Rwanda, 3rd: The Bradt Travel Guide [Paperback]

Philip Briggs (Author)

Book Description

Series: Bradt Travel Guide | Publication Date: November 1, 2006

Tourism in Rwanda--"Land of a Thousand Hills"--is developing rapidly, and this updated 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. Visit the three National Parks with their varied wildlife, track chimps in Nyungwe Forest, and, of course, visit the world-famous gorillas in the Volcanoes National Park. With 50 extra pages this guide reflects rapid changes and improvements to the tourist infrastructure of an emerging tourist destination.

 

This guide features:

 

*The very latest updates on hotels, tours, and transport

*Twice as many maps--all updated

*Conservation areas and national parks in detail

*What to see and do in and around Kigali, including local markets, handicrafts, restaurants, and memorials

*"Giving something back"--development projects

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An excellent book that I have recommended to all visitors who come to Rwanda and want to know more than just the superficial accounts from the press."

--Dr. Annette Lanjouw, Director of the International Gorilla Conservation Programme

From the Back Cover

The rebuilding of Rwanda--stunning backdrop to Gorillas in the Mist--represents a remarkable success story. Since the genocide of the early 1990s, the "Land of a Thousand Hills" has risen to become one of Africa's leading centers of ecotourism.

 

The third edition of this definitive guidebook includes all you need to guarantee an unforgettable trip. Hike through lush rainforests, go gorilla trekking, and feel the beat of the intore dancers' drums. Rwanda's future is as bright as the smiling faces of its welcoming people.

 

*Mountain gorillas: Permits, visits and conservation

 

*Activities: from volcano treks to boating on Lake Kivu

 

*History and culture of the Rwandan people

 

*Kigali: the vibrant capital

 

*French and Kinyarwanda phrases

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Bradt Travel Guides; 3rd edition (November 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1841621803
• ISBN-13: 978-1841621807
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #981,104 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #27 in Books > Travel > Africa > Rwanda & Uganda

More About the Author

African travel specialist Philip Briggs has been exploring the highways, byways and backwaters of the world's most challenging and exciting continent since 1986, when he spent several months backpacking on a shoestring from Nairobi to Cape Town. In 1991, he wrote the Bradt Guide to South Africa, the first such guidebook to be published internationally after the release of Nelson Mandela.

Over the rest of the 1990s, Philip wrote a series of pioneering Bradt Guides to destinations that were then - and in some cases still are - otherwise practically uncharted by the travel publishing industry. These included the first dedicated guidebooks to Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Ghana and Rwanda (co-authored with Janice Booth), all of which are now in their 3rd, 4th, 5th or 6th edition.

Philip has visited more than two dozen African countries, and written about most of them, whether it be for guidebook publishers such as AA, APA-Insight, Berlitz, Camerapix, Dorling Kindersley, Frommers, Struik-New Holland and 30 Degrees South, or for specialist travel and wildlife magazines including Africa Birds & Birding, Africa Geographic, BBC Wildlife, Travel Africa and Wanderlust.

He still spends at least four months on the road every year, and spends his rest of the time battering away at a keyboard in the sleepy dorp of Bergville, in the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg region of South Africa. He is married to the travel photographer Ariadne Van Zandbergen and lives with three dogs and a cat. When not obssessing over some or other aspect of African history, culture, wildlife or travel, Philip's interests include music, reading and walking.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars an enriching guide to Rwanda, June 11, 2003

By 

dave stamboulis (Bellingham, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rwanda: The Bradt Travel Guide (Paperback)

Janice Booth's Rwanda guide not only is the most updated travel guidebook on Rwanda, but it also goes culturally/historically where the other guidebooks do not go. I spent several weeks in Rwanda in 2003, finding almost all the information in other guidebooks almost completely useless or irrelevant. Due to the genocide, and subsequent arrival of international aid, the entire infrastructure of the country, especially Kigali, had changed, and so the nuts and bolts information of hotels, transport, and other practicalities found in the Bradt guide were of great use.
The personal relationship of the author with Rwandans made it easier for a post-war visitor to understand what the average Rwandan had been through, and the section on "giving back," and what a traveller who had been affected by the country and people could do AFTER visiting the country is something that should be included in a lot of guidebooks.
The only bit of impractical information was that regarding traveller's checks. They are not accepted in banks unless one has an account there, and this is a bit of an obstacle to be surmounted (the national parks office does, and can help with other needs).

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For all going to Rwanda this guide is a must have!, May 27, 2002

By 

Allan M. Gathercoal "fdoamerica" (Norcross, GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rwanda: The Bradt Travel Guide (Paperback)

To travel to Africa without a guide, paper or flesh, is a bit looney. But, this month, I found myself in Rwanda in said (and sad) condition. For the first few days I managed to blunder along, until I found and bought this great guide at a hotel side store (of course at a significant mark up).

For the next two weeks Briggs and Booth did a superb job of guiding me along the dirt roads and winding byways (This is the "Land of a thousand hills"). They always explained clearly the world where I wandered. They consistently helped me uncover destination gems that I would have surely overlooked.

Most impressive were their cultural, economic and ecological commentaries. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to traveling with the Office of Tourism across this country while I was working on a medical project for the President's office. I can say that the insights and comments of Briggs and Booth regarding Rwanda are extremely competent and on the mark. Their insight alone makes this book a needed purchase for those that will visit or work in Rwanda.

The 1994 genocide is, of course, briefly covered and the history, heath, culture, people, planning and preparing sections are all informative and full of needed information. Also, for an outstanding book on the 1994 genocide do read; 'We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families' by Philip Gourvitch.

I found Janice Booth's caring and engaging story of her friendship over the years with Peter - a Rwandan Tutsi a wonderful and caring addition. This story is found in the preface and concluded in the epilogue.

The only notable shortcomings are the maps. In today's competitive world of travel guides, good maps are essential. The maps are very basic on only fair. That said this guide is a 'must have' for all who journey to this beautiful and bewildering destination. Highly Recommended. 4.5 stars.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great guide to Rwanda, August 5, 2002

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Rwanda: The Bradt Travel Guide (Paperback)

The Bradt Guide is by far the most comprehensive guide to Rwanda that I was able to find. I don't know what I would have done on my trip without it. The book is a mix of background info and travel tips. One good thing to know is that Kigali has added a "5" in front of all the phone numbers since the guide was published.