Rwanda also known as the land of a thousand hills has a population of about 11 million, where 90% of the people are farmers but has made significant progress to stabilize its economy than it was before the 1994 genocide and civil war.
Rwanda is a politically safe country and is now a popular destination for mountain gorilla trekking safaris. No doubt gorilla tourism has emerged as top foreign exchange earner contributing to its fast growing economy in the world.
Kigali city is ranked as Africa’s green and cleanest city in Africa after Windhoek, Namibia and has hosted a number of business events due to its excellent MICE facilities such as Kigali Convention Center (KCC).
Among the first African countries to integrate wildlife and environmental protection laws into its constitution, Rwanda has 3 national parks and few forest reserves set aside to protect wildlife that become its greatest tourism asset.
Rwanda is on the forefront of wildlife conservation in Africa particularly mountain gorillas which live in volcanoes National Park in Musanze district. The government through the Rwandan Development has made it possible for people living around gorillas and other protected areas to manage their natural resources through community tourism and conservancies.
Rwanda’s wildlife population has decreased over the years, due to human wildlife conflicts and during the 1994 genocide that took lives of more than 800,000 people. For instance a lot of refugee’s occupied national parks poaching animals and destroying ecosystems while gorillas were raiding people’s crops as well illegal grazing in protected areas.
Fortunately, Rwanda Development Board’s determination to community tourism and wildlife conservation through local people’s organizations is helping to battle human-wildlife conflicts and poverty. well established Eco-tourism rules and the strict monitoring of gorillas and their habitat reflect the commendable work of rangers, gorilla doctors, and local communities, working together with international conservationists.
This has been achieved through initiatives such as the gorilla naming ceremony “kwita Izina”, has not only increased monitoring the births of new gorillas in Rwanda but also educating people how to live in harmony with gorillas and wildlife.
Revenue sharing and investing part of gorilla permit revues into health, education and eco tourism has led to collective and successful wildlife habitat protection and recovery in Rwanda. Due to community non-profit organizations such as Iby’Iwacu cultural village, Sabinyo community lodge and genocide victims especially women groups involvement in tourism business and conservation, Rwanda’s ecosystem and wildlife has recovered.
This is attested to the increasing number of mountain gorillas in volcanoes national park leading to gorilla trekking safaris as well as chimpanzees in Nyungwe national park and wildlife in Akagera national park.
Rwandan government, together with other conservation agents such as African wildlife foundation, native wildlife has been restored such as lions and Black Rhinos in Akagera national park making, Rwanda a big five safari destination.