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Rwanda Natioanl Parks-Nyungwe
Forest National Park,
Akagera National Park,
Volcanoes National Park:-
guide to gorilla safaris and tracking, wildlife adventures, Karisimbi,
Bisoke climbing, trekking and hiking tours, air travel, honeymoons, hotels
and lodges, car rental, hire in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania including
Zanzibar. The three national parks of Rwanda are Volcanoes,
Nyungwe and Akagera national Park
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Rwanda
National Parks-Akagera National Park, Nyungwe Forest National Park, Volcanoes
National Park
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Nyungwe
Forest Lodge
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Year
of Gazetted:
Akagera was established in
1934.
Size:
Akagera
currently occupies an area of approximately 1085 KM�.
Location
from Kigali:
Akagera National Park is located
two
and half hours drive east of Kigali Rwanda.
Akagera National Park Habitats:
Bush
Savannah tangled with acacia and branchystagia woodlands with stands of Euphorbia
candlebrum, patches of rolling grasslands, riverine, lakes and swamps.
To
the west of the park are hills reaching to elevations of 1600m-1800m above sea
level.
Features:
The main features and attractions of
Akagera National Park include
Akagera River.
Lakes: Ihema, Kivumba, Hago, Mihindi and
Rwanyakizinga.
Akagera National Park has a large mammal population. Within
Akagera are
elephants,
buffalos, lions, Maasai giraffe, gazelles, impala, baboons, oribi,
Butchel�s zebra, topi, bush baby, leopard and bushbuck.
Aquatic
include crocodiles and hippos.
Akagera National park features a
large concentration of bird life
with
over 525 species
identified. Unique species such as Shoe billed stocks and papyrus gonolek
can be encountered. Endemics
include the jacanas, ibis, sand pipers and herons.
Accommodation:
Akagera Game Lodge, Campsites.
Gates:
Akagera can be accessed through two gates
Kabarando and Kiyonza.
One
can also access the park by air.
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Visitors
to Akagera
are not allowed to go beyond point 19 in the
direction of Gabiro Guest House.
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The park is open between 07:00 Hrs and 17:00 Hrs.
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For maximum enjoyment of this park, always use a ranger
guide.
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ORTPN is not responsible for any injuries sustained
from animals within the park.
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Clients are advised to respect the right of animals
especially the flight distance.
Activities:
The activities in Akagera National park include:-
Camping, Picnics,Nature
walks,
Bird
watching and
Boat
rides
Nyungwe
Forest National Park
Volcanoes
National Park
Page
top
Nyungwe forest was established as a
national park in 2004. The park has a total area of
970 KM�.
Distance:
Nyungwe forest national park
is located 225 Km from Kigali, 90 Km from Butare
and 54 Km from Cyangugu.
Altitude:
Nyungwe forest has an altitude range of between 1600 M-2950 M above sea
level with temperatures varying between 0�C and 30� C; average day temperatures
15�C.
Rainfall:
1800-2500 mm per year. Rainy season is September to May.
Dry season June to August with some dry weeks in December and January.
Features:
The main features and attractions in
Nyungwe forest include the following.
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Largest montane rain forest remaining in Africa.
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Mt. Bigugu (2925M)
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Kamiranzovu marsh
(13 Km�)
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In the vicinity Cyamudongo community forest with
resident population of Chimpanzees.
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260 species of trees and shrubs.
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Over 100 species of orchids and giant lobelias.
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More than
275 species of birds recorded Including the Ruwenzori turaco, Ross�s turaco,
Grey �cheeked hornbill, Red-throated alethe, Red-breasted sparrow hawk,
White-headed wood-hoopoe, Kungwe apalis, Ruwenzori batis, Blue-headed and
Regal sunbirds.
13 recorded species of primates (25% of Africa�s
total) including:-
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Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes)
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Ruwenzori colobus (Colobus angolensis ruwenzori)
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L�Hoest�s monkey (Cercopithecus l�hoesti)
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Silver monkey (C.mitis doggetti)
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Golden monkey (C.mitis kandti)
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Owl-faced monkey (C.hamlyni)
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Red-tailed monkey (C. ascanius)
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Den�t mona monkey (C. mona denti)
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Vervet monkey (C.aetiops),
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Olive baboon (papio anubis)
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Grey-cheeked mangabey (Cercocebus albigena)
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Three species of bushbaby.
Leopard,
golden cat, serval cat, side stripped jackal, Genet, African civet, slender
and marsh mongoose represents the carnivores.
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Other
mammals include three species of duikers, two species of flying squirrels,
tree hyrax, and Congo clawless otter.
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120 species of butterflies.
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Reptiles including three species of horned chameleons.
Activities:
There are a number of activities that
one can undertake within and in the vicinity of Nyungwe Forest National Park.
These inlcude.
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Bird walks.
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Primate trekking.
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Excursions to Kamiranzovu Marsh.
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Excursions to Lake Kivu and Gisakura tea factory.
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Scaling Mt Bigugu(2925M).
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Photography.
Chimpanzee tracking starts at 06:00
Hrs. Visitors are advised to book
chimpanzee tracking in advance.
