With the sprouting of new luxury Safari Lodges within the Volcanoes National Park and the increment of Rwanda gorilla permits from US$750 to $1500 per person (with the effect of 7th May 2017), it’s obvious and clear that this country, also known as the land of a thousand Hills is positioning itself as a High-end tourist market.
Gorilla trekking is a one in a lifetime opportunity that allows tourists to meet face to face with the critically endangered mountain gorillas. This activity is possible in only three countries that include Uganda (within Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga National Parks), Rwanda (within Volcanoes National Park) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (within Virunga National Park). This explains the reason why these three countries always appear on the bucket list of places for Safaris in Uganda.
However, Rwanda has positioned herself as an exceptional destination targeting the wealthy tourists hence the high-end tourist strategy. This is a drawback for the budget tourists because only the elite will be able to track the country’s mountain gorillas.
This tourism strategy is expected to increase revenues from tourism while at the same time boosting conservation efforts of the country’s attractions since fewer will afford safaris hence reducing their numbers. Mass tourism as it is in Kenya and Tanzania has negative effects on tourist resources, especially fragile environments like where the mountain gorillas are found.
Just like Botswana and Bhutan, Rwanda’s tourism is a high-value and low impact strategy and is expected to work and prosper. As earlier mentioned, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda are the other two countries in the whole World where you can actually go to encounter the only population of Mountain gorillas.
Gorilla permits cost $600 and $400 for Uganda and DRC respectively, which are more than two times cheaper than it is with Rwanda yet the Rwanda Development Board officials were not worried that the country would lose visitors to the neighboring countries because the land of a thousand Hills offers an exceptional gorilla trekking experience that is incomparable to the other mentioned places.
After the time of the 1994 Rwanda Genocide where more than 800,000 people lost their lives, the country is now a comeback kid and is praised for the drastic economic turnaround. Even now when you visit the country, you will be amazed by the cleanliness of the Cities, the level of organization, safety and zero tolerance of Corruption and Injustice.
With the introduction of Lions and Rhinos (that were previously extinct) into Akagera National Park, Rwanda became a Big five destination which in turn doubled tourist numbers. Nonetheless, the mountain gorillas are the main reason tourists visit the country, thus the industry players became concerned about the impact the increase in gorilla permits would cause to the tourism industry.
Surprisingly, bookings have increased by 22% more than were recorded during the same period (May) in 2016. Interestingly, the revenue from gorilla trekking safaris substantially increased by 39% in the same period despite the cancellations resulting from the price increase. Last year (2016) in May, the Rwanda Development Board collected about $4618 whereas this year the same period, about $6.2 million was collected. Therefore, the country expects to generate $444 from the tourism industry from $404 million collected in 2016.
Accommodation
Therefore, Rwanda has positioned herself as a high-end destination, which has yielded positive results regardless of the fact that tourism players had predicted otherwise.
Today more high end luxury safari lodges have opened up in Rwanda to offer the ultimate comfort that luxury travelers seek for on an African Safari. Examples of such lodges include renowned chains like Singita, One and Only Resorts, Wilderness lodges, Governors Camp etc. You can easily choose to stay in chain lodges across East Africa. A perfect safari sold by Rwandan Tour Operators include the 10 Day Luxury Tanzania Rwanda Safari sold by Ecotours Rwanda with exclusive stays at the Singita’s Collection of Lodges and Camps in both Rwanda and Tanzania.
You can undertake a luxury gorilla safari within the land of a thousand Hills and will have the most exciting moment of a lifetime.
