AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK Rwanda
The acacia savanna is host to 525 species and 4 endemics, most notable of which is the very rare and highly sought after shoe bill stork. This area supports many broadly distributed African birds such as Bennett’s woodpecker, black-headed chat, white/black-collared barbet, Tabora cisticola and miombo Wren-warbler. Akangera is possibly the best site on which to look for the very rare ring necked francolin. T6he highly localized acacia specialists the red faced barbet can be sought around the Akangera Game Lodge grounds as can the rare Souza’s shrike. Also worth looking for is the bare- faced go way bird brown parrot, white-winged BlackTit and sooty-char.
Apart from the rare Shoe bill, other papyrus swamp specialists include: the swamp catcher, carruther’s cisticola, the elusive white winged Waber, and the stunning papyrus Gonolek. At the water’s edge, look for the localized brown chested lapwing and the attractive, widely distributed long-toed Lapwing.
WATER BIRDS
Sizeable flock of resident as well as migrant birds are attracted by the seasonal fluctuations in the water levels. Among the endemic species, there are the Ibis, Jacanas, herons, plovers, sandpiper and many others. Flotillas of pelicans sail ponderous across the open ware, majestic Crowned Cranes preen their golden crests in surrounding swamps white jewel- like Malachite Kingfishers hawk silently above the shore.
CULTURAL HERITAGE
The richness of Rwandan culture is apparent in the wide range of crafts and the deep rooted love of oral people are known for their epic song and dynastic poetry chronicling their origins
Music and dance play an important role in the traditions of the people. Traditional song is often accompanied by the lulunga, a harp like instrument with eight strings. Celebratory dance is backed by drum orchestras which collectively produce a hypnotic and exciting explosion oh intertwining rhythms. Finest exponent of Rwanda’s varied and dynamic traditional dance styles is the Intore Dance troupe. The Intore- literally’ the chosen ones once performed exclusively for the Royal Court but the rhythmic dance can be viewed at the National Museum at Huye (Butare). The Hoe dance from the northern region of Rwanda is another fine example of traditional dance.
The richness of the Rwanda’s culture comes to the fore in its range of crafts from ceramics, gourd containers and basketry, to traditional wood carvings and contemporary painting. The traditional dates back to the early 9th century (Prince Kakira used imigongo for interior decoration in his palace) and it has almost disappeared in Africa. Fortunately imigongo can still be found in small village of Nyakarimbi in Rwanda. The technique used only natural materials and is dominated by unique black brown and white whorls and geometric abstractions.
The national museum at Butare has perhaps the finest ethnologic absorbing of the traditional and subsequent modern development of Rwanda. The currently replicated king Rwabugirl’s retreat palace- uruture Rwa Ndaba and the kings bed are also a must- see.
Weaving an ancient handcraft, utilizes reed, different species of bamboo, papyrus and banana leaves. Altogether the crafts of Rwanda create an amazing, geometric array of neutral and bright colours.
