A Pensive Moment

Gorillas: Hirwa Group

We visited Hirwa group on 26 Dec and the group consists of one silverback and five females each with a baby. The babies' ages ranged from 3 - 8 months old. The photos below is of the one female and another of one of the babies chewing on a piece of plant.

Rusumo Falls, Lake Bulera

A lovely drive from Musanze along the shores of Lake Bulera brings one to Rusomo Falls. The following photos are from that drive along the shores and a merged photo of the upper part of the Falls. The lower part can only be seen from the lake or a by a different access route.

Little boy at the village of Mubuga with a traditional bicycle.

Sights around Musanze, Rwanda

The following shows some sights in and round the town of Musanze, previously known as Ruhengeri, in the north-west of Rwanda

The town on a reasonably quiet day

Pre-sunset over the Virungas with Mikeno covered by cloud and Bisoke to the right. A view from town.

The outflow from the hot water springs at the southern end of town. Adjacent to this is also a small local market where locally made cheap furniture, woven mats and livestock is sold - hardly visited by any any tourists.

Musanze cave; presently being prepared for official tourism toward the end of 2007. Mapping is in progress. Located about 2km from the centre of town on the way to Gisenyi.

Buhanga Forest on the outskirts of town with pathways laid in hand-shaped volcanic rock. A good site for birding walks and planning is underway for cultural tourism on the site as well i.e. dancing and sharing of folklore
Lake Ruhondo east of the town. This particular view is from the southern end of the lake. Development of tourism opportunities on and around the lake is also now in progress.

Moths in Musanze, Rwanda

Some pics here of moths photographed at dusk in Musanze, Rwanda. In the cases where I've furnished names, the names have been obtained from lepidopterists abroad based on the photos. These names should not be accepted as the final decision on species or family though and I welcome comments/advice regarding species and/or family names.

Amerila baueri (Arctiidae)

Maruca vitrata(Crambidae,Spilomelinae a.k.a Mung Bean Moth


Possibly Filodes sp. (Crambidae,Spilomelinae

Possibly Palpita sp.

Callopistria, possibly C. juventina a.k.a "The Latin" (Crambidae, Spilomelinae OR in Noctuidae

The Virungas' Different Faces

Gahinga and Muhabura

View of Gahinga and Muhabura over the south western end of Lake Ruhondo.

Sabinyo, Gahinga and Muhabura (left to right)

View of three of the volcanoes from the road to Gisenyi.

Sabinyo with its head in the clouds

View of Sabinyo early in the morning from the Tourism (ORTPN) office at Kinigi.



Bisoke (foreground) and Mikeno

Early morning view of Bisoke and Mikeno (in the DR Congo) from the Tourism (ORTPN) office at Kinigi where tourists meet before setting off to track the mountain gorillas.

Rwandan Crafts

Collage of Traditional Rwandan Crafts


Pottery - traditionally a skill of BaTwa people is now widely practiced and a wide range of products is now sold on markets.
Basketwork - very intricate and any design and size can be done to order.
Drums & Calabash - some more examples of the traditional crafts


Rwandan art & crafts also include batiques, paintings, wood & stone sculptures and carvings. In addition to this a wide variety of household items and furniture are also made and sold by individuals with their own businesses and/or through co-operatives set up for the artisans.