Latest news: Rwanda

All set for tourism!!

Lizzie and I just got back from our first R&R and we decided to go to Rwanda and why not? Lizzie’s cousin is currently working out there so it seemed like a great opportunity to visit them and see a new country. Personally I was very excited to get into the Southern Hemisphere for the first time; a whole new half of the planet to visit!! Which after some disappointing research on the exact line, it appears I have been to the S Hemisphere before when I was in Nairobi and did not realise!

We began our journey via 2 small aircraft over two days and flew into Goma on the N Western corner of Rwanda. The views from the plane were amazing on the way into Goma, as you have to fly past an active volcano on the way to landing and you can see the plume and lava trails from past eruptions. And more disturbing is the large amount of aircraft “parked” at the side of the runway. Goma itself is built on volcanic rock and so there is a whole industry built around chipping rocks into smaller ones and as a result the roads look like the surface of the moon. The main street is actually a lava flow with the houses being sunk below the street level; halfway down the road you go down a ramp (the end of the lava) and you are back onto the normal height.

Rwanda by contrast is completely different; as soon as you cross the border you hit tarmac roads and nice grass verges. The “Land of a Thousand Hills” lives up to its reputation and with stunning views of volcanoes and hills we wound our way down towards Kigali to meet up with Lizzie’s cousin.

"Hotel Rwanda"

Some famous Rwandan Dancing

We spent our time in Kigali relaxing and re-charging the batteries thanks to Ben and Laura’s kind hospitality. It is amazing what a hot shower and a washing machine can do.

No holiday is complete without a game of keepy-uppy with a giant beach ball!

Question is, "Who looks better in a rubber ring?" - very manly!

Pub quiz night in Kigali

Lizzie and I decided we wanted to go and see the National Park in the East (Akagera) so we hired a car in Kigali and set out eastwards. It is not too difficult to self drive in Rwanda, the roads are good and there are few turn-offs that you can take. The National Park itself is fairly small as a result of lots of people returning from Uganda after the genocide and being re-homed there.

The Baboon that woke us up at 0500hrs trying to get into our room! We could hear the guard chasing him down the corridor.

There are not as many animals as the big parks in East Africa, but as you are allowed to just turn up in a vehicle and enter the park (for the nominal fee) it is without doubt one of the best 4x4 experiences going. Lizzie and I spent 2 days bombing around the park; and with 2 blown tyres and a close incident with a Water Buffalo herd in the dark, we headed back to the lights of Kigali and the Royal Wedding.

The Topi like to stand on abandoned termite mounds and keep look out.

Zebra keeping an eye out fo each other by looking in opposite directions and resting their heads

Lizzie and I stood by the hippos and crocs, wandering around the lake was probably not the best idea.

Two Fish Eagles

A very tired baboon at the end of the day. I felt the same as we drove past.

Another Baboon

Getting the tyres fixed again, £2 - bargain!

The wedding itself was as expected, but with the added highlight of getting to celebrate at the British High Commissioner’s residence in the evening for Pimms and cocktails.

We then headed out to the West with Lizzie’s cousin et al. All the way to Lake Kivu at Kibuye, this is absolutely stunning here and on par with Lake Como for its beauty. We spent our time swimming in the lake and enjoying a nice cold drink in the bar/ restaurant.

Too much lunch for Lizzie?

Some traditional fishing boats we discovered whilst lost in the bush!

Napoleon's Hat or "Bat" Island

Someone lose at connect four again?

After this we spent a few days heading back up to the border and stayed in Gisenyi for a night before crossing the border for a last evening and meal in Goma. The place we went to was NGO night, so Lizzie and I expecting saw dust on the floor and lots of khaki tipped up a little underdressed as it was quite posh and everyone had their own security detail!! The pizza and bottle of red were lush though.

It is with a small aircraft that we returned back to work. First thing on the agenda was the elections for staff representative, which are still ongoing as democracy here is a process filled with procedures and various challenges – say no more.