A balloon ride over the Serengeti was a highlight of the trip.
We were blown slightly off-course and landed near an isolated village. The residents rushed out to see what was going on and were fascinated by the balloon, and by us. They were very friendly, but wary of our cameras. Once they understood we meant no harm, most of them consented to be photographed.
Potatoes are a common crop in Rwanda, and transporting loaded sacks on rickety bicycles, along rock-strewn mountainous roads, is a way of life for many people. Rwanda is a landlocked, densely populated country of nearly 13 million people, one million of whom live in the capital, Kigali.
Stunning vistas abound.
Volcanoes National Park is a beautiful multi-country conservation area that, in addition to Rwanda, includes portions of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The park protects the Virunga Mountains, mostly dormant volcanoes, which gives Rwanda its name of "Land of a Thousand Hills."
The trek to find the mountain gorillas was challenging, but ultimately worth it. To see these magnificent animals in their natural habitat is simply incredible.
Sleeping mother and baby.
A majestic silverback. The look says it all.
A male silverback can weigh in the neighborhood of 500 pounds. They exude power whenever they move.
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.
Bear Country USA, although essentially a zoo, was surprisingly interesting. Although we did see a grizzly bear and a few black bears in the wild, Bear County USA gave us the chance to view many animals indigenous to the area.
And then....immortalized!!!
