THE RWANDAN DIARY

Day 17: This morning we crossed the border into Rwanda and drove to the capital Kigale. We spent the morning at the Genocide Museum. This is one of the most harrowing museums we have ever walked through. The museum describes some Rwandans personal accounts of the terror and violence experienced so recently in 1994. N.B. Photos are not permitted within the Museum.

We drove that afternoon to Fatima’s Pastoral Care Accommodation in Musanze. We stayed here for the next 3 nights – our base for day trips to see Gorillas.
N.B. By Day 17 we were well and truly ready for an upgrade so kept the tent packed and moved into a comfortable double room with ENSUITE!!!

Day 18 : Today we trekked to see the Susa Family of Gorillas in the Parc des National Volcans in Ruhengeri – where Dian Fossey spent a period of 18 years working with many gorilla families. Our family consisted of 39 – the biggest family in the area.

Our Guide for the Gorilla Trek - his name was Patience

Individual Portrait Photos of the Susa Family

We set out at 10 am. After a 3.5hr walk through beautiful bamboo forest it truly felt like a scene from Gorillas in the Mist. The day had become overcast and a light mist had settled over the rainforest. Around 1 pm we got word from the trackers that we were ‘close’.

The first part of the walk was through beautiful Bamboo Rainforest

At times we really felt like we were walking through a scene from Gorillas in the Mist

Getting out the 2nd camera because just around the corner...

Within 5 minutes from that call we were standing with members of the Susa Family. Over the next hour and a half we probably saw 22 including the amazing silverbacks, juveniles and a pair of cheeky twins – an incredible wildlife experience!!! .

We meet our first Susa Member - a large Silverback!!!

What a cute face...

We watched them eat and eat and eat...

Very happy Trekkers

Put your hands up in the Air...

These naughty twins loved 'showing off' - we didn't mind

Overall the trek took about 6 hours and although this experience cost $500usd per person, it was totally worth it.

We walked back to the nearby town to receive our certificates and had a crowd of locals surround us for the 'ceremony'

Day 19 : A rest day at Fatimas Pastoral Care Centre. Dinner at night was in the town at Mawenze at a local restaurant.

So our time in Rwanda was short – 3 full days in total but our main purpose for visiting this incredible country was to see the Genocide Museum and Walk with the Gorillas.

See our Gallery for more photos:

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