Akagera National Park is surrounded by different communities occupied by the returnees who had fled Rwanda to nearby countries during the political unrest in Rwanda in the early and mid-1990s, especially during the 1994 Rwanda genocide. The park is located in the districts of Nyagatare and Kayonza.
At the time of the park’s establishment in 1934, it covered an area spanning over 2,500 square kilometers. However, during the return of Rwandans after the genocide, the park was reduced to its current size of 1,122 square kilometers (still the biggest park in Rwanda).
This reduction was a result of encroachment on the park’s land by the returnees, who cleared the forests and woodlands for farming and livestock keeping. Additionally, parts of the grassland plains were given to refugees for settlement by the Rwandan government. The remaining area was fenced off to avoid further human-wildlife conflicts and to protect the remaining wildlife and conserve the unique vegetation types in the park.
Over the years, there has been great collaboration and cooperation between the park and the local communities around it in preserving and conserving the national park and its wildlife. The park has provided employment to some people from the communities within and around it, making them feel a sense of ownership and responsibility towards conserving and protecting the wildlife and the park at large.
For a glimpse into the life of these communities around Akagera National Park, you can take guided cultural tours in some of these communities.
Community Cultural Tours – Akagera National Park
Take part in different cultural experiences as you go for guided cultural tours in Akagera National Park, which include the following tours:
- Imigongo Arts and Crafts Center Tour: This center was designed and established by Prince Kakira. A visit to the Imigongo Arts and Craft Center will allow you to experience the culture and traditions of Rwanda through art, dance, and poetry. You will get a chance to engage in making art pieces. “Imigongo” translates to “cow dung.” While at the center, you could visit the cow farm and take part in different activities like milking the cow, making ghee from milk, and seeing the famous long-horned Inyambo cattle.
- Humure Refuge Village Tour: Take a scenic 40-minute drive through the park from the Southern part of the park through the beautiful lake area and into the Northern part of the park and to Mutumba hills. A tour to Humure village is an interesting and rewarding tour to add to your safari to Akagera National Park. While in the village, you will get the chance to take part in different activities, including local beer making, milking cows, preparation of local dishes, and also get the chance to taste what you helped prepare, painting using plant materials, among others. Entertainment while in the village includes traditional skits, plays, cultural dances, and poetry.
Going on cultural tours during your visit to Akagera is a way of supporting the local communities that live around the park, as your visits are a source of income to the residents. Profits from the park itself are shared with the local communities, which helps in funding different projects in the villages, developing proper infrastructure, medical centers, and schools.
Community tourism in Akagera National Park has helped improve the living standards of the people in the communities around the park, which in turn has aided the continued conservation efforts of the Akagera Management Company as encroachment and poaching of wildlife have been greatly controlled.
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