Background Information of the 3 Days Wildlife Safari Rwanda Primates Tour

Akagera National Park

Akagera National Park is located in Eastern Rwanda, and it overlooks the savannah plains of Tanzania. This park, the only protected savannah region of the country, shelters a range of lakes including Ihema-the second largest in Rwanda, as well as Rwanyakizinga, shakani, Mihindi, and Gishanju lakes which together combine to form the largest wetland system in the whole of central Africa

Following the end of the Rwandan Genocide, the national park was depleted, with returning refugees using trees for timber and wild life food- lions were hunted to extinction, as were Rhinos.

Biodiversity was almost completely ruined and tourism and local commerce disappeared

The park has recovered remarkably, so much in that that in 2017 it witnessed the return of black Rhinos for the first time and after the reintroduction of lions, their population is now on an increase.

With strict anti-poaching monitoring methods in effects, elephants, buffaloes, and leopards have also been spotted again, with a growing population of monkeys as well

The park offers the traditional suite of savannah safaris experience, with game drives and lake adventures, boat cruise, birding and nature walks.

Bathing in the waters is strictly forbidden since they are the home of some of the largest concentrations of hippos in East Africa

Adventure the King’s Palace Museum on the 3 Days Wildlife Safari Rwanda Primates Tour

Situated in Nyanza ya Butare district, presently known as Huye, this history laden site was constructed in 1932.

It is a traditional stead with an unmistakable tinge of modernism to it, and a blend of these makes this place a must visit place for all tour enthusiast

According to www.visitrwanda.com it is a reconstruction of the traditional royal residence, and the King’s palace is a beautifully-crafted thatched dwelling shaped like a beehive

This ethnographic museum encapsulates a great deal of Rwandan monarchial history; which sort of rule was abolished after Rwanda’s independence from their colonial masters.

In its backyard, the cattle that formerly belonged to the monarchy are tended to, and their lineage has been maintained even after the abolishment of the kingdom that rewarded them as a great source of prestige

These cattle, which have a striking resemblance plus some genes of the famous Ankole long-horned cattle of Uganda, have one intriguing attribute.

From the time they are mere calves, they are nurtured to listen to their voice of their herdsmen, and these sing them soothing songs and take care of them like the precious jewels they are.

While at the palace, therefore, one gets to experience all the aforementioned plus some royal regalia like the symbol of power, mats and chairs, all made in a peculiar way

Lake Ihema

Situated in the southern arm of Akagera National Park, lake Ihema has more to it than meets the eye.

It is not the second largest lake in Rwanda, but it also enjoys a high degree of protection, owing to the fact that it sits in the aforementioned national park.

According to www.globalnature.org the main threat to this revered Rwandan lake is water hyacinth, which the lake has in abundance.

Water hyacinth is an aquatic plant that multiplies at a high rate, and is known to be unlikeable to the areas outside its native range.

Therefore, the presence of the water hyacinth on this lake is not just as a serious threat to the biodiversity of the region, but it also hinders water transport.

Its damaging effects, among others include, lowering the quality of water because it covers the water and reducing the quantity of dissolved oxygen, phosphate and temperature, resulting in the direct decrease and disappearance of biodiversity of the affected water body.

Additionally, the lake is connected by the Akagera swamps with the Akagera river, which implies that this water hyacinth could be easily spread into nearby waterways such as Lake Victoria and the Nile River

A boat cruise on this lake will give you the opportunity to see a variety of aquatic life like birdlife, elephants, hippos, and crocodiles.

However, since lake Ihema is not that blessed with a plethora of fish types, yes should only anticipate seeing a few of these reptiles here and there.

In any case fishing is highly restricted on this lake. In spite of all this, your sightseeing expedition on a boat cruise on this lake will still be rewarding undertaking

Adventure Nyungwe Rain Forest National Park on the 3 Days Wildlife Safari Rwanda Primates Tour

This park is located in western Great Rift Valley. Also referred to as Albertine Rift flows West Valley.

The park stretches from Lake Albert to the Lake Tanganyika and the rift has many mountains and lakes that flow west into congo River system.

The Albertine rift besides having an amazing landscape is also known to its endemic species of fauna and flora.

In the Nyungwe forest there are about 1,068 plant species and 248 species of orchids and other new species are being found each year.

Also, about 85 mammal species are found in Nyungwe, including 13 primate’s species. Nyungwe accommodates over 300 bird species, 29 species of them are endemics to Albertine rift this makes Nyungwe the best Ornithologist’s best site, as many are it a birders paradise.

The biodiversity of the park is even further enriched by other landscapes including swamps, marshes, bamboo thicket, heath, open woodland and many microhabitats.

Nyungwe is known to its 13 primate species including the famous chimpanzees, this is the best site for chimps trekking and also the largest troop of the black and white colobus monkeys.

After all activities in the park there is also fragmented forests including cyamudongo home of the well-habituated chimpanzees and also Gisakura has other fragmented forests where the second habituated small troops of the colobus monkeys live.

Nyungwe forest has over 130km of constructed trails, which allows all travelers of the different fitness levels to enjoy its beauty