcher’s Robin-chat
wiki_combo	Cossypha archeriDusky Crimson Wing
wiki_combo	Cryptospiza jacksoniShelley’s Crimsonwing
wiki_combo	Cryptospiza shelleyiHandsome Francolin
wiki_combo	Francolinus nobilisNeumann’s Warbler
wiki_combo	Hemitesia neumanniRed-collared Babbler
wiki_combo	Kupeornis rufocinctusYellow-eyed Black Flycatcher
wiki_combo	Melaenornis ardesiacusRegal Sunbird
wiki_combo	Cinnyris regiusVegetation zones of the park:2950 m Subalpine – bamboo, shrubs
wiki_combo	Species present: Carapa, Newtonia, Engtandophragma, Prinaria exelsium, Cyathea manniana, etc.
wiki_combo	Epiphytes are mosses, ferns, orchids and other plants that live high in trees without needing soil.
wiki_combo	These “air plants” are characteristic of moist mountain rainforests.
wiki_combo	This fruit is from a Carapa grandiflora, a tree commonly found in Nyungwe.
wiki_combo	Monkeys and squirrels eat the large round seeds, while chimps, monkeys and people eat the young fruits.
wiki_combo	Entandrophragma excelsum, or African mahogany (locally called “umuyove”) is one of the largest trees in the forest!As altitude changes, so does vegetation.
wiki_combo	Nyungwe’s varied vegetation provides a diversity of habitats for its many species.
wiki_combo	Nyungwe has over 1000 different kinds of plants, many of which you will only find in the Albertine Rift.
wiki_combo	The western part of Nyungwe was refugium for rare forest species and still has richer, taller forest with more biodiversity today.
wiki_combo	The eastern part of Nyungwe forest was grasslands and shrub during the last ice age, about 10,000 years ago.
wiki_combo	Only in NyungweNyungwe’s great variety of plants and animals, some found nowhere else, makes it one of the most important protected places in all of Africa.
wiki_combo	This impatiens is named in honor of President Kagame for his efforts in environmental protection.
wiki_combo	It is endemic to the Albertine Rift and found in Cyamudongo and parts of Congo.
wiki_combo	Impatiens kagamei)This impatiens is endemic to Nyungwe, found only on Mt.
wiki_combo	Bigugu—it grows nowhere else in the world!
wiki_combo	Impatiens nyungwensis)This begonia is found only in western Nyungwe.
wiki_combo	Abundant Plant Species
wiki_combo	Don’t let all the green fool you, Nyungwe forest is comprised of over 1,000 different kinds of plants, many of which you’ll only see in the Albertine Rift.
wiki_combo	Medicinal plants
wiki_combo	Nyungwe National Park is home to many medicinal plants.
wiki_combo	The following list includes some of the plants that can be found in the Park.
wiki_combo	Descriptions of some of these plants can be found in the Handbook of African Medicinal Plants by Maurice M.
wiki_combo	Another book that might be of interest is Medicinal Plants of East Africa by John O.
wiki_combo	Scientific name / English name / Kinyarwanda name / Traditional UsesErythrina abyssinica/ Lucky bean tree/Flame tree /Umuko
wiki_combo	Gonorrhea, Burns, Joint pain, Fresh cuts/wounds, Backache, Syphilis.
wiki_combo	According to the World Agroforestry Centre, it is also “used in Kenya to treat diseases such as anthrax, and the bark is boiled with goat meat for treating gonorrhoea.
wiki_combo	The bark of the green stem may also be pounded and then tied into a fine piece of cloth and the liquid from it squeezed into the eyes to cure inflammation of the lids.
wiki_combo	”Zanthoxylum gilletii/ East African satinwood/ Umuturirwa
wiki_combo	Cold and fever, Malaria, Tuberculosis, Ulcers, ToothacheVernonia amygdalina/ Bitter leaf/ Umubirizi
wiki_combo	Malaria, Fever, Worms, Abdominal pain, Diarrhea, AsthmaCrassocephalum vitellium/ Isununu/
wiki_combo	Sterility in men, High blood pressurePrunus African/ Bitter almond/ Umwumba
wiki_combo	Fever, Stomachache, Benign prostate cancer, Diabetes, CoughFicus natalensis/ Bark-cloth fig/ Imvuvumu
wiki_combo	Stimulation of pregnancy, Cold, Cough, Wounds, Bed wettingSyzygium guinense/ Waterberry/ Umugote
wiki_combo	Amoebas, PoisonCarapa grandflora/ Bitter Oil/ Umushwati
wiki_combo	AmoebasMyrica californica/ California Bayberry/ Umusengesi
wiki_combo	Poison, Stomach acheOrchidsIf you visit at the right time and you look closely, you can see lots of these in the park.
