Community tourism in Rwanda
Rwanda has been one of the best tourist destinations in Africa since the end of the 1994 genocide. Despite being known for up-market tourists’ activities, it also has great potential for community tourism. Most of the touristic activities in Rwanda are set up with the intention of improving standards of living and to preserve the environment.
Especially rural projects related to tourism are provided by the villages, some include traditional gastronomy, accommodation, eco-tourism, and traditional cultural activities. These activities add value to the entire trip and also getting to know the local traditions and involve in cultural activities plus having an opportunity to encounter authentic nature and eco-systems.
Kinyarwanda Local Music, Dance & Drama
Rwanda has ideal community-based projects that always offer first-hand issues that take place in rural Rwandan localities. The best way to experience Rwanda is to engage in voluntourism where you can live within the local community either in a homestay or within a traditional village to get the best experience.
To experience a typical and authentic Rwandan inspirational beauty, visit remote villages such as reconciliation villages around Bugesera district, a village walk of Ruhengeri or ethnobotany tours in Musanze. Any adventure in these villages by a tourist benefits the community directly as a unique way of having a social enterprise.
A community trip to Rwanda will not only stop on appreciating the village life alone but taking part in traditional activities and enjoying plentiful of wildlife, beautiful scenery, historical sites and adventures are all in the package. As travelers enjoy the activities it is really amazing that the locals benefit directly from it. Locals participate in guiding, preparing food, performing cultural music, dance and drama hence benefiting them to improve their living standards.
Community-based Tourism Rwanda
Rwanda’s beauty is also reflected in the warm welcoming people as they receive visitors into the country. Ranging from the hosts, cooks, and guides despite their limited spoken English, they will always do their best to make sure that travelers enjoy their stay. The hosts in Rwandan communities are always hospitable and eager to hear about life in other parts of the world so they will definitely interact with travelers as they tell their legends over a cup of coffee.
Rwanda’s best community experience comes alive with tasty vegetarian dishes that are prepared by the locals. The most interesting is that these foods are cultivated in native gardens as they watch carefully and later become a great dining experience.
A trip to Rwanda for community tourism is an opportunity to explore coffee growing and production processes in Rubavu. This experience starts right from how the coffee is prepared in the nursery beds, to how it is planted, picking the coffee, washing, drying, until prepared ready for consumption.
To those who are planning to visit Musanze in the ethnobotany tour, it’s a chance to meet the traditional healer who does all his things in the local garden. Here travelers get a comprehensive introduction to local herbs and learn different medicinal values of different plant species.
Experience the reconciliation village in Bugesera district. Explore the dark scenes of the genocide through traditional history and referencing it with today’s life, while engaging in different activities.
Some of the interesting activities that travelers engage in while here include; agricultural experiences, interaction with children, learning about health situations, cooking and weaving lessons from the local women groups in the village and winding it up with exciting cultural events.
Learn more about the unique culture of the Rwandese through daily life and Knowledge of the environment, poetry, pottery, dancing, singing, folklores, and the theoretical hunter-gatherer skills in Kinigi cultural village tour. Travelers can also engage in the Banana and Sorghum Beer production experience in Musanze and Mutara.
It is not that these communities are completely touristic entrepreneurs, but many locals still want to grow their traditional vegetables and breed animals. Community tourism in Rwanda is just a complementary source of income meant to improve living standards and preserve the culture and eco-systems.
Many local communities in Rwanda are aware of the power of responsible tourism in supporting conservation and economic development. Most communities take on community-based tourism in partnership with local or international non-governmental organizations.
