A E London Journal

Wed, Oct 11th, 2017

Rwanda's history of adventure-2017

Our African journey this year takes us to Rwanda to visit our friends with the Gorilla Doctors and trek into the bamboo forests to draw Gorillas. Then to the Serengeti plains in Tanzania to ,hopefully, watch thousands of zebra and wildebeest crossing the Mara river during their annual migration. Then ,after two weeks in central Africa, finally back to our Wildlife Arts Center in Zimbabwe to bring educational supplies and teach kids the importance of their wildlife. First, we flew into Rwanda's Capital,Kigali and then the 3 hour drive to Volcanos National park.

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We journeyed to Rwanda to study and draw endangered Mountain Gorillas
We were invited by The Gorilla Doctors to visit their facility and learn more about Mountain Gorillas from their experts.

We journeyed to Rwanda to study and draw endangered Mountain Gorillas

When we landed in Kigali we had a big problem
We discovered the Rwanda consulate in New York had issued our visas for the wrong dates and we only had one day left on our current visas.luckily we made a Rwandan friend and he helped us get all the documents and photos for an extension.

When we landed in Kigali we had a big problem

Getting official documents "African style".
This place was primitive but it got us our photos and documents. Note their copy machine on the sidewalk out front.

Getting official documents "African style".

Visiting the Rwanda genocide museum in Kigali,with our friend Jean Claude. One of the most emotionally moving museums we have ever encountered.
In 1994, over 1.4 million Tutsi people were slaughtered by the Hutu majority. Age old hatred was exploited by Hutu extremists,causing neighbors,friends and even family to kill any Tutsis they saw. It was a horrific one hundred days!

Visiting the Rwanda genocide museum in Kigali,with our friend Jean Claude. One of the most emotionally moving museums we have ever encountered.

Over 250,000 folks including Claude's dad are buried here at the memorial.
Claude's family friends and neighbors killed his dad and brother. He hid in the forest with his mom and 3 siblings during the one hundred days of killing!

Over 250,000 folks including Claude's dad are buried here at the memorial.

The United Nations stood by as millions of people were killed.
We learned not only of the savagery of that genocide,but also of the incredible forgiveness and fortitude of the Rwandan people. Afterward they held village courts to try over 100,000 murderers.

The United Nations stood by as millions of people were killed.

The Tutsis confronted their tormentors and sent many to prison.
Prisoners were able to reduce their sentences by confessing and doing community service. Claude confronted the folks that killed his family and forgave them!

The Tutsis confronted their tormentors and sent many to prison.

Today Rwanda is at peace and the people have forgiven and moved on.We could hardly wait to trek into Volcanos Park to see Rwanda's Gorillas in person.
It's an amazing story of what forgiveness and determination can accomplish. Rwanda has the highest literacy rates and one of the best governments in Africa. It is very clean and the people seem happy and at peace.

Today Rwanda is at peace and the people have forgiven and moved on.We could hardly wait to trek into Volcanos Park to see Rwanda's Gorillas in person.

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