Connecting With Nature In Rwanda, Africa

Connecting With Nature In Rwanda, Africa

The atmosphere was surcharged with excitement as we embarked at the Kigali International Airport. The sun was yet to rise as we quickly finished the immigration process and entered the city of Kigali, the capital of the tiny nation of Rwanda in East Africa. This was our first time in the African continent, and what we saw in Kigali blew all the myths of Africa out of the window. As we drove towards our hotel, the first rays of the sun illuminated a city that was beautiful, roads lined with trees, spick and span without a speck of trash. A city which was obviously maintained and administered as per international standards. We looked forward to an immersive experience of nature in Rwanda. Peering out of the window in this new land was like a dream. We were far away from home, the language was strange, the people looked different, everything was new to us. In this new place, suddenly we saw a board with a familiar logo, the logo of Airtel, and suddenly the miles that stood between Kigali and our home country seemed to melt away. We felt strangely connected to our own country and home.

Romancing Nature In Rwanda

We traveled around Rwanda during our week-long sojourn. The country is blessed with some of the best and varied landscapes in the world. At some places, we were reminded of the vast green meadows of Switzerland, while some places were reminiscent of the emerald tea gardens that you find in Darjeeling or the Nilgiris in India. Volcanoes, mountains, rain forests, lakes alternate in the country to enthrall visitors with their magic. Before we embarked into the interiors of the country to experience its wildlife and rain forests, the first thing our guide did, was to take our group to a shopping center to pick up local sim cards. We accompanied them and watched with interest, as we were already connected through our Airtel International Roaming. Hence we did not have to go through the hassles of the process of acquiring a SIM card in a foreign country.

We spent some unforgettable days in the enchanting country of Rwanda reveling in the magic of nature. We made some unforgettable memories that connected us deeply with nature in Rwanda.

Encounter With The Big Five In Akagera National Park

The thrill of Africa lies in its wildlife. We experienced that very special feeling that you get when you watch wild animals in the raw at the Akagera National Park. The park is home to the Big Five which consists of the Lion, Leopard, Rhinoceros, Elephant, and Wild Buffalo. As we drove in our safari vehicle across the vast grasslands of the Akagera National Park and saw huge herds of wild buffaloes, cavorting Zebras, graceful Giraffes and much more, we felt as if we had entered a scene from one of our favorite National Geographic programs.

Rendezvous With The Mountain Gorilla In Volcanoes National Park

One of the unique experiences of Rwanda is coming face to face with the endangered Mountain Gorilla. This is a rare animal and also a symbol of an ecological and conservation triumph of the country. The Mountain Gorillas that inhabit the forests covering the volcanic Virunga mountains spread across Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. There was a time not too far in the past when the numbers of the unique species of Mountain Gorillas had dwindled to less than 500. But sustained conservation efforts by the Government and other stakeholders slowly changed the situation. The population of the Mountain Gorillas is in the range of around 1,000 today.

Cutting through impregnable and thick forest. Forest rangers with AK47 by our side, we trekked deep into the jungle in search of these Mountain Gorillas. We were advised to be silent, switch off our mobiles as we approached the place where a Gorilla family had been spotted. As we looked at our phones we were surprised to see full connectivity to our Airtel network international roaming service. We smiled to ourselves as we switched off the phones.

In a matter of minutes, we stood bang in front of a Gorilla Family. The silverback as the head of a Gorilla family is known as, looked at us and let off a loud cry, thumping his chest with both hands. We froze in our tracks, we had seen this only in movies and television before. But this was happening right in front of our eyes, just a few feet away. That moment remains entrenched in our memory for posterity. After spending an hour watching the almost human-like behavior of the Gorilla family in the interiors of an Amazonian jungle we walked back to our own world, the complicated world of humans.

Walking A Dream in Nyungwe National Park

One of the surreal and dream-like experiences that we had in Rwanda was in the Nyungwe National Park. The Park is rich in biodiversity and teeming with many species of primates. These include Chimpanzees and Colobus Monkeys. Numerous exotic species of birds make the place a Birder’s paradise. One of the beautiful attractions in the Nyungwe National Park is the Canopy Walk. After walking down a steep and at times slippery path you reach a hanging suspension bridge.

The bridge stretches across the valley and offers magnificent views of the rainforest. From this vantage point, colorful birds, monkeys prancing about in the trees can be seen. As we hung on to the swaying bridge, suspended, 60 meters above a deep ravine and stretching for 200 meters, the thrill of adventure coursed through our being. And as if this experience was not enough, when we turned westwards, a visual treat awaited us.

The sun was setting amidst gently floating clouds. The sky had burst into myriad shades of red. One could see ochre, pink, orange, mingle with the blue of the skies and the white of the clouds. The sky looked like a canvas on which an artist had put his brush strokes after dipping the brush in multiple colors. The scene was sheer magic. And the best part was that the latest technology and advances in telecommunications enabled us to share the spectacular views almost in real time with our family back home in India.

Those moments on the swinging Canopy walk. The birds chirping incessantly and the wind gently caressing our faces is alive to this day in our memories.

Rwanda for us was indeed a trip of a lifetime. An opportunity to experience the pure form of nature at its best. A dream that we lived and a reality which now has become a living dream in our memories.

Which destination that you have visited has left indelible memories in your mind? Are you on international roaming when you are traveling? What is your experience with internet speed when traveling? Which do you feel is the best network whose mobile network you have used on your travels? Do let us know your thoughts through the comments section, we always await eagerly for your inputs.

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