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29.07.2010
partly cloudy
28°C
Sunrise 06:05:00
Sunset 18:06:00

Rwanda

Rwanda has blossomed in an atmosphere of renewed political stability and steady economic growth. Tracking the magnificent African Mountain Gorilla through the lush slopes of the Virunga mountains remains a thrilling and moving experience.

Other highlights include Akagera and Nyungwe National Parks. The latter is home to chimpanzees, troops of over 400 Colobus Monkeys and lots of rare forest birds. Lake Kivu is surrounded by the mountains of the Rift Valley and the dramatic volcanic cones of the Virungas.

Rwanda is also one of Africa’s top birding countries; an incredible 670 species have been recorded within 25 000km². In Nyungwe alone, the wildflowers of the forest and mountains are capped by more than 100 orchid species.

We can also take you to villages where you may learn about sustainable agriculture, education, health care, infrastructure as well as peace building. Experience aspects of the culture, including food, language and traditions.

Rwanda Top Attractions

Butare: Situated 135km south of the capital, Butare is the intellectual and cultural heart of the nation. Visit the National Museum which houses the finest ethnographic collection in East Africa.

Parc National des Volcans: In the Virunga Mountains, nothing can prepare you for the impact of encountering a fully-grown silverback gorilla, up to three times the size of an average man, yet remarkably peaceful and tolerant of human visitors. This is where Dian Fossey spent 20 years studying Rwanda’s endangered mountain gorillas.

“In the heart of Central Africa, so high up that you shiver more than you sweat, are great, old volcanoes towering up almost 15 000 feet, and nearly covered in rich, green rainforest — the Virungas,” Dian Fossey.

Nyungwe National Park: Extends for almost 1 000km2 across the majestic hills of south-east Rwanda. It is the largest ‘island’ of montane forest remaining in East or Central Africa — a rich and ancient centre of unparalleled biodiversity and natural wonders.

Lake Kivu: Visit the lake towns of Gisenyi and Kibuye.

Rwanda Travel Tips

Getting there: Rwanda Express flies from Johannesburg to Kigali on a regular basis. Frequent flight connections from Kenya.

Visas: A free 90-day visa will be granted to citizens from the USA, the UK, Germany, Sweden, Canada, Hong Kong, South Africa, Mauritius, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi and the DRC.

Currency: Rwanda Franc (FRw). Bring enough cash for personal spending as credit cards and traveller’s cheques are not widely accepted, and there are no ATM machines for international credit cards in the entire country.

Health: Take Malaria prophylactics. Yellow fever vaccination is required. You may be asked for an international health certificate at the border.

When to go:
Throughout the year. Rainy season is mid-February to mid-June and mid-September to mid-December. Dry season is mid-June to mid-September, mid-December to mid-February. Gorillas are accessible all year but easier to track during the dry season.

What to pack: Casual clothing. If you are Gorilla trekking, a long-sleeved shirt to protect you from stinging nettles. Good walking shoes and long pants are essential in nature reserves. Take Insect repellent, sunscreen and clothing to protect you from the sun/rain.

Customs and luggage allowance: 200 cigarettes, 1 litre of alcohol. 20kg of luggage and one item of hand luggage. No plastic bags allowed!

Time zone: GMT + 2 hours.

Power supply: 230/240v, European two-prong plugs.

Languages: Kinyarwanda, French and English.

Read on: Rwanda by Philip Briggs, Janice Booth (Bradt Travel Guides).

Terms and Conditions

These terms and conditions will apply to your holiday and the arrangements which you make. Please read them carefully as you will be bound by them.

By making a booking, the client confirms that all of the people named in the booking made by him/her have read these conditions, and have agreed to be bound by them and all the other terms of the contract, and that he/she has the authority to accept these terms and conditions on their behalf.

1.    Regardless of the place of execution, performance or domicile of the parties, this contract, together with all modifications and amendments, shall be governed by, construed under and in accordance with the laws of the Republic of South Africa.

2.    All packages and tours are sold subject to our standard terms and conditions. Reservations must be signed on a booking form. If the services of a courier are employed during this process, the costs shall be borne by the client.

3.    A 20% deposit is payable on confirmation, unless otherwise stated on the booking form. The balance must be paid 6 weeks prior to your departure. No contract is made between the client and Unusual Destinations until the deposit or, where required, the full price has been paid, whether or not a booking confirmation has been issued by Unusual Destinations or one of its agents. Failure by the client to pay any sum by due date shall entitle Unusual Destinations to cancel the booking, and to charge a cancellation fee as set out below (see point 17 below).

4.    Quotations are based on the exchange rates valid at the time that they are sent to the client. Unusual Destinations reserves the right to increase any prices where currency fluctuations occur, until such time as they have been paid in full. It is the client’s responsibility to check on possible price increases prior to full payment. Airfares are subject to prices quoted by airlines, and Unusual Destinations can therefore not accept responsibility for unexpected fare increases.

