Author: ajok

Covering an area of 730 square kilometers, Kigali is the largest city and capital of Rwanda located in the central region at 1,567 meters above sea level. It consists of 3 major districts - Gasabo, Kicukiro and Nyarugenge, it’s surrounded by beautiful hills, valleys and plateaus which confirm the statement that Rwanda is the country of “a thousand hills.” According to the 2012 population census, it is estimated to have around 859,332 people. It is one of the smallest cities on the African continent and yet the cleanest of all. The initiative of making Kigali the cleanest city commenced by the banning of plastic bags and since the ban was put in place, the city is almost spotless. The government also introduced a system of “Umuganda” which happens on every last Saturday of the month where Rwandan citizens take part in cleaning the country by tending to their gardens, sweeping the streets and burning rubbish. Kigali became the capital city officially on 1st July, 1962 when Rwanda attained its independence, it has since become the major commercial and administrative center with continuous infrastructure development like beautifully constructed roads, buildings and to register this success, Rwanda recently hosted the commonwealth summit successfully.  It is also the main entrance into the country through Kigali International Airport. When the Rwandan genocide occurred in 1994, growth of the city drastically declined however, it immediately picked up and the buildings that were destroyed were reconstructed. Kigali city has also developed to become one of the safest cities to visit in the world. Kigali city, is a beautiful and amazing city full of exciting discoveries and adventure, here are the top attractions to visit during your stay in Kigali. Attractions in Kigali City. Kigali Genocide Memorial Site Located in Gisozi, this site holds the remains of

Uganda is a vast land of beauty in East Africa, it is known for its stunning landscapes, mountains, forests and wildlife, and it is one of those amazing places to include on your travel bucket list annually. The country’s major entry point Entebbe international airport with the most hospitable natives who speak a variety of languages, this said there are uniform languages spoken by each one these include English or Swahili. There are lots of things to do while in Uganda below is a top list of must do’s! Mountain Gorilla trekking , chimpanzee tracking , wildlife game drives, mountain climbing, Guided nature walks, Birding in the important birding areas of Uganda, Boat cruises and launches along the many rivers and lakes. Mountain gorilla trekking is a key thing to do in Uganda, gorilla species are found in the Bwindi impenetrable national park and the Mgahinga national park, these are a subspecies of the eastern gorilla beringei, gorillas stand out as the world’s largest living primates who can only survive in highland areas living in families of upto 20 members led by a male silverback, in a group there is always females , juveniles, black backs  and babies who make the team, they are herbivores characterized by their social character, the gentle brown eyed species do nest on the ground which is sometimes used to do an animal count.  Trekking Gorillas requires you to have a gorilla trekking permit which is usually obtained before you go to the park through a registered Ugandan tour operator. Game drives in the savannah conservation areas of Uganda including Queen Elizabeth national park, Kidepo valley national park, Lake Mburo national park, Semliki national park, Murchison falls national park, these are animal points to spot the so called big four of the wilderness (lions, leopards,

Musanze Caves In the Northern region of Rwanda along Albertine region in the most visited town in Rwanda Musanze is the Musanze Caves which makeup the 52 caves existing in the country. They are a hidden treasure located close to Volcanoes National Park and formed as a result of volcanic movements that occurred over 60 million years ago. Musanze caves were formed by Cenozoic volcanic rocks and composed of lava basaltic strata from eruptions that happened on Mount. Sabyinyo and Bisoke. The cave is a 2km long tunnel whose large entrance as big as that of a cathedral stretches for 10 kilometers wide, once inside, there are several paths leading to known and unknown destinations. You can feel the cold and get wet while inside, backed with echoes of small droplets of water falling from the caves’ rocky ceiling. The dark tunnels are filled with thousands of bats that can be seen hanging from the rocky ceilings. There are about 31 more entrances known to access the cave. The caves’ floor has been modified to look like stairs just for easy navigation of visitors. According to a legend narrated by the locals, it is said that the cave was created by a local king who would occasionally seek refuge here. The caves were an ancestral site during the prehistoric era which were used by most Rwandan tribes to crown their new leaders. During the 1994 genocide, Musanze caves gained popularity as a hiding place for refugees and also a number of bodies were dumped here therefore considered as a tomb to many locals, only the courageous can explore the grave individually. However, you can be guided through by a local guide and individuals are not allowed to access it. On the surface of the cave is a circular spot that

