Archive for November, 2008

Kigali City Travel Guide

Kigali City
The rapidly growing city of Kigali is the national capital as well as the country’s most important business centre and main port of entry; geographically located at the heart of Rwanda.

Kigali harbors an efficient International Airport and surface well maintained roads connecting to Uganda, Tanzania and Burundi.

The city has a range of hotels catering to0 all tests and budgets and a variety of speciality restaurants serving continental cuisine.

Kigali maintains the green face with a satisfyingly organic shape created by the verdant shapes over which it sprawls. The low-rise city centre engulfs a busy market, with several souvenir stalls displaying a wide range of local crafts.

There is a network of leafy avenues that wind out the town centre into the surrounding residential suburbs.

The city is naturally blessed with a moderate high altitude3 climate that belies its tropical location strategically located with a 3hours drive to the main tourist sites, thus the city provides a welcoming and comfortable introductory encounter of the attractions of the magical country.

AK crafts corner
Mombasa
Tel 041 2316844

African contemporary Art collection ltd
Mukinduri rd, Nairobi
Tel 020 890721

Art craft
Africa bldg Grd fl, Moi ave
Mombasa
Tel 041 2226233

Collectors Den
Hilton hotel bldg, samba st
Tel 020 226990,230594

Cross culture craft ltd
Merchantile Hse Koinange st
Tel 020 218505

Exclusive Kenya handicraft
Karen shopping centre,
Tel 020 882365, 882493

Lamu shell & crafts
Samburu rd, Mombasa
Tel 041 2220740

Maru Art gallery
20th century Plz
Nairobi
Tel 020 224621

Mombasa Art centre
Calton Hse, Moi ave
Tel 041 225218

Pendeza Weaving
Kisumu
Tel 057 20882589

Village Arts collections
Tel 020 27123115

A guide to walking safaris in Africa. Exclusive private walking safaris where you will witness the true wilderness experience of Africa. The beautiful terrains of Africa are simply unmarched. Perhaps the ancient secrets that Africa has to offer are discovered by those who take time to walk around and about.

A walking safari in Africa is synomymous with fun filled adventure and the promotion of traditional safari style.

TYPES OF SUCH SAFARIS

Wilderness trails: This walking safari involves you,(thout that was obvious), what else? You will be in company of a guide carrying your gear and other provisions. You can decide on more guides, scouts, porters and cooks, e.t.c

Backed up walking safari: You will have a support staff from the safari company who will set up a rolling camp basis depending on your destination and time consideration. All camps that you have ever imagined are found in Africa. You can choose between the very basic or the perhaps luxurious tented camps. Difference is clear!

Bush Camps: Could also fit the description of traditional camps. These are rather seasonal and very very semi-permanent. You will find that these camps have vehicles or even boats on them. Its all about adventure.

Lodge based: in Africa you will find permanent lodges, both luxury and mid range to suit your needs. All luxuries and facilities are located in these lodges. Most of them offer fully fledged services with your comfort considered, but you will rarely find these ones with the National parks.

Walking Safari Destinations

Kenya Walking Safaris
South Africa Walking Safari Kruger Trail
Tanzania Walking Safari Trail Ngorongoro
Botswana Okavango Walking Trail Africa
African Walking Safaris

Rwanda History, Genocide Rwanda, Culture and People

The natives originated from three ethnic groups: the Hutu, Tutsi and Twa. It should be noted that the Twa were the first in habitats of Rwanda living in Forests, followed by Hutu’s and finally the Tutsi’s appeared on the scene.
Unfortunately, the Twa are the least of all constituting about only 1% of the total population.

In the traditional setting, Hutu’s carried out cultivation whereas the Tutsi were cattle keepers.
During the 1770’s, the country was under leadership of Tutsi kings referred to as “Mwami” who were believed have divine powers and consolidated themselves in power by forcing local people to pay tribute to Tutsi district Chiefs.

In the early 19th century, the European waves of capitalism swept the counry, under German colonial rule, introducing with them monetary terms as opposed to traditional agriculture.
Until when chance availed itself in World War 1 that the British and Belgian colonial masters wiped Germans out of Rwanda.
This marked the penetration of Catholicism into the interior of the country; dividing the Hutu’s and Tutsi’s on religious as well as political grounds.

Until when the country erupted into the tragic genocide war in 1994; bloodshed, devastation of poverty, human suffering and acute death.

Currently, much of the infrastructure has been rebuilt by its inhabitants; roads, hotels, schools, hospitals, financial institutions, an international airport and accessibility in terms of the political climate, the economy has been recovered.

A notable drastic boom in the performance of the Tourism sector is evident owing to the political climate, hotels, and the abundant natural attractions.

NYUNGWE NATIONAL PARK/ LE PARC DE NYUNGWE

Nyungwe national park is the largest block of montane forest in East and central Africa, covering a surface area of 1,000 sq kms across the spectacular hills of South east of Rwanda.
The most ornithological site park in the country, is endowed with diversity of flora and fauna; its star attractions include; 13 primate species such as the Chimpanzees, L’Hoest’s monkeys, Angola Colobus.

The park has over 300 Bird species of which 8.4% are typical habitats of montane forests on the Albertine Rift, the most abundant of the birds being the Blue Turraco.

Forest fauna species include the Giant Lobelia, 200 tree species, numerous colorful Orchids and several non-flowering plants, shrubs, grasses.

Forest nature walks through nature trails leading you to beautiful water falls, ideal for scenic viewing.

The park offers a Rest house in a natural forest setting and a campsite situated along the main road. It will take two to three days for Birdwatchers and chimp trekkers to explore the natural beauty of the park.