Ecotours in Rwanda
Would you like to experience Rwanda differently? Why not go on a tour through Rwanda’s ecotourism destinations.
A Typical Itinerary in Rwanda
Rwanda is one of the famous countries inhabiting mountain gorillas. With arrival to Kigali City then proceed to Parc National des Volcans Rwanda. Head to hotel for dinner and rest for the next day. On day two, after early breakfast, we head for a briefing about Gorilla trekking in Rwanda at the Kinigi Station, then head straight to the slopes of the Forest. Gorilla trekking tours in Rwanda is no-longer quite strenuous, we send an advance team so you can move direct to the spot where the advance team has located the Gorillas.
Go Gorilla Trekking
Maximum permitted time with the Gorillas is a one hour, return to the lodge and rest. You can choose to go gorilla tracking in Parc National des Volcans with no advance team. Tracking the gorillas through the light mountain forest on the slopes of the Virunga is a magical experience. If you are lucky you can get to the gorillas, spend an hour with them, and be back at the base in time for a late lunch! Some gorilla families however are more elusive, and tracking can take a full day, especially when it is wet and muddy then back to the lodge for dinner and rest for the next day as you wait for your flight to your next destination for wildlife experience.
Iby’wacu Cultural Village
If you wish, you can visit the Iby’iwacu Cultural Village, which will give you a fascinating insight into the traditions and history of Rwanda’s people. Rwanda Gorilla Safaris gives you all the pleasure to travel to Rwanda and enjoy all the gorilla families and wildlife at a relatively cheaper prince hence enabling you achieve your life time dream. Book now and experience the Rwandan gorillas,wildlife, birds and all other primates including the unique cultures in Rwanda.
With very early have a cup of tea / coffee and proceed for a morning game drive to catch up with early raisers and predators returning to their hideouts. The game drive will reward you with chances to see a variety elephants, buffaloes, lions, Maasai giraffe, gazelles, impala, baboons, oribi, Butchel’s zebra, topi, bush baby, leopard and bush buck among others. Return to the Lodge and relax to lunch time. In the afternoon, you take a nature walk with a guide from the park, learning about the flora and fauna of the forest. Alternatively, you could go on a short trek to search for one of the troops of golden monkeys which inhabit the forest (this would need to be pre-booked, and is an additional cost).
Read MoreWhen is the Best Time to Visit Rwanda Gorillas?
Mountain Gorilla tracking in Rwanda is one of the safari activities that is loved by many tourists who visit this country. There are several gorilla families that have been habituated for gorilla visits. Gorilla tracking has been one of the iconic activities since the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) introduced a ceremony of naming newly born gorillas called Kwita Iziina and it is carried out mainly in Volcanoes National Park which is located in the north west of the country bordering Rwanda, Congo and Uganda. This activity has been mostly enjoyed and done by foreign tourists because of its prices that are cheap compared to the dollar rates. When you try to compare gorilla trekking in Rwanda and in the other countries like Uganda were it is done in bwindi impenetrable national park and DRC, you may wonder why Rwanda receives more than ever before.
Although countries like Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) do this activity as also as their main safari activity that brings in more income compared to other activities, Rwanda leads all of them in terms of number of tourists yearning for this activity. More so when you look at the gorilla permits that are sold at US$1500 that are higher than the rest of the countries (Uganda and DRC) because they do offer reliable good accommodation compared to other countries when it comes to offering good services to tourists.
To enjoy this activity in particular, there are number factors that are needed or considered when doing this activity one of them is climate and weather of the given national park. Mountain Gorilla tracking is mostly done in dry conditions which are favorable to both the tourists and the primates themselves.
To perform this activity in a wide scale, the dry periods of June to September, then from December, January and February are the best periods receiving good temperatures that favor gorilla tracking in Volcanoes National Park. it is for this reason that during this period, roads leading to the park in most cases are not muddy which eases movements of cars driving tourists to the national park and also, with in the park most especially when there is a safari that is going on. Furthermore, in this period, prices for gorilla tracking tend to be high than other periods because tourists tend to be many because of the favorable climate that does not stop them from trekking. When you look at these primates in this period, their movements is limited in other words, they tend hide since in that time, there is limited food that is already for eating meaning taking gorilla tracking as an activity may take long to finish as the activity may even start from morning until in the evening hours trekking for a specific Gorilla family unlike in other periods which are wet.
When you look at another side of the coin, the wet periods of March, April and May tend to be wet making the movements of the tourists more difficult or limited causing a scare to the tourism industry in terms of revenue to the government. During this season, at the top most of highlands in volcanoes national park, temperatures tend to be cooler. And that is why gorilla tracking in this period takes a short period of time from 1 to 2 hours because these primates do not normally move alot when food is not in plenty. It is for this reason that tourists end up doing a double trek than what they asked to do.