The gorilla tracking adventure presents explorers with the golden opportunity to wander through the protected primeval, blooming forests in Uganda. Visitors get the chance to spend time with wildlife species and listen to the sounds of nature, a perfect getaway from the usual noise and chaos of the bustling cities. Travelers have the golden opportunity to encounter a section of the world’s only remaining mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Spend time with them, watch them live their untroubled lives. Description of the gorilla national parks in Uganda. Uganda has two distinct habitats hosting mountain gorillas. They have similar characteristics but also showcase differences in terms of natural endowments and the population of gorillas they host. The two gorilla national parks incorporate; Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Bwindi lies in the southwest of Uganda in the present-day Kanungu district. The Bwindi forest covers an area of up to 331 square kilometers. This captivating national park hosts Africa’s oldest tropical rainforest which further makes it a perfect home for the gentle giants. Bwindi is a renowned UNESCO World Heritage site due to the exceptional biodiversity it's associated with. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has four gorilla trekking sectors hosting 21 fully habituated gorilla families. A trek through Bwindi leaves you excited and makes you appreciate nature more because it has a lot to feed your eyes. From the breathtaking towering rainforests to the calm demeanor of mountain gorillas. Bwindi is indeed the place to be for every nature enthusiast. Mgahinga National Park. Mgahinga on the other hand is also a gorilla National Park in Uganda hosting one gorilla family. The gorilla family is called Nyakagezi and comprises nine welcoming members. Visitors enjoy the time spent with the family mainly because of its organization and the cooperation among the individuals. Most of the visitors

The gorilla trekking activity in Rwanda entails traversing through thick rainforests in search of wild mountain gorillas. The gorillas in Rwanda inhabit a section of the Virunga mountains, especially in the bamboo forests on the slopes of five of the 8 Virunga volcanoes that is to say Mikeno, Bisoke, Nyiragongo, Nyamuragira and Karisimbi. Rwanda hosts a section of the world’s only remaining endangered mountain gorillas in her Volcanoes National Park.  Volcanoes National Park. Seated in the heart of Africa, Volcanoes National Park protects the captivating evergreen steep slopes of the Virunga Mountain ranges. The National Park prides itself on the rich mosaic of Afro-montane ecosystems and raised landscapes that form breathtaking scenery. The park gets its name volcanoes from the many volcanoes that form the area. A visit to the park exposes the traveler to the evergreen moist rainforests, riverine vegetation, bamboo forests, swamps, heath and moorland, and most notably the primates especially the mountain gorillas. How gorilla trekking is done and what it costs in Rwanda. Mountain gorilla trekking activities begin early in the morning at around 7:00 AM. They are kickstarted with a briefing that is conducted by the park Rangers to help equip the visitors with information on what they are to do and what to stay away from when on the gorilla trek.  The briefing usually ends at around 8:00 AM and then visitors get accompanied to the jungle to explore and meet the gorillas. This activity may go on for six to eight hours. The duration of the trek usually depends on the location of the gorilla family and the trekking speed of the visitors. The trek takes visitors through diverse landscapes traversing through the thick forests made up of various tree species crossing various streams and hiking mountains. 13 gorilla families in Rwanda are

Kibale Forest National Park is a known home of primates in Uganda, the forest is one of the few remaining tropical rainforests of Uganda situated in the western part in the Kabarole district, chimpanzee are the main residents of the biodiverse ecosystem plus 12 other species including the black and white colobus monkeys, pottos, bush babies, blue monkeys, endangered red colobus monkeys, white-cheeked monkeys, retailed monkeys, olive baboons, vervet monkeys, to mention few, there are animals present within the park although they are rare to see for example forest elephants, buffaloes, giant forest hogs. The forest trees rise 55 meters above the ground forming a beautiful canopy overlooking the Fort Portal plateau. Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park is experiential, the primates have been scientifically proven to share up to 98% of the human DNA, they are characterized by their social behaviors, intelligence, and the ability to use tools, the diet of the Chimpanzee mainly comprises plants, fruits, stems, they occasionally hunt small monkeys for meat and termites, these live in families of up to 100 members by a male alpha,  chimpanzee communities are communicative with cooing charters they are also territorial in nature, there are over 1500induviudals living in the Kibale forest, they are popular for their nesting in the trees not to forget their super playful nature. Chimpanzee tracking has been taking place in Kibale Forest National Park since 1993, the primates were first tracked at the Kanyanchu visitor center, and to date going into the forest to find Chimpanzee begins here, a briefing is conducted by the Uganda wildlife authority team about the forest and how to generally conduct yourself while with the primates, the walk through the forest will take you to experience the best of the park the hike through the well-distributed trails takes