wiki_combo	How many kinds can you find in Nyungwe?
wiki_combo	Nyungwe has over 140 species of orchids!The main entrance is at Uwinka on the main Cyangugu - Huye road.
wiki_combo	It's about 55km from Cyangugu and 90km from Huye.
wiki_combo	The road is mostly in good condition.
wiki_combo	There are regular buses along the route and hitching is also an option.
wiki_combo	Buses are often full when they reach here so if you're getting a bus out it may be best to try to book your ticket in advance.
wiki_combo	If travelling from Cyangugu ignore the sign in town that says it's 20km and further ignore the sign 15km from Cyangugu directing you right up a dirt track.
wiki_combo	These refer to a small offshoot of the park, not the park proper.
wiki_combo	From Kigali to the Uwinka the bus costs around 5000 RWF and takes over 5 hours.
wiki_combo	There is also a park office in Kitabi.
wiki_combo	There are no "park fees" as such but you must be accompanied by a guide on all of the walking trails.
wiki_combo	The costs vary depending on the length of the trail and what your immigration status in Rwanda is (Tourist, National, Resident or EAC Resident).
wiki_combo	If you are a tourist expect to pay around $40 - $60 per trail.
wiki_combo	Camping fees are pretty high ($50 if you don't do any other activities, (I think) $35 if you do) but the camp site is well situated in the jungle, there are European toilets and a cold shower.
wiki_combo	Other than the main road through the forest there are no (public) roads or vehicle tracks in the park, everything is on foot (see do).
wiki_combo	A whole host of different primate species, a few other mammals including leopard and duiker (which you're unlikely to see) and a phenomenal array of birds and plants.
wiki_combo	For the best experience, most tourists tend to combine chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe with a gorilla tour in the nearby Volcanoes National Park.
wiki_combo	There are a number of trails ranging from the very easy to the reasonably challenging.
wiki_combo	their "strenuous" guide is based on the assumption that you are not a regular walker.
wiki_combo	Any hiker would not find their "very strenuous" trails particularly challenging.
wiki_combo	Canopy Walk - In October 2010, the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) launched canopy walk tourism in Nyungwe National Park as part of a strategy to diversify tourism attractions.
wiki_combo	Canopy tourism is also aimed at encouraging tourists to spend a longer time in Rwanda.
wiki_combo	The Canopy Walk is the only attraction of its kind in East Africa.
wiki_combo	This is the first ever hanging platform that allows tourists to view different animal species in Nyungwe Forest.
wiki_combo	The dizzying platform is above a steep and deep valley stretching across the massive forest.
wiki_combo	John Gara, CEO of the RDB, said the platform is 50 meters above ground level and 90 meters long.
wiki_combo	It allows tourists to view butterflies, birds and blue monkeys that dwell in the upper levels of the forest.
wiki_combo	The forest has 13 rare primate species, the world’s largest ever recorded arboreal troop of black/white colobus monkeys, and nearly 300 species of birds and 154 types of orchids.
wiki_combo	There are also a couple of multi day trails such as the Nile-Congo divide trail (which is the only way of reaching the longest source of the Nile).
wiki_combo	These must be booked at least seven days in advance (they will not negotiate this).
wiki_combo	Chimpanzee tracking is available and there are two groups habituated to human contact.
wiki_combo	In principle, Colobus monkey tracking is also available but they may have moved too far away from the trail head to be tracked.
wiki_combo	Should they move back this may be possible again in the future.
wiki_combo	There is a small kiosk selling basics, but if you are camping bring whatever food you will need.
wiki_combo	Water, Soft drinks and Primus (beer) is available.
wiki_combo	There are guest houses on either side of the park on the main road.
wiki_combo	In Kitabi (on the Huye side) the guest house is situated in the school of wildlife management.
wiki_combo	Coming from Huye take the left turn marked 'tea factory' about 200m before the park entrance.
wiki_combo	There is then a right turn about 500m further on, this is the guest house.
wiki_combo	The reception is is l'Hoests monkey house.
wiki_combo	At the upper end is the Nyungwe Forest Lodge, which is a luxurious eco-lodge surrounded by tea fields and at the edge of Nyungwe Forest.
wiki_combo	There is camping at the Uwinka head quarters, it's a bit pricey (see fees and permits) but you do get a guy who lights your fire for you.
wiki_combo	This may sound a bit unnecessary but after a cold night (apparently it can get down to 0C here due to the altitude), waking up to a roaring fire is heaven!The NR10 highway passed through the park.
