|
Bradt Guide Rwanda
Ref: BRA063
Rwanda - the stunning backdrop to Gorillas in the Mist - has come far in rebuilding its infrastructure since Bradt published the first dedicated travel guide in 2001. A decade since the genocide, this new edition reveals that the 'Land of a Thousand Hills' is not only one of the world's finest and friendliest ecotourism destinations, but is also peaceful, accessible and safe.
This fully updated 2nd edition indludes:
• The Rwandan people: their history and culture
• When and where to see mountain gorillas
• Conservation areas and national parks
• Detailed coverage of the capital, Kigali
• Thoroughly updated practical information
Book Reviews
"Rwanda: The Bradt Travel Guide is excellent; it captures the mood of the place and gives a positive and accurate account of a fantastic country."
-- Art of Travel
"Every now and again you come across a guidebook which goes far above and beyond the humdrum list of exchange rates, vis requirements and one-line descriptions of sights and amenities. This guide is just such a book. It gives the prospective visitor real and detailed insights into the country, its people, history, flora and fauna. Even if you end up never going to Rwanda, you will feel you know the place quite intimately by the time you get to the final page."
-- Wildside
"At last, a well-written and dedicated guide to Rwanda."
-- Footprints
"Rwanda: The Bradt Travel Guide is an excellent book that I have recommended to all the visitors who come to Rwanda and who want to know more than just the superficial accounts from the press. This guide presents a clear and balanced overview of events in Rwanda's recent past, considered by many Rwandans to be one of the fairest representations. The book also describes the charm and attraction that make this country so different."
-- Dr Annette Lanjouw, Director of the International Gorilla Conservation Programme
Author's Note, by Janice Booth and Philip Briggs
When I first visited Rwanda, four years ago, it was to search for any surviving family of a long-time Rwandan friend who – I assumed, from his silence since 1994 – had died in the genocide. The media still portrayed a violent, damaged and dangerous country, and I did not expect to enjoy my visit.
In fact I was captivated. The beauty, safety, friendliness and accessibility – not to mention the amazing mountain gorillas, which I visited – all combined to make me fax Hilary Bradt then and there from Kigali saying she should consider a Bradt guide to Rwanda. She agreed, Philip Briggs was (to my great relief) available to cover the wildlife, and so the first edition was born. Five visits later, I’ve seen for myself the extraordinary regrowth of Rwanda’s tourism sector, which is already back to its pre-genocide peak. More than that, I’ve seen the whole country transform itself from a shell-shocked ruin, site of appalling horrors, into a vibrant, prosperous, safe and energetic nation, well able to tackle the demands of the 21st century and to welcome tourists. Its progress, in only nine years, has been astonishing.
Of course there is still great sadness. Not a family was untouched by the genocide, and no-one forgets. Memorials honour the dead and underline Rwanda’s message to the world – which is ‘Never again’. But it is the courage, beauty, energy and determination of Rwanda and its people that make the greatest impression on the visitor.
It is a truly stunning country, this ‘land of a thousand hills’: the ancient forest of Nyungwe, the lakes and rolling savanna of Akagera, the hillside roads twisting among tea plantations and banana groves, sunsets over the silver water of Lake Kivu, colourful local markets, intriguing handicrafts, thrilling displays of traditional dance, rich culture, museums and old royal palaces – and of course the unmissable mountain gorillas up there ‘in the mist’ among the Virunga volcanoes. And all of this is crammed into an area less than half the size of Scotland, so that nowhere is more than a day’s drive from anywhere else. Tourists are spoilt for choice.
Before the genocide, Rwanda’s three main earners of foreign exchange were coffee, tea and tourism, and this is still the case – with tourism seeming likely to far outstrip the other two and help to rebuild the economy. For now, it’s still an unspoilt country, with no crowds and no queue for gorilla-viewing permits. This is sure to change, just because it’s such a terrific tourist destination – so don’t delay! Start planning your visit…
Janice Booth started editing Bradt travel guides after meeting Hilary Bradt on a bus in the Seychelles in 1996, and since first visiting Rwanda in 2000 - and co-writing the first edition of this guide - has contributed articles on Rwanda to various magazines and websites.
Philip Briggs is a travel writer and tour leader specialising in East and Southern Africa. Born in Britain and raised in South Africa, he started travelling in East Africa in 1986, and his first book Guide to South Africa was published by Bradt in 1991. In addiiton to authoring the Bradt travel guides to Tanzania, Uganda, Ghana, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, and East & Southern Africa, he has contributed to numerous other books and contributes regularly to Africa Geographic, Travel Africa, Africa Birds & Birding and other magazines.
£13.95
|
