Rwanda
Authors: Philip Briggs & Janice Booth 4th edition • DECEMBER 2009296 PAGES • 16 PAGES OF COLOUR PHOTOS • 22 MAPSISBN: 978 1 84162 306 1
In stock.
(Usually ships
within 24 to 48hrs)
List Price:
£15.99
Website Price:
£12.79*
You save:
£3.20 (20%)
*Enter coupon code
DISCOUNT20 at
checkout to apply
20% discount.
Rwanda, the Land of a Thousand Hills, is famed for its mountain gorillas and as the setting for the film Gorillas in the Mist. Fifteen years on from the tragic genocide of 1994, this compact country is rapidly emerging as one of Africa's most exciting ecotourism destinations, boasting three diverse national parks. The only English-language guidebook to Rwanda, this updated fourth edition lists the newest hotels, tours, activities, tour operators and all other travel practicalities. Whether you want to explore Rwanda's ancient and modern history, watch performances of traditional dance and drumming, or climb a volcano, this guide is an essential part of your trip.
Rwanda at a Glance
Please visit www.rwandatourism.com for more information.
Capital City:
Kigali
Currency:
Rwandan France
Language:
Kinyarwanda, French & English. Some Swahili is also spoken
International Telephone Code:
+250
ISBN-13: 9781841623061
Stay Informed by E-mail
Want to be notified when a new edition comes out? You can sign up to receive news of the latest Bradt publications, special offers and competitions by email.
Click here to subscribe.
Reviews
"Rwanda 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, visa 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 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
|
Reader Reviews
"Not only invaluable, but also extremely well written."
Dr. Zako, USA
"Absolutely brilliantly informative about the country and its people."
“A great companion, with which I shared many adventures…”
Eric Van de Giessen
» submit a review
|
Send Us Your Comments
If you own this book and would like to tell us what you think, or if you have feedback or new information for the authors, please let us know using the form below.
You can also send general queries about this book, but if your comment/query does not relate to this title please use our general contact form instead.
Table of Contents
PART ONE GENERAL INFORMATION
Chapter 1 Background Information
Geography, Natural history and conservation, History, People, Language, Religion, Education, Culture
Chapter 2 Practical information
When to visit, Itinerary planning, Tourist information and services, Tour operators, Red tape, Embassies and consulates, Getting there and away, Safety, What to take, Money, Budgeting, Getting around, Accommodation, Eating and drinking, Public holidays and events, Shopping, Media and communications, Cultural etiquette, Becoming involved, Investing in Rwanda
Chapter 3 Health
Before you go, Common medical problems, Ebola, Animals, Useful contacts in Kigali
PART TWO THE GUIDE
Chapter 4 Kigali
Getting there and away, Getting around, Tourist information, Tour operators, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, Nightlife, Arts and entertainment, Sport, Shopping, Other practicalities, What to see and do, Excursions further afield
Chapter 5 The Road to Butare (Huye)
Gitarama (Muhanga), Ruhango, Nyanza
Chapter 6 Butare (Huye)
Getting there and away, Getting around, Security, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, Nightlife, Shopping, Other practicalities, What to see and do, Excursions from Butare
Chapter 7 Nyungwe Forest National Park
Natural history, Getting there and away, Park fee, Where to stay and eat, Trails and activities
Chapter 8 Lake Kivu
Cyangugu (Rusizi), Kibuye (Karongi), Gisenyi (Rubavu)
Chapter 9 Ruhengeri (Musanze) and Surrounds
Getting there and away, Tourist information, Tour operators, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, Shopping, Other practicalities, Excursions from Ruhengeri
Chapter 10 Vocanoes National Park
History, conservation and tourism, Getting there and away, Where to stay and eat, Gorilla tracking, Golden monkey tracking, Other hikes, Iby'iwacu Cultural Village
Chapter 11 Eastern Rwanda
The Byumba (Gicumbi) road, The Nyagatare road, The Rusumo Road
Chapter 12 Akagera National Park
Natural history, Getting there and away, Park fees, Where to stay, Activities
Appendix I Language
Appendix 2 Further information
Appendix 3 Further Reading
Index
About the Authors
Based in South Africa, Philip Briggs has travelled extensively throughout the continent. He is the author of Bradt's Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Northern Tanzania: The Bradt Safari Guide with Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar, Ethiopia and Uganda; and is the co-author of Rwanda.
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.