5.    It is the clients’ responsibility to obtain travel documents including a valid passport and air tickets. It is also the clients’ responsibility to contact the airlines at least 72 hours prior to departure to reconfirm all flights. All clients who, at the time of departure, are under the age of 18 years, must be accompanied by a client aged 21 or over who will at all times during the tour or trip be responsible for their welfare, conduct and behaviour. Clients are expected at all times to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner with due regard to the health, safety, comfort, enjoyment and general well- being of all the other people who may be on the tour or trip, or other people who may be staying in the relevant hotels. If it appears that the client’s conduct or behaviour is such as to be a breach of this requirement, or is likely to endanger the client’s own health or safety, or that of others, or where their actions or conduct impedes the operation of the trip, then Unusual Destinations reserves the right to refuse the further participation of any such client. No refund will be considered in respect of any client whose participation in the trip is terminated for these reasons. Further, where the client is repatriated pursuant to this clause at Unusual Destinations’ expense, or where Unusual Destinations is put to any additional expense as a result of the client’s conduct, then Unusual Destinations shall have the right to recover such costs upon demand. Under no circumstances, at any time, shall Unusual Destinations have any liability for the denial of boarding or expulsion from an aeroplane by any airline contracted in terms of this contract, such denial being at the sole discretion of the airline concerned.

6.    While Unusual Destinations will do its best not to cancel or make any material alteration to the itinerary after a booking confirmation has been issued, it shall nonetheless be entitled at any time prior to departure to cancel the contract between the parties, or to change and/or curtail the scheduled itinerary where this becomes reasonably necessary on operational, commercial or other grounds. Unusual Destinations will however inform the client of any such cancellation or change of itinerary as soon as possible. Where such a change of itinerary amounts to a material alteration, the client shall be entitled to cancel the booking within 3 days of being advised of the itinerary change without any cancellation fee being applicable.

7.    Although Unusual Destinations attempts to make all itineraries as accurate as possible at the time of printing, they are to be considered an approximate indication of the schedule and scope of the tour rather than an inflexible chronicle of events. The itinerary may be subject to change due to circumstances beyond the control of Unusual Destinations, whether as a result of weather, government restrictions, transportation problems, road conditions, acts of God, terrorist threats, natural disasters, fires or other circumstances. Unusual Destinations however undertakes to do its best to maintain the itinerary, and will not unreasonably change it. However any such changes shall not constitute a material alteration of the contract, and Unusual Destinations shall in consequence have no liability to the client in respect thereof.

8.    Unusual Destinations will not be responsible for any additional costs occasioned by changes in the itinerary or flight schedules, such as additional flights, hotel nights or meals not included in the scheduled itinerary. Payment for such additional services will be required at the time when the amended itinerary is provided to the client. Further, any expenses incurred owing to unexpected extensions to packages, trips or tours caused by flight delays, bad weather, strikes or any other reason beyond Unusual Destinations’ control will be paid by the client upon demand.

9.    Where the client is making a booking with a tour, the rates quoted are based upon group participation, and no partial refunds will be given for unused trip arrangements or sightseeing tours for any reason whatsoever.

10.    Unusual Destinations, in order to provide the tour as set out in the brochure, group/individual tour or individual package, quotation and/or booking, is obliged to make arrangements with local operators who may themselves engage the services of local suppliers. Unusual Destinations endeavours at all times to appoint reputable and competent local operators to comply with the requirements and standards expected by the client. However, although these local operators are appointed by Unusual Destinations, they are acting as an agent on behalf of the client directly, and a direct contract is therefore entered into between the client and the local operator or service provider, and the terms and conditions of the local operator, whether or not contained in this brochure, will apply to arrangements made by them. Unusual Destinations makes the travel arrangements on behalf of the client on the express condition that it is not liable for any inconvenience, irregularity or expense occasioned by the failure of the local operator to comply with the itinerary provided, whether in relation to travel arrangements, airline scheduling, airline changes, cancelled flights, missed flight connections or any other factor not directly under Unusual Destinations’ control. In the event however that Unusual Destinations is, in spite of the provisions of this clause, found to be liable to the client, then its liability will be limited to the sum paid by the client in respect of the travel arrangement(s) in question.

11.    As Unusual Destinations acts only as an agent for local operators, it accepts no liability for any loss or damages which clients may suffer as a result of the failure by such local operators to fulfil their obligations whether in relation to travel flights, land arrangements, accommodation or otherwise. These local operators are independent suppliers who are not affiliated with Unusual Destinations in any way. Further, Unusual Destinations shall not be liable for any loss, damage, delay, accident or inconvenience caused to any person, their property or luggage under any circumstances.

12.    Unusual Destinations will not be liable for bodily injury to, or death of any client, or damage to their property occasioned through the conduct or default of any company or local operator or individual engaged in providing these services or for any reason, including, but not limited to, acts of God, quarantine, strikes, industrial action, medical emergencies, civil disturbances, theft, detention, annoyance, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, closure of ports, changes in government regulations, terrorism, war, medical emergencies or failure of the conveyance to depart or arrive as scheduled.