wiki_combo	It's easy to catch a bus to/from any locations along it.
wiki_combo	That means the park, and lodges near it, are well connected to Huye or Kigali.
wiki_combo	If you are heading the other direction, it's just as easy to get to Kibuye, where you can connect to Gisenyi or Ruhengeri.
wiki_combo	Just make sure to start early if you are going far because the buses are slow.
wiki_combo	Ruhengeri is a city in northern Rwanda's Musanze district.
wiki_combo	It is the port of call for tourists heading up the hills to Kinigi and Parc National des Volcans.
wiki_combo	There several bus companies who serve Kigali-Musanze direction every half hour for 1,750 rwf (September 2017).
wiki_combo	The journey takes 2 hours.
wiki_combo	Buy your ticket at the main bus station in Nyabugogo - each bus company has their own little office, look for the signs that say "Kigali-Musanze.
wiki_combo	" Don't buy your ticket in advance - go to the bus station and expect to leave in roughly 30 minutes (or less).
wiki_combo	There will always be spaces, and you can wait for the next departure if you want a better seat.
wiki_combo	Recommended bus companies: Virunga Express [1]; Kigali Bus Service
wiki_combo	Musanze is a small town, you can walk from one end to the other along the main road in 30-40 minutes.
wiki_combo	The best way to get around is foot or moto-taxi.
wiki_combo	Prices are negotiable with the moto drivers, but a typical ride across town is 300-400 rwf (July 2012.
wiki_combo	)Volcanoes National Park offers several attractions.
wiki_combo	Tickets must be booked in advance through tour companies or the Rwanda Tourism Board (ORTPN).
wiki_combo	The majority of revenue from tourism goes towards maintaining the park and conserving the wildlife.
wiki_combo	The remainder goes to the government and (around 10%) to local projects in the area to help local people benefit from the large revenue stream generated by the park.
wiki_combo	Visit Lakes Burera and Ruhondo.
wiki_combo	Visit the lava caves and tunnels.
wiki_combo	There are a number of guest houses.
wiki_combo	You find some of them along the main road.
wiki_combo	You find places for <10.
wiki_combo	000Southern Rwanda is a region of Rwanda.
wiki_combo	Virunga National Park is in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
wiki_combo	It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979, but was labelled a site in danger in 1994 due to political conflict and poaching.
wiki_combo	Virunga National Park is a 7800 square kilometer World Heritage Site that lies on the eastern border of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where it borders Uganda as well as Rwanda.
wiki_combo	It is the oldest national park in Africa and the second oldest in the world (after Yellowstone).
wiki_combo	It is named after the Virunga Mountain (volcanoes) range that lie in the south of the park.
wiki_combo	the park however is much larger and stretches all the way north to envelop Lake Edward as well as the Rwenzori Mountains.
wiki_combo	The history of the park is deeply affected by the country of which it is part.
wiki_combo	For much of its long history, Virunga National Park has struggled to survive through many of Congo's troubled times.
wiki_combo	Thanks to the dedication of certain politicians, conservationists, park rangers and wardens, the park not only has survived, but is currently experiencing a dramatic renewal.
wiki_combo	The park was founded in 1925 by King Albert I of Belgium and originally known as Albert National Park, the first national park on the continent of Africa.
wiki_combo	It was founded primarily to protect the gorillas living in the forests of the Virunga Mountains controlled by the Belgian Congo, but later expanded north to include the Rwindi Plains, Lake Edward and the Rwenzori Mountains in the far north.
wiki_combo	In the first 35 years, the boundary of the park took shape, poaching was kept to a minimum and sustainable tourism thrived due to the work of a large body of hand-picked Congolese rangers and dedicated wardens.
wiki_combo	Land remuneration and the use of park resources such as fishing and hunting by the local population became an on-going problem and attempts were made to solve these issues.
wiki_combo	When the Belgians granted Congo independence in 1960 the new state deteriorated rapidly, and so did the park.
wiki_combo	It was only in 1969 when President Mobutu began to take a personal interest in conservation, that the park was revived.
wiki_combo	In the process it was renamed Virunga National Park, and the first Congolese Wildlife Authority was established (now called ICCN).
wiki_combo	Virunga fared well for the better part of the 1970s.
wiki_combo	Foreign investment helped to improve the park's infrastructure and training facilities, and the park became a popular destination for tourists, receiving on average 6500 visitors a year.
wiki_combo	In 1979 UNESCO designated the park as a World Heritage Site.
wiki_combo	In the mid 1980s the Mobutu regime began to lose its hold on power and the country began a long slide into chaos.
wiki_combo	The park suffered terribly.