Globetrotters Talk, November 2006
On November 4, Janice Booth spoke about Rwanda to an audience of over 100 members of the Globetrotters Club in London. She described her personal involvement with the country and told the moving story of how this first dedicated English-language guide to Rwanda came to be written. The members of the audience were so clearly gripped by the talk that, at the end, organiser Dick Curtis proposed a collection – which amounted to a very generous £110. The money will go to rYico, a small, low-budget charity that is doing excellent work among the street children of Rwanda’s capital, Kigali.
Other Titles by these Authors | East African WildlifePrinted in full colour throughout, this new guide provides a lively overview of the region's variety of large animals together with information on their habits and habitats, plus an excellent introduction to the region's less heralded variety of smaller creatures including 1,500 bird species and butterflies. » more details |
 | EthiopiaWhile the world taps its feet, Ethiopia breakdances with its shoulders – and Bradt's Ethiopia is the most thorough guide available to this vibrant land of majestic landscapes, rich history and welcoming people. Ever since its first publication, its blend of enthusiasm and down-to-earth advice has attracted rave reviews from both the travel press and readers. » more details |
 | MozambiqueMozambique should whet the appetites of all adventurous travellers. » more details |
 | Tanzania with Zanzibar, Pemba & MafiaWhether you need advice on removing ticks, or tips on photographing wildebeest, the sixth edition of this comprehensive guide has the latest information. Tanzania is home to Mount Kilimanjaro, the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater, and lakes Victoria and Tanganyika. One fifth of Africa's large mammal population lives here. Now fully updated, this guide covers practical information for both independent travel and all-inclusive safaris. » more details |
 | MalawiThis fourth edition of Malawi features all that you would expect from a Bradt guide, including comprehensive practical advice, information on local wildlife, conservation area and a detailed history of the country. » more details |
 | UgandaWhether visitors want to climb to the snows of the fabled Mountains of the Moon, track mountain gorillas and chimps, raft the headwaters of the mighty Nile, or marvel at the legendary tree-climbing lions of Ishasha, this sixth edition of Philip Briggs' much-praised guide is the most comprehensive resource available to Uganda. » more details |
 | GhanaBradt's Ghana has remained the bestselling guide to the country since it was first published in 1998. Readers will discover a country steeped in a rich cultural tradition and little-visited attractions. Caters for tourists on all budgets with excellent history and wildlife sections plus accommodation and restaurant recommendations and a wealth of practical information. » more details |
 | Northern Tanzania: The Bradt Safari Guide with Kilimanjaro and ZanzibarThe second edition of this tightly focused guide includes updated information on the best accommodation in every price bracket, and the best of the safaris. There's specific coverage of the wildlife and natural history of the region, making it the indispensable companion to a safari in northern Tanzania's renowned national parks. Mt Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar are also covered. » more details |
Guidebook Updates
Companion Website
To get the most up-to-date information between editions, or to send feedback directly to the authors, visit the companion site for Rwanda:
Notes from the Authors
"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 visi."
Related Titles
Browse titles in related categories | Africa
 | Congo: Democratic Republic and RepublicThe first guide to both Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the People's Republic of Congo (PRC) in well over a decade. The region boasts the largest area of untouched rainforest in Africa, and its mightiest river. Add the snow-capped Mountains of the Moon and the only national park in the world protecting three species of great ape and you have something really special. » more details |
| East African WildlifePrinted in full colour throughout, this new guide provides a lively overview of the region's variety of large animals together with information on their habits and habitats, plus an excellent introduction to the region's less heralded variety of smaller creatures including 1,500 bird species and butterflies. » more details |
 | Africa Overland: 4x4 • Motorbike • Bicycle • TruckA practical bible for independent travellers and a fascinating read for the armchair traveller! Siân Pritchard-Jones and Bob Gibbons' fifth edition of Africa Overland gives the latest on each country’s political and security situation. It also provides a Route Outlines section including information on border crossings and offers revised recommendations on vehicles including practical coverage on buying a vehicle, maintenance and driving. » more details |
| EthiopiaWhile the world taps its feet, Ethiopia breakdances with its shoulders – and Bradt's Ethiopia is the most thorough guide available to this vibrant land of majestic landscapes, rich history and welcoming people. Ever since its first publication, its blend of enthusiasm and down-to-earth advice has attracted rave reviews from both the travel press and readers. » more details |
| Tanzania with Zanzibar, Pemba & MafiaWhether you need advice on removing ticks, or tips on photographing wildebeest, the sixth edition of this comprehensive guide has the latest information. Tanzania is home to Mount Kilimanjaro, the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater, and lakes Victoria and Tanganyika. One fifth of Africa's large mammal population lives here. Now fully updated, this guide covers practical information for both independent travel and all-inclusive safaris. » more details |
|