13.    Unusual Destinations does not provide medical services during the trip or tour. However, wherever possible, Unusual Destinations will offer general assistance to any client who suffers illness, personal injury or death, whether or not arising from an activity forming part of the trip or tour, and whether or not the result of fault by any party.

14.    Clients should bring with an ample supply of any prescription medicines required, and a first aid kit.

15.    Any cost or expense which is reasonably incurred by Unusual Destinations for or on behalf of the client in respect of any form of medical, dental or similar treatment, hotel, transportation, repatriation, or any other expenses of whatever nature, shall be repayable by the client to Unusual Destinations on demand, whether or not such sum is covered by the client’s travel insurance.

16.    Travel insurance (medical and personal accident) is compulsory. However, clients are strongly recommended to take out insurance to cover the loss of their luggage, and the deposit or part of the tour fee through cancellation.

17.    Any changes and/or cancellations will incur penalties; in many cases air tickets are totally non-refundable. All cancellations have to be in writing. Unless otherwise stipulated, the following fees shall be charged by Unusual Destinations if a client cancels a reservation:

More than 6 weeks prior to departure:
10% of price

4 – 6 weeks prior to departure:
50% of price

2 – 4 weeks prior to departure:

75% of price

Less than 2 weeks prior to departure:

100% of price

18.    These terms and conditions, together with any other clauses set out on the application form, defines the responsibility of Unusual Destinations with respect to all of the trips/tours/arrangements made by them. Further, Unusual Destinations shall not be liable for the failure of performance or improper performance which is wholly attributable to any or all of the following:
    
a)    The fault of the client;

b)    The unforeseeable or unavoidable act of a third party unconnected with the provision of any services to be provided under this contract;

c)    Unusual or unforeseeable circumstances beyond the control of Unusual Destinations, the consequences of which could not have been avoided even if all due care was exercised;

d)    Any event which Unusual Destinations could not even with all due care have foreseen or avoided, including (but not limited to) an event or force major. Unusual Destinations further confirms that the carriage of passengers and their luggage by air is governed by various international conventions and the client shall be bound by the rules, regulations and conditions of contract laid down by any carrier upon which he / she may travel as a result of the reservations made, and Unusual Destinations shall be free from any liability in consequence thereof.

Kigali

Kigali, Rwanda’s attractive capital straggles over several hills, with the city centre on one and the government/administrative quarter on another. The centre of Kigali is bustling, colourful and noisy, but (for an African city) surprisingly clean and safe. The centre of Kigali – for shopping, banks, airline offices, tour operators etc is so tiny, so once you’re there, you’ll never be far from what you’re looking for. It’s base around two streets, Boulevard de la Revolution and Avenue de la Paix, and the various roads branching off them.

Link to Kigali business and cultural itineraries

National Parks

Volcanoes National Park

Situated in north-western Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park is one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations. Since reopening in 1999, it has experienced a growing number of visitors each day, thanks in large part to its role as the world’s most popular mountain gorilla sanctuary. With fewer than 700 of this species left, tourists can catch a rare glimpse of the gorillas as they can nowhere else in the world. Beyond gorillas, however, the park is also able to offer some of the country’s most spectacular scenery and diverse vegetation.

Nyungwe National Park

Nyungwe extends for almost 1 000k2 across the majestic hills of our-east Rwanda. It is the largest “island” of montane forest remaining in the East or Central Africa, a rich and ancient centre of unparalleled biodiversity and natural wonders.  There are a variety of 13 primate species representing 20% of African primate species and 275 bird species with 24 endemic to the Central African Highlands.

Link to trekking itineraries

Lake Kivu

As one of the Great Lakes of Africa, and indeed the highest on the continent, Lake Kivu is one of Rwanda’s greatest natural treasures and offers visitors an extraordinary experience. Lake Kivu lies on Rwanda’s eastern border with the Democratic Republic of Congo and is part of the Great Rift Valley. It covers a surface area of over 2,700km2 and stands 1,460m above sea level. It also ranks as the fifteenth-deepest lake in the world and contains the world’s tenth-largest inland island, Idjwi. Lake Kivu has gained notoriety as one of Africa’s ‘killer lakes’ thanks to its location along the rift valley and the resulting volcanic activity. The mix of methane and carbon dioxide in the water is believed to have led to massive biological extinctions roughly once every 1,000 years.

Three scenic resort towns line the shores of Kivu and offer visitors a range of relaxing accommodations to take in the sights and sounds of the lake. Whether you choose to stay in Gisenyi in the north, Kibuye further south or Cyangugu at the lake’s southernmost point, you will find yourself with stunning views and the most magnificent sunsets in the country.

Link to itineraries including Lake Kivu

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