Rwanda Adventure - 2nd Day, 9 December 2022

 Kigali to Akagera National Park, Rwanda

 - Friday, 9 Dec 2023

Up early, breakfast & on the road by 9am.  Such a pretty hotel, shame we missed the other nights here.  But kept looking around & thinking about how it looked with the folks hiding here during the genocide.  Movie scripts in my head.   Regardless, we got checked out & on our way.

The easy drive out of town heading northeast was once again enjoyable as we viewed the lovely scenic views and we amazed at the flow of crazy traffic!!!

As a learning & discovery (& to stretch our legs!) we stopped alongside the highway to watch folks harvesting rice.  These pictures are from Ken & Marlyn.  The hut was the main reason we stopped.  They are built to house rabbits over the water.  The rabbits poop in the water & that is used to make a sheen on the water to protect the fish that they grow next to the rice fields!  Amazing!!!

But I was more interested in the birds & saw White Faced Whistling Ducks, Black faced Heron, Fan Tailed Widow Bird, Common Greenshank, Little Egret, Long Toed Lapwing - those I got pictures of.  Also saw many others that Isaac ID'd for me with no pictures.  I have them listed on my ebirds account for my Life List!!! 

We only stayed at the rest stop for about 20 minutes, but not only did we get the history & explanation about the rice fields & fish ponds, but we loved watching the constant stream of travelers with all their crazy methods of transport!!!  Hilarious to see the calf strapped to the bicycle!!!

We made a potty stop at a really nice gift shop that had a HUGE wine selection.  We bought several bottles for our cabin at the National Park.  Others bought some coffee.  It could have been a gift shop in the US.  Very well set up!

Just a few miles further on, we came to the Urugo Women's Opportunity Center in Kayonza.  First went to the big main outdoor pavilion.  They were already waiting for us & set up to dance.  They put on an awesome demonstration!

Then they brought over scarves & dressed us all up so that we could dance with them!!!  Woo Hoo!  Fun Fun Fun!!!

Then we got to round dance for them!!!!  We did Beach Party Cha.  Unfortunately the music wasn't very loud, but they loved it.  Especially the hip rolls down & up!  It was soooooo very much fun!

Then we got a tour around the facility.  There were multiple buildings that housed different training classes: one for basket weaving, jewelry making, a special type of tile making that could be used for pictures or building tiles (later I was given one of the special pictures) and even a kitchen that made beer & one that made yogurt!!!!  It is all a facility for training women how to be self sufficient & provide for their families after the genocide when so many of the head of household males were lost either killed or jailed.  It is an amazing facility!! 

 They had made us lunch too.  Even got some local beer.  It was very pleasant.

Just a short distance down the road, we passed Zipline, an American company that uses an automated drone system to deliver medications to rural areas.  It's an amazing invention that is being used in multiple countries throughout the world.  Even helped with Covid immunization deliveries.

After we left there, it was just a few more miles on to the entrance to the park.  Isaac & Bachu went inside to pay for our entry.

 

We arrived at the Akagera Game Lodge (entrance photo from Marlyn) & spent an hour getting settled.  Our room had a balcony with a beautiful view of Lake Ihema!!!

Saw a few birds, Common Bulbul, the Village & Masked Weavers just outside the door, Greater Blue Eared Starling (from Marlyn), a few unidentified.  Just nice to be outside.

Issac had us meet up on the outside patio for a briefing about the history & location of the park.  It had almost been destroyed by the Genocide.  Afterwards, the government had to give up some of the lands for the farmers to use.  But now it's thriving and they are trying to make it a Rwandan Ngorongoro Crater.  We were at the southern end of it.  It borders on Tanzania which is a bit of a problem with poachers coming across the border with few penalties from the Tanzanian government.

Next was a night safari with National Park guides.  Both were named Manual & our jeep had Manual Senior.  Although we didn't see a lot of animals, it was very interesting.  We started with Baboons set up in the overnight roost in a tree.  Then on to a mongoose, a Water Thick knee, 2 owls, 2 bucks, 2 buffalo, a night jar, 2 grey crowned cranes & lastly, a bush baby!!!  My camera was not working for night shots at all, so about the only good picture was the Scops Owl.  Ken's shot is the last one & it's great!

After dinner, I was surprised with a Birthday Party!!!  I had a card signed by everyone & gifts from Michele and Issac.  Marilynn had bought Amarula for everyone!  The hotel provided a cake complete with flaming torch & my name written on the plate!  It was a fabulous time!!!  Unfortunately we were all still tired, so back to our rooms for an early night.  But what a great day!!!