From Tanzania to Rwanda

We left Busisi around 08h15 and arrived in Benaco at 16h00.  It took us close on three hours to do the last 60 km’s due to the very badly potholed road.   Thank goodness we would only have another 18 km’s from Benaco to the Rusumo Border Post.  Unfortunately, this is the only way in and out of Rwanda from/to Tanzania, which means we have this rotten road to contend with on the way back.


Unfortunately I cant show you haw bad the road is because the wifi link here is to weak to upload pictures.

Our night in Benaco at the Starmax Motel was a truly “African” experience (Richard and Lynn – even more so than our stay at the “Lodge” in Kanga, Botswana!).  Amos, the Manager was extremely friendly.  The rooms were clean, but the en suite left a lot to be desired – French toilet, shower and basin the same cubicle.  The town was experiencing a power outage for the last three days already, so there was no water either.  Thank goodness we are totally self-sufficient in our camper!  We were able to have a decent camp meal in the carpark.  For dessert we ordered local cuisine – chicken and cooked green banana that tasted exactly like potato!  Interestingly, there are five varieties of bananas in Tanzania, and the green ones that they cook apparently never turn yellow!
The adjacent pub and nearby main road were noisy during the night, so not much sleep was had.



Rusumo Border Post & Kigali

Day 46 & 47 – 24th  & 25th July 2019

We arrived at the “One-Stop” Tanzania/Rwanda Border Post at 08h00 and left at 11h00.  This was mainly due to the Rwandan systems that are extremely slow and a thorough search of all bags and containers that were in the inside of the vehicle.  They didn’t however ask us to open up the camper.  We still don’t know what exactly they were looking for.
We needed to pay US$30 each for a visa, 15 000 Rwanda Franc for vehicle entry and Rf 30 503 for 3rd Party Insurance.

We knew we wanted to visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial when we got there, but had heard from Stan (our planning mentor) that there were interesting churches near Kigali, so decided to fit that in before reaching the city.  We visited the Nyamata Genocide Memorial where more than 10 000 tutsi’s were massacred.  A rather depressing experience, but one which gave a better understanding of the genocide era.   We were to find several more of these types of memorials scattered throughout the country during our travels.

We found our way to the Step Town Motel, situated in Kigali Heights, that had a great view over the city.  Both the accommodation and restaurant were excellent.  The staff were really great too, and we shall be returning here on route back to Tanzania in 8 days.


We visited the city’s attractions the next day, including the really big and very well laid out Genocide Memorial and Gorilla Statues in the city centre.  We were able to stock up on supplies at the Simba Shopping Centre.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tarangire National Park

Image
Day 30 & 31 – 8 th & 9 th Jully 2019 The trip from Arusha to Tarangire was absolutely facinating.  Being Masaai territory, you expected only to see the Masaai tending their herds.  But our journey co-incided with a special cattle market in the Mgagau area.  It is here where people come and buy and sell cattle, goats and sheep for either for butcheries, milking and farming. Mgagau Cattle Market  And, of course, some Masaai are too lazy to walk their goat to the market! A Masaai taking his goat to market Tarangire National Park thus far has been the best National Park we have ever visited.   Not a large variety of game, but massive herds of zebra, buffalo, elephant and giraffe.   Also, huge prides of lion. Upon arrival at the gate, the large number of tour operated vehicles was overwhelming.  This is possibly forerunner of what we can expect in the Serengeti earlier next week. Tour Operator's vehicles for Tarangire We wanted special camps
Read more

Peponi Beach Resort

Image
Peponi is really off the beaten track, and for a resort, terribly unspoilt.   We were pleasantly surprised that the campsites had electricity.  We did nothing other than relax for the three days! Peponi Beach When the tide was low, like Zanizibar’s East Coast, the water ebbs for miles. We enjoyed huge bon fires after dinner at the campsite and also bought a big fish (we think a yellow tail) and a much smaller bottom feeder which sort of looks like a grunter, off a local fisherman.  They were prepared on the braai with lovely roasted vegetables and sweet potatoes that we had bought along the road.  Delicious! As there were only 4 vehicles camping, we got to meet the other two couples – the first a young couple from north London, Gabby and Fred, who were on a six-month belated honeymoon that started in Sri Lanka, followed by India and now Africa for the remaining 4 months.  They joined us around the camp fire one evening. The second couple were South Africans from
Read more

The countdown has begun!

After tons of internet research and input from experienced overland travellers who are members of the 4 x 4 Community website, we have finalised our travel plans.  Our thanks go to all those who contributed to our proposed itinerary.  As a great mentor, Stan Weakley deserves a special mention for his valuable input and advice on our plans.  Thanks Stan! This trip will take us from the east coast of South Africa through Botswana, into Katima Mulilo in Namibia, Zambia,Tanzania and Rwanda, and then returning through Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Botswana  home.  A trip of 90 days. Travelling through Africa does not come without its difficulties.  Due to the recent outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the Limpopo, no raw meat can be taken into Botswana.  Also, when entering Botswana this time last year, they confiscated our fruit and veg at the border because of an alleged "fruit fly problem" which according to Botswana border controls up north should not have happened.  A fu
Read more