Attraction Tours and Transport Ltd

KIGALI CITY TOUR

Jean Baptiste NDASHYIKIRWA — 2019-12-10T13:39:33Z

Ideally positioned in the centre of Rwanda, Kigali extends across several hills and valleys, with good road links to the rest of the country. The verdant capital city is pleasantly low key yet dynamic and progressive, with just over one million inhabitants.

First-time visitors to the bustling and colourful centre often remark how clean the streets are, a matter of pride across every community throughout the country.
Kigali is a relatively new city. It was founded as an administrative outpost in 1907, and became the capital of the country at independence in 1962, shifting focus away from Huye.

The city's wide tree-lined boulevards and immaculate squares are safe to stroll, where outsiders are generally left to their own devices unless they need assistance, in which case they will be greeted with warm hospitality.
There is a burgeoning art scene, as well as a growing number of options to dine out and have a few drinks, many with charming panoramic views. The Kigali Cultural Village offers a dedicated space for local artisans and food vendors to exhibit and trade their goods.

Kigali is developing rapidly, with new shopping malls, office buildings and a world-class convention centre built in the style of the King's Palace of olden days, which lights up the night sky atop of one of the many hills.
The central business district covers Nyarugenge Hill while the government and administrative quarter is further east on Kacyiru Hill.
Nyarutarama Lake, or Lover's Lake, borders an 18-hole golf course in one of the main valleys. The track around the lake is remarkably peaceful and makes for an excellent urban nature walk, with the chance to see some of Rwanda's incredible birds.

No visit to Rwanda would be complete without a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, which, through education and peace-building, honours the memory of the more than one million Rwandans killed in 1994. The three permanent exhibitions and burial gardens form part of a meaningful tribute to those who perished and provide a powerful educational tool for visitors.

VISIT RUSIZI

Admin — 2019-12-01T08:45:07Z

A small town on the border with the DRC, with views across to the Congolese city of Bukavu.

Rusizi is the closest town to Nyungwe National Park, which is about an hour's drive away. Budget accommodation here will appeal to self-drive visitors to the National Park.

VISIT RUBAVU

Admin — 2019-12-01T08:42:30Z

A waterfront town on the shores of Lake Kivu, Rubavu is an hour away from the Volcanoes National Park and makes a good stopover on the way to or from Nyungwe, or somewhere to relax after gorilla tracking.

Rubavu, as well as other spots along Lake Kivu, has red sandy beaches, warm, clean water, and an easygoing tropical character. It is a great place to unwind, soak up the tranquil vibe, watch the birds and enjoy various watersports.

Inland, old colonial buildings stand on palm-lined avenues, kept company by various banks, hotels, and offices.

The city marks the beginning of the Congo Nile Trail, which extends 227km south to Rusizi. The trail can be enjoyed on foot or by mountain bike, with endless lake views, friendly hamlets, fishermen at work and women clothed in striking prints going about their daily lives.

With many tea and coffee plantations around Rubavu, as well as birds and primates to see in the new Gishwati-Mukura National Park, the area has something for everyone.

Gishwati National Park

Admin — 2019-12-01T08:40:13Z

Rwanda's fourth national park, Gishwati Mukura is made up of two separate forests – the larger Gishwati and small Mukura, forming a total of 34 square kilometers plus a buffer zone.

The forests sit on the ridge which divides the Congo and Nile water catchment areas, along the incredibly biodiverse Albertine Rift in the west of the country. It is made up of 60 species of trees, including indigenous hardwoods and bamboo.

Gishwati is home to a group of 20 chimpanzees which live alongside golden monkeys, L'Hoest's and Blue Monkeys. Birds are well represented too, 232 species have been seen at Gishwati and 163 at Mukura, among them Albertine Rift Endemic species and forest specialists.

The park is currently part of an ambitious landscape restoration program. Activities in the park are due to begin in 2019 and include a guided nature hike, guided chimp, and monkey tracking, bird watching and a visit to the waterfalls.

The area was nearly depleted largely due to resettlement, illegal mining in the mineral-rich forest and livestock farming.

The formalization of its National Park status in 2015 aims to help redress the balance, to increase the number of trees to improve soil fertility, stabilize slopes and regulate streamflow.