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Unvaccinated Eritrea Cyclists Excluded from Tour of Rwanda
The Eritrea cycling team has been excluded from the Tour of Rwanda race because its members have not been vaccinated against COVID-19.
Eritrea, a country in the Horn of Africa region, is the only one of the African Union’s 55 member states that’s yet to vaccinate any of its population.
Rwanda Cycling Federation president Abdallah Murenzi said it was “a requirement” for next month’s race that all competitors are fully vaccinated.
“The cyclists from Eritrea said they cannot meet this condition,” Murenzi said.
Five cyclists from Eritrea were expected to compete. Eritrean cyclists won the race in 2019 and 2020.
Rwanda has strict rules in place to fight the pandemic. Authorities have ordered public sector workers to get vaccinated or resign from their jobs and the government said last week that people must be fully vaccinated to access public spaces and attend public events.
Cycling is highly popular in Rwanda and it has been chosen to host the 2025 Road World Championships, the first African nation to be awarded the event.
Read MoreBest 5 Things to Do in Rwanda
There are several unique tourism activities to do in Rwanda; this country is long past its war torn days and now it’s one of safest countries visited in Africa. You will feel the real true African country with lots of unique attractions which have attracted many safari tours to Rwanda. This country is extremely small and there is one unique thing about this small country, this is gorilla trekking which is done in volcanoes National park and it has raised increased revenues for the country.
Kigali City Tour
There is the Kigali city which is in the heart of Rwanda, this gorgeous city with great weather can get you taste the history here through visiting the genocide memorials and here you will learn about the turbulent past of this country. You will also have a chance to visit the different local markets which are found in the city as well as the art facts and the craft shops which are found within the city. These have also attracted many safaris to Rwanda.
Gorilla Trekking
Thinking about Rwanda makes you come close to the mountain gorillas and these can be spotted in volcanoes National park which is found some few kilometers from Kigali city. You will enjoy a very unique experience taking Rwanda Gorilla adventure, take this advantage and experience the largest group of gorillas when you come for a safari . Gorilla trekking can also be carried out in Uganda and the Democratic Republic Congo.
Game Drives
Rwanda has also got three national parks and these include; Akagera National park, Nyungwe National park and Volcanoes National park, there are many animal species which can be spotted in these national parks and some of these include; the chimpanzees, bird species, elephants, lions, leopards, and the monkeys.
Holiday at Lake Kivu
Lake Kivu also makes a border between Rwanda and Congo and it’s a great region where the tourists are safe to visit and swim, you will also visit the safari cities like Kibuye and Gisenyi near DR Congo border.
The other attractions which are found in Rwanda include; city tours, cultures, bird species and many wild animal species. The Butare is a cultural hub for the country and was once the most important city before 1965. You will also visit the great national museum which will help you explore the great history of Rwanda.
Read MoreHow Can Rwanda Afford to Sponsor Arsenal?
In 2018, Visit Rwanda, which is an extension of the Rwandan Tourist Board, signed a $39million USD deal with Arsenal Football Club to become a shirt sleeve sponsor for 3 years.
The partnership caused significant controversy. Critics argued that it was immoral for Rwanda to spend money on sponsoring football teams, while it takes foreign aid to help fund its schools, hospitals and infrastructure. So why did the government choose to spend its money in this way?
While it is a somewhat novel way of spending, the partnership constitutes a significant investment in Rwandan tourism. Increasing awareness and visibility through marketing a is one of the most important ways to develop the tourism industry. The sponsorship, therefore, is part of a wider effort to boost the value of the tourism industry in Rwanda.
By all accounts, it seems that the investment has worked. According to Rwandan Development Board CEO Clare Akamanzi, revenue increased by 17% overall after just one year of sponsoring Arsenal. There has been a 22% rise in European visitors, and the United Kingdom has gone from the fifth biggest market to the second biggest market for tourism to Rwanda.
Responding to critics, Akamanzi said: “Anyone who criticises our deal with Arsenal on account of Rwanda being poor or an aid recipient, either wishes for Rwanda to be perpetually so, or doesn’t understand that in any business marketing costs are a key component of a company’s expenditures”.
It is clear therefore, that while there are critics, the strategy is targeted at increasing prosperity in Rwanda. Visit Rwanda has also secured a deal with Paris Saint Germain more recently as a tourism partner, in a 3-year deal valued around $9 million USD.
