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Rwanda

It was fascinating seeing how the handlers train these magnificent animals.

Lake Ihema looking across towards Tanzania

The Grey Crowned Crane is emblematic in a country rebuilding after the devastating genocide of 1994. Globally endangered, these birds have suffered a drastic decline over the last 45 years and currently, less than 500 remain in Rwanda.

Hippos are the third-largest living land mammal, after elephants and white rhinos. Despite their large and bulky appearance, they have adaptations to their semi-aquatic environments allowing them to move swiftly on both water and land.

They have very thick skin that is virtually hairless except for the thick bristle-like hair on their heads and tails. The outer layers of skin are quite thin, making them prone to wounds from fighting. Their flat, paddle-like tail is used to spread excrement, which marks territory borders and indicates status of an individual. Their powerful jaws are capable of opening up to 150 degrees revealing their enormous incisors.

Their feet have four-webbed toes that splay out to distribute weight evenly and therefore adequately support them on land, and their short legs provide powerful propulsion through the water

Part of our group on the lake taking in everything just before sunset.

Large Crocodile resting on the shore. Crocs hang around with their mouths open as a way to avoid overheating. Keeping cool. A bird called the plover acts as both a dental hygienist and a warning system for danger. It removes the bits of meat from between the crocodile's teeth. This feeds the plover and removes parasites from the croc's mouth. The plover serves as a security alarm system for the crocodile. If, while in the croc's mouth, the plover senses danger from an oncoming animal, she screams and flies away. This behavior alerts the crocodile to the imminent danger, so it can slide into the water and out of harm's way as well.

A flock of Egyptian Geese

Great Egret in flight and a Reddish Egret in background

Village Weavers are noisy, gregarious birds that are typically found in large colonies..

Yellow Billed , Ibis Black, African Sacred Ibis Stork,

Village Weavers are noisy, gregarious birds that are typically found in large colonies.

Sunset on the lake

Today the drive is 8 hours from Akagera Park back through Kigali to Ruhengeri

Back in Kigali

Here we see a moto bicycle, cheaper, in stead of a moto cycle. both transportation.

Illegal development on the hillsides in Kigali

City of Kigali - remember the country of a thousand hills

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