wiki_combo	Poaching depleted Virunga's large mammal populations, infrastructure was destroyed, and many rangers were killed.
wiki_combo	The Congolese Wildlife Authority slowly lost control of Virunga and UNESCO changed the World Heritage Site status to "endangered.
wiki_combo	"Over the twenty-five years that followed, the park staff endured an almost uninterrupted series of trials that included a refugee crisis from the Rwandan Genocide that contributed to the severe destruction of park forests, and armed militia penetration throughout the park.
wiki_combo	The Kivu War, the most recent of Congo's conflicts, centered exactly on the park, with rebel forces occupying the park headquarters and evicting the park's staff.
wiki_combo	By the end of 2008 it seemed as if Virunga was finished.
wiki_combo	The political situation in the DRC has changed exponentially since then.
wiki_combo	The park is back in the hands of the ICCN and enjoying the greatest resurgence of tourism and development in its history.
wiki_combo	International donors are investing in the development of the park's infrastructure at unprecedented levels.
wiki_combo	Virunga's management is efficient and transparent, and morale among the rangers is at an all time high.
wiki_combo	Tourism has increased from zero in 2008, to approximately 2000 in 2010 with numbers growing steadily.
wiki_combo	New tourist activities are being developed in the park, including the habituation of chimpanzees in the Tongo forest and a high-end lodge conveniently located near the center of the three main tourist attractions in the southern sector, north of Goma.
wiki_combo	Africa's first national park survived decades of chaos against all the odds, not because of circumstance but because of the dedication of the rangers and staff who believe in the value of saving Virunga National Park and its wildlife.
wiki_combo	The nightly glow from the lava lake within the Nyiragongo volcano can be seen from miles away
wiki_combo	Virunga National Park is unrivalled in its diversity of landscapes and ecosystems.
wiki_combo	The parks bounderies envelop low land tropical forest in the north; high alpine forest in the Rwenzori Mountains; riverine forest around the Semliki and Rutshuru rivers; swamplands around lake Edward, savannah north and south of the lake; montane forest on the hills of the Virunga volcanoes and old (and new) lava flow landscapes.
wiki_combo	The park boasts an astounding biodiversity due to the large variety of habitats it offers.
wiki_combo	In the southern sector the Mountain Gorillas attract most attention but the montane forests are also home to other primates such as Chimpanzees, Golden monkeys, Blue monkeys and black and white colobus.
wiki_combo	Forest Elephants and Buffalo are also found in this area as is the very shy Golden Cat.
wiki_combo	The central area of the park consists mostly of savannah with species such as Lion, Leopard, Kob, Hyena, Topi, warthog etc.
wiki_combo	The lake, once containing the largest population of Hippo's (over 20.
wiki_combo	000), is now slowly regenerating after many troubled years and Hippo's and Crocodiles are once again a common sight.
wiki_combo	In the North of the park in the deep Congolese forest the most elusive of African creatures is found: the Okapi.
wiki_combo	The southern sector (Gorillas and Volcano) of Virunga National Park is easily accessible in a number of different ways the most common are:Virunga National Park Park Permits:Other campsites at Jomba (another gorilla site) and Tongo are expected at the time of writing but not yet active/safeCongo Travel and Tours supplies bilingual guides and personnel directly to tourists as well as to operators that can bring you on budget tours and camping kits into the park, in tandem with the Virunga Authority and ICCN who chiefly benefits from the tourism.
wiki_combo	They can also arrange the luxury lodges like Mikeno and Bukima on tour with Virunga Park.
wiki_combo	Virunga National Park is located in a region that is often troubled by unrest.
wiki_combo	In the last three years, the southern sector of Virunga National Park (gorillas and volcano) has been considered safe for visitors with over a 100 tourists visiting these sites every month.
wiki_combo	The Rwenzori mountains are also open for tourists and can be reached from Beni in the North of the park.
wiki_combo	The management of Virunga National Park is emphasize the importance that all visitors be aware of current security issues at the time of their visit.
wiki_combo	Before organizing a trip to Virunga National Park it is wise to inform yourself on the security situation, check [5] for the latest independent news feeds on this region, as well as detailed information on the parks activities outside tourism.
wiki_combo	Virunga National Park strongly advises against the use of own transport, escorted transport can be arranged through the National Park or via CTT or other tour operators, more information about this can be found on Virunga National Parks tourism website [6] please use park transport or the transport supplied by trusted tour operators.
wiki_combo	All visitors using our transportation are automatically escorted by our rangers.
wiki_combo	Escorts for people using their own vehicules can be arranged.
wiki_combo	Virunga National ParkWestern Rwanda is a region of Rwanda, centered around Lake Kivu.