Accommodation:
The newly opened
Nyungwe
Forest Lodge is
an eco-lodge located in the tea estate overlooking Nyungwe forest.
With all the trapping of modern day traveller- wifi internet, tv, health club,
the Lodge goes for USD 400pp per night. Other places of stay are
Uwinka Rest House, Gisakura Guest House, Ortpn campsites.
Primate visits can be undertaken from Uwinka Tourist Centre and at Gisakura
ORTPN headquarters.
On your way to or from Nyungwe if you have time, you can stop briefly at the
following places:
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Nyabisindu to visit the Nyanza King�s Palace, the
capital of ancient Rwanda Kingdom.
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Butare �visit the Museum, University, cathedral,
arboretum and the curio worshops.
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Genocide memorial of Murambi.
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The Cathedral of
Kabgayi and the adjacent small enthnographic museum. Kamageri�s Rock (Uratare rwa Kamageri)- on the
roadside after Ruhango towards Gikongoro.
Park fee and other charges
Page top
Gazetted: 1925 to
protect the Mountain Gorillas.
It was the first National Park in Africa.
Size: 12,500 Hac.
Location:Volcanoes
NP is located Ruhengeri 1 hour 30 minutes drive from Kigali to the Northwest
of Rwanda.
Special Features:
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The Virungas with five peaks-Karisimbi (4507M), Bisoke
(3711M), Sabyinyo (3634M), Gahinga (3474M) and Muhabura (4127M).
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The last families of mountain Gorillas on earth.
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Other animals including� the rare golden monkeys (Cercopithecus
mitis kandti), Cape buffalo, black fronted duiker; a profusion of bird
life including the Ruwenzori turaco, and beautiful francolins.
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In the vicinity the beautiful lakes Burera and Ruhundo.
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The Virunga ecosystem is composed of 4 major vegetation
zones: Bamboo (base altitude), Hagenia and Hypericum forest (2600-3300m),
Sub-alpine (3300-4000m), and Afro-alpine (4000m+).
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Between Bisoke and
Sabyinyo volcanoes lies lakes Ngezi, Nyirambubu, Gasindikira and Muraro.
Crater lake is at the peak of Bisoke.
Visit to the lakes can be organized.
High altitude makes it generally cold, especially during the evenings. Gorilla
viewing is possible all the year round.
Five families of gorillas are habituated for
tourist. These are:
Age qualification for tracking:
One must have reached his or her fifteenth birthday at the date
of tracking.
Apart from Gorilla tracking other
activities in the vicinity of Ruhengeri and Volcanoes include:
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Visit to the grave of Dian Forsey and her gorilla
Digit.
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Climbing Karisimbi 2 days.
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Climbing Bisoke 1 day.
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Tour of the lakes Burera and Ruhondo.
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Cave exploration � visit Musanze cave and the natural
bridge.
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Tracking the Golden Monkey.
Away from Ruhengeri and volcanoes one
can organize the following excursions if you finish trekking in time and return
comfortably for overnight.
Accommodation:
Kinigi Guest House, Gorilla Nest, Muhabura Hotel, and Hotels in Gisenyi. No
accommodation is available inside the park.
NB:
The golden monkey tracking is undertaken in the morning from ORTPN Kinigi/
Ruhengeri office. Two families of
the golden monkeys are open for tracking ; Kabatwa at the base of Sabyinyo and
Musanga at the base of Karisimbi.
Those wishing to track specific
gorilla families are advised to book in advance.
Tracking begins at 07 :00 Hrs at ORTPN
Kinigi office.
Park Entrance Fee and Other Charges
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Park entrance fee USD 25.00
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Tracking gorillas USD 350.00
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Tracking golden monkeys USD 75.00
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Climbing Bisoke USD 75.00
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Climbing Karisimbi USD 175.00
Page top
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Kenya
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National Park |
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Mt.
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Shaba
National Reserve |
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Tsavo
East National Park |
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Tsavo
West National Park |
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Rwanda
National Parks |
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Akagera
National Park |
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Nyungwe
forest N. Park |
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Nyungwe
forest N. Park |
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Uganda
National Parks |
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Bwindi National Park, Uganda |
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Kidepo Valley National
Park |
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Lake
Mburo National Park |
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Mghahinga National Park |
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Queen
Elizabeth Park |
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Murchison Falls
National Park |
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Hotels |
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Kenya
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Nairobi
Hotels |
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Mombasa
Hotels |
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Malindi
Hotels |
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Lamu
Hotels |
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Nairobi Car Hire
company |
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Rwanda
Hotels |
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Kigali
Hotels |
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Kibuye
Hotels |
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Gisenyi
Hotels |
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Cyangugu
Hotels |
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WHEN YOU WANT PAMPERING AND
TROUBLE FREE TRAVEL IN THE WHOLE OF EAST AFRICA
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GORILLA SAFARIS RWANDA, DORIS HOUSE, TOM MBOYA STREET,
MERU, KENYA, TEL:-+254 723 684 974 Email us:
rnxploresafaris@gmail.com
or
info@gorillasafarisrwanda.com
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