Gorilla tourism has not only become a vital conservation fund-raising tool in Rwanda, gorilla tourism contributes approximately 80% of the national wildlife authority’s overall budget, thereby financing the bulk of wildlife and habitat conservation across the country as a whole. Revenues have almost doubled in the last five years and tourism now accounts for 7.8% of Rwanda’s GDP and growing.
Gorilla trekking is a unique and life-changing experience since they are facing the threat of extinction and a few people are allowed to visit them once a day, for only an hour. This becomes sought after by many adventure seekers all over the world. It’s not only about seeing these gentle creatures in their natural habitat but the positive impacts to the country, communities, the public and private sector that makes the gorilla trekking experience much more than just an adventure. In a good rapport, helping the gorillas means helping the community.
Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is leading the charge to protect its indigenous primates through carefully regulated tours guided by National Park Rangers. Group tours are limited in size and duration to protect the animals and their habitat, and the revenue from ecotourism is making visiting the mountain gorillas a more profitable enterprise than hunting them.
The work of Dian Fossey is a great pillar to the gorilla ecotourism in Rwanda. Dian Fossey lived among the mountain gorillas of Rwanda, at first studying the great apes and then, slowly became their friend and protector. A respected and pioneering primatologist, Dian Fossey soon became best-known for her gorilla conservation work. Her introduction of the digit fund in 1978 helped to finance ranger patrols and keeping gorillas safe from hunter. Her work inspired many African conservationists to come in and save gorillas making it a stepping stone for the rise of tourists to Rwanda. Dian’s legacy has been left behind even when the poachers killed her, she can be remembered for her great work. This is why even visiting her tomb earns revenue in Rwanda. The research she made bonded her with gorillas giving her the determination to protect gorillas.
Fossey also introduced active conservation technique which is today known as ranger monitoring program, through which the gorillas and their habitats are guarded 24/7 by wildlife rangers and gorilla doctors against poachers, snare wires, and treating sick or injured gorillas. Due to enhanced protection, the gorilla population has been rising steadily.
The Dian Fossey Tomb hike provides a chance to learn about the history of mountain gorillas in Rwanda. The tomb is located in a saddle between the Karisimbi and Bisoke volcanoes. You can also check out the Ellen DeGeneres Campus, which was constructed to improve the infrastructure required for quality scientific conservation research.
It is on these grounds that almost all the lodges and camps for gorilla trekking safaris are carrying out the conservation to promote and protect gorillas. These lodges have set out a fee payable by all travelers who sleep at these premises for conservation purposes. This has helped to reach out to community needs hence reducing the poaching activities. These lodges have also employed many ex-poachers minimizing the rate of poaching.
Gorilla Guardian’s village, formerly IbyI’wacu cultural centre is an example where locals including ex-poachers are mostly empowered to preserve and promote their culture. People living around the gorillas in Rwanda have significantly reduced their reliance on nature, thus paving the way for conservation. When you come to see gorillas, ensure to take a cultural tour and spend your money there since it is one way of conserving gorillas.
Rwanda introduced the high-end low impact strategy and increased its gorilla permit fee from $750 to $1,500 per person. This has helped to generate revenue which is invested into the local communities. People depend on nature for livelihood; thus, they must be engaged in caring for it through giving them incentives to start sustainable practices that don’t harm the forest.
Rwanda Development Board in collaboration with conservation partners, has achieved success in protecting and increasing the endangered mountain gorilla population and conserving its habitat. This has led mountain gorillas to be the only great ape species increasing in number in the world.
Rwanda has positioned itself as a high-yield, low volume destination in keeping with its conservation – centric approach to tourism. This strategy has attracted several high-end lodges and professional management such as international brands including Singita, One&Only, Wilderness Safaris and Mantis Collection and local brands such as The Retreat, Amakoro Songa Africa, Wilderness Sabyinyo Lodge and The Bishop’s House. This makes Rwanda to be recognized by leading international travel publications as one of the top global destinations for luxury ecotourism.
The Government of Rwanda also recently announced plans to expand Volcanoes National Park due to its growing mountain gorilla population and vision for community livelihood improvement. This once in a generation initiative will expand the park by approximately 23%, increasing its size by 37.4 square kilometres (3,740 hectares).
To ensure the best use of community benefit funds, Rwanda promotes close ownership, participation and technical support from local communities. Promising projects include payment for ecosystem services schemes with tea factories compensating forest-adjacent communities for water filtration services provided by protected areas and promoting the rehabilitation of degraded areas.
The 10% of park tourism revenue is invested in the communities surrounding Rwanda’s national parks, which fosters ownership and builds a constituency for conservation. Rwanda has also established a fund to compensate for any damage caused by wildlife, which is financed by 5% of tourism revenue. All this strengthens Rwanda as an eco tourism destination.
when a beneficiary or user of an ecosystem service makes a direct or indirect payment to the provider of that service, payment for the ecosystem is effected. The idea is that whoever preserves or maintains an ecosystem service should get an incentive for doing so. To promote this model of environmental conservation, Rwanda has partnered with Costa Rica and is developing a scalable PES system.
There is a target to allocate 37.7% of land to conservation in its National Land Use and Development Master Plan. This demonstrates the Government of Rwanda’s commitment to environment protection, natural resource management and climate change preparedness.