In the Republic of Rwanda, community tourism is a potential touristic potential. It is very evident that they have decided to create infrastructures to host tourists to set up community- led projects to improve their standards of living and preserve the environment. The villages led projects lead services such as accommodation, traditional gastronomy, eco-tourism and cultural activists. In Rwanda’s tiny and remote villages, there is reconciliation villages especially at Bugesera district and in the coffee and tea of Rubavu, the ethno botany tours of Musanze or the village walks of Rushengera, you will be so much welcomed.
As a tourist, you will not only appreciate the village life in Rwanda at first hand but also take part in traditional activities in case you wish. You will enjoy plentiful wildlife, beautiful scenery, historic sites and a real sense of adventure, with the re assurance that your holiday arrangements have been taken care of. An expert local guide in Rwanda will take you along a wonderful holiday which benefits local people, revel in the sense of adventure and become a privileged guest in the hosts’ villages, which have a variety of tasty and wholesome vegetarian food, sightseeing options with car and driver, discover exotic wildlife and get an opportunity to explore a fascinating city to Kigali. The local people of these out of the way villages in Rwanda have embraced the opportunities offered by village ways with real enthusiasm. After strungling to survive with the young people heading for the urban areas, they will now see a brighter future through harnessing local knowledge, skills and resources for the purposes of tourism. The rehabilitated optimism is reflected in the wholly natural and disarming warmth of the welcome and the hosts do cook and guide you. Visitors/tourists who go in Rwandan communities do meet in hospitable people to hear about your life and family while they proudly show their local treasures or tell you about their legends over a cup of coffee.
Vegetarian dishes are provided by the local people and are enjoyed most by the tourists. The simple awesome food and the meals that the local community provides. There are wonderful insights and contrasts as well as offering insights into an age- old days in life in rural areas. While in Rwanda, you will get chances of;
- You get chances of exploring the coffee plantations and growing production process in Rabavu right from the nursery beds, coffee plantations, picking coffee, washing, selection and drying, fermenting until your sip your own coffee.
- You will visit Musanze in the ethno botany tour where traditional healer which does everything in the local garden/bushes with visitors who get a comprehensive introduction to the local herbs, learn the different medical values of the different medicinal values of the different plants which get a comprehensive introduction to the local herbs.
- You will get introduced to the traditional history, genocide era and referencing in today’s life in the model reconciliation village.
- You will get introduced to the traditional history, the genocide era and referencing today’s life in the model reconciliation village in Busegesera district and engage in different activities which range from agricultural experiences, interaction with children, learning about the health situations, getting cooking and weaving lessons from locally based women associations in the village and ending up with an event. Get together party, with all community members in kiningi cultural village tour-Musanze.
- You will understand the unique how cultures through their daily life and knowledge of the environment, folktales, poetry, dancing, singing and the theoretical hunt gathering skills in Kiningi Cultural tour- Musanze
- You will engage in the Banana and sorghum beer production experience in Musanze and Mutara
- You will visit local markets where you will get introduced to the traditional dishes in Ruhengeri and Kabarore village walks.
- As a tourist, you will enjoy games, bee keeping and wood carving in Ruhengeri
The local communities in Rwanda have become interesting touristic entrepreneurs where farmers still want to grow vegetables and breed animals, indigenous peoples still want to live their cultural and preserve their traditions. Community tourism is a source of a complementary income on average only 15% that they use to improve their standard of living and to preserve their culture and eco-systems. Therefore for that reason, they are guided by a set of ethical principles among which you and your guide can find income redistribution, transparency and capacity building. Many of the local communities in the Republic of Rwanda are aware of the power of responsible tourism in supporting conservation and local economic development. Therefore basing in areas which are outstanding vulnerable natural and cultural heritage, they take on the challenge of setting up community based tourism enterprises and usually in partnership with the local or international NGO.