Monday, September 5, 2022

Rwanda: The Golden Monkeys, Genocide Memorial, and Public Market

The Golden Monkeys in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda, were delightful. They were very active and approached closely as they ate and, occasionally, wrestled. 




                                                                       Adorable face!





We drove from Volcanoes National Park to Kigali and visited the gripping Genocide Memorial, commemorating the 1994 genocide which took the lives of approximately 800,000 people. No photographs are allowed inside, but the exhibits detail the evolution of the conflict between the Hutus and the Tutsis. The scope and rapidity of the slaughter was incredible. The government emphasizes that the focus now is on reconciliation and moving forward, although the genocide is undeniably a sad and brutal chapter in the history of the country.


Much more uplifting is the raucous public market, which features a host of vendors hawking souvenirs as well as a sprawling food market jammed with vendors and customers. 





 With the market in our rear view mirror, it was off to the new international airport to begin the journey back to the states! The people in Rwanda and Tanzania were warm and friendly, and we will not soon forget the stunningly beautiful landscape and wildlife.

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