Rwanda Facts and Planning
Rwanda is a poor country, a little smaller than Maryland, with almost 90% of the population engaged in subsistence farming. It is the most densely populated country in Africa. After the 1994 genocide decimated Rwanda's economy it took many years for the country to stabilize and rehabilitate itself but Rwanda also has done a complete about face and made it a wonderful place to visit. The country is filled with warm, smiling faces and officials who are really glad to see you.
Dian Fossey is almost single-handedly credited with bringing the plight of Rwanda's endangered Mountain Gorillas, their conservation and protection from poachers, to the attention of the world. She was murdered by an unknown assailent in her cabin at the Karisoke Research Center in the Virunga Mountains in 1985, the same mountains we were going to visit. There are only approximately 625 gorillas left in the wild - completely heartbreaking after our visits to observe these awe-inspiring gentle creatures. The world's remaining Mountain and Lowland Gorillas are scattered in three countries: Uganda (Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park), Democratic Republic of Congo (completely unsafe to visit) and Rwanda.
Gorilla permits are issued by Uganda and Rwanda up to one year in advance. We were going to see the gorillas in Rwanda's Virunga Mountains because that was where Pat Dewil got permits for this departure. The Virungas are a chain of freestanding volcanic cones strung along a fault line. There are six inactive and two active volcanos and the Mountain Gorillas' habitat is in the six extinct/dormant volcanoes.
Rwanda issues 64 permits to visit their eight (8) groups of habituated gorillas almost every day of the year at a cost of $375/permit with costs rising to $500/permit in 2007. Do the math and you can see why Rwanda is moving heaven and earth to keep tourists coming to their country. Visiting this endangered species was the main focus of our trip but we were also excited about everything else Pat had planned for us.
We were ready to go...
