Rwandan Adventure - 5th Day - Akagera NP across the country to Kinigi

 

 Akagera NP across Rwanda to Volcanoes NP

- Monday, 12 Dec 2022

Gonna be a long drive today - all the way from Eastern Rwanda to Western Rwanda!  With a stop in Kigali for Covid tests!!  And to pick up Tom & Marilynn's long awaited luggage!!!

Wire-Tailed Swallow

Up at 5:15am and bags out by 6:25am & on to breakfast.  Tom & Marilynn were the only ones there!  But the others all drifted in.  Finally managed a picture of the Wire Tailed Swallow that were flitting around all the time.  Also got a picture of Rose, one of our waitresses.  She was just adorable.  Took a few shots around the beautiful restaurant.

Greater Blue-eared Starling

Stopped at the entry way for a few last pictures of the scenery & got a fair close up of a Greater Blue-eared Starling.  Couldn't resist one final picture of our room as we finished up our packing.

On the way out of the park we said bye to our faithful Baboon family.  Then most exciting for me was spotting a Woodland Kingfisher!  And our other faithful, a White Browed Coucal.  Bachu spotted another Black Bellied Bustard, but I couldn't get a picture.

Black Kite

Pied Crow

Then we were back to "civilization" of a sort!  At least more people & less wild animals!  We made a quick stop for a pee break where we'd stopped before & George bought a couple of bottles of wine while I snapped pictures of the Black Kite looking for his mid morning snack!  Just because, I took a picture of a Pied Crow.  Just as an on the side, for some reason ebird doesn't allow a choice of a Black Kite, closest is a Black Winged Kite which is quite a bit different.  Very strange.

We had to pass through Kigali as we traveled from the far east side of the country to the far west side.  We made a stop there for several reasons.  Issac peeled off to take Tom & Marilynn to the airport to collect their luggage, while we headed to the clinic to get our Covid tests to visit the Mountain Gorillas at Volcanoes National Park.  Our group had no problems at all & then we waited a bit in an outside seating area for Tom & Marilynn and Ken & Sue.  Bachu had realized that our battery was low, so he headed out to replace it while we waited.  They had issues with finding the luggage, but finally showed up.  Then there was a mix up with Marilynn & Sue's test, so we waited even longer.  Finally it was all sorted out & we made a short lunch stop at a local restaurant with a buffet.  Felt like we had waited forever, but we were at the restaurant as 12:30p and it was mobbed.  Not to worry, the management were waiting for us & had a table reserved.  We enjoyed our meal & got back on the road.

Toilet instructions for the men at the Pit stop

We had several hours of uneventful driving as we climbed into the mountains heading to Volcanoes National Park.  The scenery got wilder & more beautiful.  It drizzled off & on.  We made one pit stop, just for the toilet.  Bachu told us that the building & outdoor restaurant next door were owned by a local man that had made good.  Started with nothing, but worked his way up & now helped other locals to make a go of it & sponsored children's education.  Very impressive.  Marlyn got a photo of the instructions in the men's toilet!  The Virungas are the 5 volcanos looming nearer & nearer.

Issac was always on the look out for a Learning & Discovery and he found a really good one!!!  There was a group of locals hand splitting logs!  We all trooped over to watch.  It was amazing.  I wish I had taken a video.  They made it look simple, so they let our guys try their hand at it.  It was obviously not as easy as it looked!  Ken & Rick both tried & said the major issue was trying to keep enough pressure on the saw blade to keep it in the slot.  They pretty much failed!  Issac tried & he didn't do much better.  We were surrounded by children that were asking for our email addresses & looking for handouts.  It was a fun way to get out to the jeep for a bit & stretch our legs!

It was only a few more minutes drive to our lodge.  It was not the one we had in our books, apparently there was a last minute change.  Our guide said this one was his preference because it was closer to the park.  We were happy to get there & enjoyed some hot refreshments while Issac handed out the keys.  It was a rather interesting entrance because of a rough dirt road up the side of the mountain.  It was thundering strongly as we arrived and drizzling as we headed up the sidewalks to our cabins.

We were all very pleased with our rooms.  They were huge.  Each an individal cabin with a fireplace.  Our view was lovely, even if covered in heavy clouds.  A young man came to light the fireplace before we left for dinner.

Issac had us meet for a briefing on tomorrow's Gorilla hike.  Gonna be an early one!!  But we're all very excited!  Have to be all geared up for the hike, gators & all!!  We had a before dinner drink & chattered happily!

Dinner was delicious.  Our chef was doing stir fry to order & we all enjoyed the flames as he spiced things up.  There were lots of vegetable side choices and as usual we ate too much.  After dinner no one hung around to chat, we scurried back up the sidewalks & found water bottles warming the foot of our beds!  We had a leak in the shower that had the floor in the bathroom squishy.  But there were slippers, so we managed okay.  Sure enjoyed the fireplace!  Finished up a bottle of wine & made a few notes in the journal.  Got all the gear out & ready!  Then to sleep.  Tomorrow is the big long awaited day!!!!