Read MoreRwanda to be First African Host of Cycling Road World Champs
Cycling’s 2025 road world championships were awarded to Rwanda on Friday in a first hosting by an African country.
The capital city Kigali “will provide a magnificent backdrop” for the weeklong championships which were first held in 1921, International Cycling Union president David Lappartient said.
It’s the latest international sports project for Rwanda and long-time leader Paul Kagame which have faced criticism for repressive policies and human rights abuses.
Kagame hosted FIFA president Gianni Infantino this year to open a regional development office for soccer’s world body in Kigali.
Rwanda recently renewed a $13 million annual shirt sleeve sponsorship of English Premier League club Arsenal through 2025, and Kagame criticized the team on Twitter after losing the season-opening game.
The Rwandan president was in Belgium on Thursday to meet Lappartient ahead of the hosting decision being made on the sidelines of the road worlds.
The 2025 worlds in Kigali are also scheduled to be the venue for the UCI’s four-yearly elections.
Lappartient was re-elected unopposed Friday for a second term.
Read MoreIs Rwandan Coffee Sustainable?
Rwanda is famous for its coffee, which is largely produced by small-scale sustainable coffee farming.Rwandan coffee has developed a reputation for its high quality, attracting coffee roasters around the world.
While the first coffee plants reached Rwanda relatively late in the 20th century, it was only in the last two decades that Rwanda experienced a “coffee renaissance”. Today, Rwanda is one of the top thirty largest coffee-growing countries. Sustainability lies at the heart of the Rwandan coffee industry, and local non-profit organisations like Sustainable Growers Rwanda provide training to female coffee farmers and their families, helping them improve the sustainability and economic viability of their plantations.
Coffee beans grow at between 5000 and 6000 feet above sea level, making Rwandan brew famous for its rich, deep finish.
Read MoreWhat is the Kigali Financial Centre?
Kigali International Financial Centre, abbreviated as the KIFC, is an initiative which has the objective of making Rwanda a preferred financial jurisdiction for investments into Africa. It also hopes to provide a fresh element to the domestic industry within the African nation.
Whilst the name may lead you to think it is a physical place, this is, in fact, not the case. The Technical Advisor of Rwanda Finance Limited has explained that the KIFC is, in fact, a concentration of financial services, striving to be a catalyst for the country’s development.
The mission has been defined as “connect the Rwanda financial ecosystem to domestic and international business” and “be a catalyst of a safe, compliant and pro-business financial environment in Rwanda”.
It will provide a number of benefits, including an economic trickle-down in the creation of alternatives for mobilizing capital rather than focusing purely on traditional avenues.
Like in other countries that have developed IFCs such as Singapore, it will also lead to an increase in the quality of jobs and specialized skills development, as well as additional tax revenues for the government.
During the virtual signing of the partnership, Rwanda Finance’s CEO, Nick Barigye, said: “This partnership is a major milestone for our nascent International Financial Centre. It will ensure that we have an optimal legal, regulatory and institutional framework that is in line with international norms and standards.”
Read MoreHow much Economic Inequality is there in Rwanda?
Rwanda has higher levels of inequality than many of its neighbours, but these disparities are decreasing.
The Rwandan Gini coefficient – the most prominent indicator of economic inequality – is 43.70 (as of 2016). This is significantly below the global average, which is somewhere between 60 and 65. However, Rwanda’s inequality rate is high for the region, and is more economically unequal than its regional partners Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Burundi.
There is a consensus that the rate of inequality is gradually being reduced. While some uncertainties remain, given the lack of extensive economic data, there is a broad consensus that Rwandan inequality rates are falling. Indeed, its current Gini coefficient is a significant reduction from its peak of 52 in 2005.
World-leading developmental economist Paul Collier has said that such a reduction is ‘deeply impressive’, given that it has taken place alongside rapid GDP growth and poverty decreases.
Read MoreWhat are the most Important Sectors of Rwandan Economy?
Rwanda has a diverse and thriving domestic economy which is open to the world.
The primary sector is still the most crucial part of the Rwandan economy. According to KPMG, over three quarters of the population relies on agriculture as their main source of income. While Rwandan coffee is famed around the world, farmers also produce tea, bananas, beans, sorghum and potatoes, among other crops. Natural resources including gold, tin and tantalum have also seen significant investment in recent years.
Outside of the primary sector, the Rwandan economy has undergone a strong period of diversification in the secondary and tertiary sectors. In particular, energy, construction, hospitality and financial services have been growth leaders.
Rwanda’s main imports are electrical equipment, machinery, vehicles and cereals. The country’s most prolific exports are tea and coffee, fuels, minerals and gold.
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