Mango trees!

Environment Club planting a mango tree at the green clubhouse

ASYV is a fairly new village, in a country that is densely populated, where most people use firewood to cook.  As such, there are not many mature trees in the village.  Like any good environment club, the 2012 environment club wanted to plant more trees in the village.

The mango tree acting as distribution centre where families and staff can pick up their baby mango trees

They specifically wanted to plant mango trees.  Who doesn't like mangoes?  The kids will even eat the immature green fruit.  It is a bit of an acquired taste, something like eating crab apples or raw rhubarb.  After many months of waiting,  we eventually got the money for 60 mango trees.

Environment Club member in charge of making sure everyone got their trees

We planted them on October 13, 2012.  Every family house got 1 tree, staff house received trees and the club houses.  The trees were all a grafted variety from a lovely fruit farm in Kabuga, Rwanda (just east of Kigali).

Environment Club planting a mango tree at the orange club house

A Visit to Akagera Park with the Environment Club

Practicing with the binoculars 

Yesterday we had a lovely trip to Akagera Park with the Environment Club.

We woke bright and early, got our picnic lunches from the kitchen and departed in 4 safari vehicles supplied by Intore Expeditions.  The safari vehicles were a surprise for the kids and they were very excited about them.  There were many pictures taken with them beside the safari vehicle, pretending to drive, on the roof of the car.  I can only imagine what their facebook pages are going to look like soon. :)

A guide giving the students an orientation of the park

We arrived at the park and the guides there gave the students a great orientation about Akagera Park, about the other National Parks in Rwanda, how Rwandan Parks compare to other parks in East Africa, and what it is like being a guide.  After that we hopped in the cars and went in search of animals.

On the search for animals

We a saw impala, topi, waterbuck, zebras, buffalo, many different kinds of birds, turtles, hippopotamus, giraffes and elephants!!  I think the elephants were the highlight of the trip because they are difficult to find in Akagera Park and they are so majestic.  That being said, the students were excited about all the animals.  If you have spent anytime in Rwanda, you might of noticed that Rwandans make alot of different sounds to convey emotional states- especially surprise, awe, and happiness.  It was the soundtrack of the day yesterday.

Elephant

Buffalo and turtles in the muddy ponds

Hippos

Impala

Look at that!

Giraffes

Lilac-breasted Roller (Coracias caudata)- I think. Second opionon?

Zebras

Delicious packed lunch from Chez Hilam

Beautiful lunch spot.  We could even see an elephant and some hippos grazing near the lake with the binoculars.

I think the pictures say the most about how fabulous the day was.  Thank you to everyone helped out to raise funds for this trip.  It was truly AMAZING!  Thank you also to Shelley and Paul and everyone at Intore Expeditions for supporting this trip not only financially, but with encouragement and organization.  The drivers were fantastic- teaching the students about the different types of habitats and animals in Akagera.  For example, it is the rainy season right now, and our driver Andrew, explained that the topi and buffalo have their babies at this time of the year when the food is abundant so they have a better chance of survival.

Topi with their babies

Thank you from the Environment Club!

Thanks so much!!!