In Virunga we had the opportunity to visit the Ellen de Generes Centre for Mountain Gorillas.https://gorillafund.org/ellencampus/

Ellen greeted us with a televised message at the entrance. Its a big complex with a research centre, an exhibition area and trails. We explored the history of the conservation efforts of Dian Fossey and loved to hear her voice telling us about her work, her typewriter and hand written notes. Anthony and I also had a go at mimicking Gorilla language which had us falling over with laughter. They even had a three dimension adventure.

When we were in Kigali we visited the Genocide Museum.https://kgm.rw/

This Genocide Memorial is a place of remembrance and learning dedicated to the victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. It offers a powerful experience for visitors, promoting reconciliation and building peace through education. The Genocide happened in 1994. Many lives were lost. The Museum depicts the course of history and the witness accounts of survivors.

It is at once moving and horrifying, shocking in its intensity of hate and destruction of human life- life which was innocent and blameless in every way. Humans differentiated on the number of cows they owned. Over ten made you a Tutsi and under ten a Hutu. Nothing more than that differentiated these peoples. What erupted in 1994 was unacceptable and vicious and the world stood by. What however is more remarkable is how Rwanda has risen from this to become one of the most successful countries in Africa, united and reconciled.

It would be easy to think this genocide was an isolated and regrettable incident in history but the Museum did not allow us this thought. Part of its exhibition was also dedicated to reminding us of other genocides which occurred in the world. Sadly there are many, Pol Pot in Cambodia, Vietnam, Bosnia and Serbs, and of course Armenia and the Greeks…. not to mention the Holocaust. Will we never learn?