It will also contribute to improving the livelihoods of the population living in the surrounding areas, which in turn offers the forest a better chance of regeneration in tandem with the potential to raise living standards in the longer term.

Community-based activities include a farm stay, a live cultural dance, making handicrafts, beekeeping, a tea plantation tour and the chance to learn from traditional healers, who use natural plants to support modern medicine and synthesized drugs.

Rwandan Museums

Admin — 2019-12-01T08:29:45Z

Volcanoes National Park

Admin — 2019-12-01T08:18:47Z

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

Situated in the far northwest of Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park protects the steep slopes of this magnificent mountain range – home of the endangered mountain gorilla and a rich mosaic of montane ecosystems, which embrace evergreen and bamboo forest, open grassland, swamp, and heath.

Volcanoes National Park is named after the chain of dormant volcanoes making up the Virunga Massif : Karisimbi – the highest at 4,507m, Bisoke with its verdant crater lake, Sabinyo, Gahinga and Muhabura

Tracking endangered mountain gorillas through the mysterious intimacy of the rain forest, alive with the calls of 200 species of colorful birds and chattering of the rare golden monkey, is only one of the truly unique experiences in the area.

Within the boundaries of Volcanoes National Park are Buhanga Eco-Park, an ancient forest holding Rwanda's most intriguing folklore and Musanze Caves, formed 62 million years ago after the last estimated volcanic eruption.

Hiking, canoeing, mountain biking, and village experiences offer something for everyone to enjoy.

Nyungwe National Park

Admin — 2019-12-01T08:15:44Z

One of the oldest rainforests in Africa, Nyungwe is rich in biodiversity and spectacularly beautiful. The mountainous region is teaming with wildlife, including a small population of chimpanzees as well as 12 other species of primate, including the L'Hoest's monkey endemic to the Albertine Rift.

With 15 trails, some of which are detailed here, along with various other activities, visitors can choose to sample the delights of the forest or indulge themselves for a week or more in one of Africa's most stunning forests.

Primate tracking tops most visitor's list, but it's worth lingering a little longer for those with time to relax and take in the primal atmosphere.

Botanists will marvel at the 1,068 plant species and 140 orchids. The birdwatching is among the best in Africa with 322 birds species including Red-collared Babbler and 29 other Albertine Rift Endemic species. Butterflies are also a common sight, with at least 120 species.

There are 75 known mammals in Nyungwe, such as the cerval cat, mongoose, congo clawless otter and leopard to name but a few. Many tend to be shy so sightings are luck of the draw.

Memorable and photogenic moments include walking up to the Isumo waterfall or along the Canopy Walk suspension bridge. Tea plantations border the edges of the park, with a habituated troop of Ruwenzori colobus monkeys at Gisakura as well as forest fringe birds.

With plenty of rainfall, Nyungwe is also the major catchment area in Rwanda and supplies water to 70% of the country.

A ridge running through the forest forms a watershed between the drainage systems of the Nile and the Congo. A spring on the slopes of Mt Bigugu is said to be the most remote source of the Nile, the world's longest river.

Akagera National Park

Admin — 2019-11-29T18:41:09Z

Akagera National Park
The relatively warm and low-lying plains of Akagera comprise savannah, woodland, wetland, and a dozen lakes. In partnership with African Parks, we aim to transform the National Park into a world-class location to experience a safari.

The largely open expanse is ideal for game viewing, and we are taking steps to ensure the Big Five roam the park in greater numbers over the course of time.

Since 2010 we have cut poaching to an all-time low, with the introduction of a helicopter, a canine unit, and rhino trackers.

A family of lions from South Africa is settling in well, and breeding successfully, and 18 eastern black rhinos have also been reintroduced.

Visitors can also encounter buffalo, elephant, antelope, zebra, giraffe, baboons, monkeys, an incredible 490 bird species, plus much more.

A boat trip on Lake Ihema is also a highlight of any visit to Akagera, with its large pods of hippos, Nile crocodiles and abundant waterbirds on the island in the middle of the lake.

The only way to explore the park is by vehicle, whether through a tour operator or self-drive. The National Park also has a vehicle to hire, with individual spaces available on night drives.

It is recommended to take up the services of a guide, which can be booked through the park.

Sleeping within the park is possible, at various lodges, a bush camp in the north at select periods, or camping in specific sites.