Friday Favorites: We Heart Rwanda

Rwanda + Adventurous Seekers=True Love 4ever

One&Only Gorilla’s Nest

Thrill-seeking Traveler seeks mature male gorilla, preferably a silverback, for fun, adventure, and long walks through the jungle. Must love salsa dancing!

A Rwandan safari is one of the most rewarding and electrifying experiences on earth. Little, landlocked, just a few degrees south of the equator and bordered by Uganda, Burundi, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda is known as the “Land of a Thousand Hills.” And no wonder; its mountainous topography includes the Rift Valley escarpment and incorporates five of the eight volcanoes in the Virunga Mountain chain. It is here in the bamboo rainforest of Volcanoes National Park that Rwanda’s eight habituated mountain gorilla groups are found. Words fail when trying to describe encountering these creatures. Not for the faint-hearted or lazy, the trek to locate them can be arduous. The vegetation is thick, and the jungle all-enveloping, but the first sighting of wild mountain gorillas is an unparalleled experience. It’s a must for anyone who appreciates wildlife, history, culture, sustainability, and adventure.

WHY YOUR NEXT TRIP SHOULD BE TO RWANDA:

Poe’s longtime friend and colleague, Cathy Moran of A&K, just paid Poe a visit to discuss her recent trip to Rwanda which she calls life-changing. Poe’s Nancy O’Brien had to agree; she counts her trek there as the highlight of all her travels. Moran reminded us that in addition to the gorillas, there is Big Five game viewing in the savannah and wetlands of Akagera National Park to the east, also home to zebra, giraffe, elephant, 500 bird species. Lake Kivu, which borders some of the DRC, is the second smallest of the African Great Lakes, just 56 miles long by 31 miles wide and has some of the best inland beaches on the continent. And finally, in the southwest the remote Nyungwe Forest National Park, a dense pristine jungle, resonates with the screeching of boisterous chimpanzees and birdsong of more than 300 species. Apart from the astounding biodiversity and the wildlife, the other thing that makes this country so remarkable are the Rwandans themselves—warm, welcoming people with an indefatigable spirit.

A&K has other itineraries to Rwanda, but we’re loving this new one:

MARCO POLO JOURNEYS

Rwanda: Land of a Thousand Hills 2020

9 days, limited to 18 guests

Hiking through lushly sloping hills and spotting a gorilla peeking out from the bush, or happening upon a mother watching over her babies is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that changes you forever. On an A&K journey you venture to one of the best places on earth to track gorillas, the exciting Parc National de Volcans (PNV). This 62-square-mile game park is home to the last surviving mountain gorillas as well as the endangered golden monkey, a species of Old World monkey with a golden-orange patch on his upper flanks and back.

PNV is also one of Rwanda’s conservation epicenters, where visitors see the burial place of legendary scientist Dian Fossey and visit the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, which continues her legacy of research and gorilla advocacy. Outside of the park you experience Rwandan life at its best in its vibrant, bustling local markets.

The country continues to work towards overcoming its turbulent past. Many churches have been converted to places for paying respect to those who died in the 1994 genocide. The extensive, world-renowned Kigali Genocide Memorial has welcomed hundreds of thousands of young people, politicians and visitors from around the world.

WHERE TO STAY:

Set in the foothills of Rwanda’s Virunga range, the three suites and two lodges at the new One&Only Gorilla’s Nest provide private views of surrounding farmland and eucalyptus forest. You set out on gorilla treks in nearby Volcanoes National Park and connect with local dancers and musical performers (including former poachers who now earn their living through tourism) at Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village. 

Don’t miss the 1.5 hour walk to the Karisoke Research center established by naturalist, Dian Fossey. Both lodges promise treks through bamboo forest to witness mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.

Cathy reports that Gorilla’s Nest is fabulous—the perfect springboard for adventures in Rwanda!

WHEN TO GO:

May–October