Wildlife African Safari Destination – Rwanda : Wildlife safari in Rwanda offers a unique opportunity to see some of Africa’s most impressive and diverse creatures up close and in their natural habitats. Rwanda is the only country in Africa where mountain gorillas live in the wild, making for a truly remarkable experience for those lucky enough to visit this beautiful country. The following guide includes information about wildlife conservation in Rwanda and some of the features that make wildlife safaris in Rwanda unique and memorable.
The forests of Rwanda are home to approximately 350 species of birds as well as countless animal species including crocodiles, gorillas, elephants, monkeys, bats, snakes, and fish. Over half of the country’s bird species are unique to the region and can be found nowhere else in the world.
HISTORY OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION IN RWANDA
In 1925, an expedition from Harvard University carried out a survey of Rwanda’s forests. This expedition, led by Professor G.A.J. Mathews, recorded observations of over 200 species of birds and over 100 species of mammals that were native to Rwanda at the time. Although this list represented only a fraction of the total number of animal species that existed in the country at that time, it was the first detailed account of Rwanda’s biodiversity and revealed its incredible potential for tourism. However, the outbreak of the Rwandan Genocide in 1994 resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people and left the country devastated. Over the next few years, thousands of wild animals were killed or displaced, and the tourism industry was badly damaged. However, following the peace accord that ended the genocide in 2003, new president Paul Kagame implemented an ambitious plan to restore the country’s natural environment and transform it into a world-class tourist destination. Since then, the number of tourists visiting Rwanda has increased significantly, Wildlife African Safari Destination – Rwanda .
PROTECTION OF WILDLIFE IN RWANDA
With the establishment of the Akagera National Park in 1934, Rwanda became the first country in East Africa to establish a national park to protect its indigenous wildlife and habitats. Today, national parks and conservation areas cover more than one-fifth of the country’s land mass and are designated reserves for endangered animals such as the black and white Colobus monkey, black-and-white colobus monkey, forest elephant, hippopotamus, African lion, leopard, and black rhinoceros. In addition to these protected species, a number of local communities living around the parks host populations of animals that have not yet been listed as threatened, such as hyenas, giraffes, zebras, warthogs, antelopes, and various species of primate.
TOURISM AND REVENUE FROM THE RWANDA WILDLIFE SAFARIS
Tourism is a major source of revenue for Rwanda, accounting for about 10% of the country’s GDP and generating around $280 million each year. According to the UN World Tourism Organization, the number of tourists visiting Rwanda has increased by almost 30% since 2007 and is expected to continue to grow steadily over the next few years. Despite this success, the industry is still struggling to recover from the effects of the genocide and remains vulnerable to natural disasters and outbreaks of disease. In order to protect the natural resources on which it depends and to improve the well-being of the local community, the government has implemented a wide range of environmental protection measures in recent years. These initiatives have helped to increase wildlife populations and restore ecological balance throughout the country.
