Here is the main page covering our visit to the country of Rwanda, with a quick visit to Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, plus a slide show of pictures at the end. We had intended to end our visit to central Africa with a few weeks in Burundi, but our trip had to be deferred due to visa problems amid some political conflict.
For journal postings from Rwanda and DRC, CLICK HERE.
Our three week itinerary began with a visit to the pleasant Rwandan capital of Kigali, paying respects to the many who died in the genocidal war of the 1990s. Then on to some of the magnificent national parks and landscapes here.
- Kigali (including Gisozi Genocide Memorial, Bugesera, churches of Nyamata & Ntarama)
- Volcanoes National Park, including Mt. Bisoke
- Musanze
- Virunga National Park, DRC
- Goma, DRC
- Lake Kivu – Gisenyi, Kibuye, Cyangugu
- Nyungwe National Park
- Butare (including Nyanza museums, Murambi Genocide Memorial)
- Akagera National Park
You can also browse the map below for where we’ve been in Rwanda and DRC, and posted an article. Click a pushpin to find posted articles from the marked locations.
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SLIDE SHOW HINT: If you’ve already seen the earlier pictures in the slide show, use the dot placemarks below the slides to jump around.
Some bones and belongings represent the lives destroyed – Kigali Memorial 
Clothes of victims, Ntarama Church, where 5000 seeking sanctuary died 
Collective graves filled with bones, Nyamata Church, where 10,000 died horribly 
Collective graves, Kigali Memorial site 
Wall of names records some of the 250,000 killed nearby, Kigali Genocide Memorial 
Silverback on the move 
Unconcerned, but observant – a placid giant 
Playful youngster reaches out 
Even awakening and yawning, this silverback can frighten 
More play 
A silverback napping in front of us 
Another napper 
Checking us out mid-snooze 
Matriarch cuddles with dominant silverback 
Thoughtful stare while baby plays on 
Organizing to depart 
Supporters of Kagame stream past us on the road 
Voter lined up for Rwanda election 
Any good occasion, like voting, is enlivened by dancing and music 
Enthusiastic thousands moving from one rally to another 
Billboard supporting Kagame, central Kigali (Tora means Vote) 
Bike transport, DRC 
Hauling people and goods, DRC 
Loaded moto, DRC 
Endemic wood bicycle, up to $500 in cost – DRC 
Baby and headware, DRC 
Endangered male golden monkey, VNP 
Endangered female golden monkey, VNP 
At water-filled crater, Mt. Bisoke, during full day hike 
Immense arch of lava tubes we hiked, Musanze Caves 
Rwenzori double collared sunbird amid fuchsia 
Villagers surprised and thrilled at our canoeing, twin volcanic lakes, VNP. 
Stately Hadada Ibis along Ruhondo River 
Malachite Kingfisher also observes canoers on Ruhondo river 
Great Blue Turaco, Nyungwe 
Forest flower, Nyungwe 
Playful silver monkey, Nyungwe 
Chimpanzee, Nyungwe 
Chimpanzee, Nyungwe 
Double-toothed barbet, Nyungwe 
Nyungwe forest 
Chimpanzee, Nyungwe 
Nyungwe forest 
Two observant Pied Kingfishers, Akagera 
Glowering water buffalo, Akagera 
Mutware, the solitary old-timer, Akagera 
Akagera and Lake Ihema from burnt highland ridge 
Hippos on marshland, Akagera 
Nile crocodiles, Akagera 
A few of the topi antelope, Akagera 
On safari, Akagera 
A herd of impala, Akagera 
Zebra of Akagera 
Male waterbuck, Akagera 
Male leopard, one of three we saw in Akagera 
Giraffes on the move, Akagera 
Jousting male impala 
Lilac breasted roller 
Water buffalo, plains of Akagera 
Overview of Akagera and lakes 
Wild boar family 
Water buffalo on the plains, Akagera 
Butterfly, Akagera 
Animals together, Akagera 
Female waterbuck with dark heart-shaped nose 
Gathering of pied kingfishers, Akagera 
Lake Kivu shoreline at Gisenyi looking to Congo 
Beach front, Gisenyi on Lake Kivu 
Islands of Lake Kivu off Kibuye 
Islands of Lake Kivu 
Fjords, southern Lake Kivu 
Bat Island, Lake Kivu 
Downtown Kigali, offices and malls 
Hand-painted storefront for paint, Kigali 
Hand painted storefront, Goma, Congo 
New roads, Chinese engineers, Rwanda