In partnership between the park and the local communities, the freelance community guides have developed some authentic cultural experiences for park visitors to participate in. Guided by a community freelance guide, you will visit a local community; engage with locals and share in part of their daily life, customs and traditions. This gives additional revenue, directly through tourism to communities living along the boundary of the park, showing the benefits of tourism and thus creating long term support for the conservation of Akagera National Park.
Below are 4 activities to choose from:
Heritage: cattle are a fundamental part of life in Rwanda, particularly in Eastern Province known as cattle farming. This tour takes you to the cattle farm to try your own hands at Milking a cow and then learn about the rituals around milk. You will as well visit the farmer’s home and visit Ikiraro where cattle are kept, you will also see how milk was traditionally kept, treated and preserved until it’s turned into ghee. You will learn also about special vessels that are used for storing and drinking of milk and the herbs that are smoked to flavor the milk.
- Duration: 3 to 5 hours
- Best time: early morning, milking is done in the early morning
- Cost: $30 per person
- Number of people: minimum 3, maximum 6
Nature walk: The 120km-long boundary fenced is patrolled daily by a team of rangers, You have the chance to walk in their shoes for 7km mid-range to difficult. This fence plays an essential role in conservation of the park; reducing the human-wildlife conflict on the park boundary and, in turn, creating community support for conservation efforts. Guided by a freelance guide from a nearby village, the walk begins at the park entrance and lasts approximately two hours. The fence takes you up a gentle slope, you’ll meet cattle herders and farmers cultivating their land along the way (depending on season), and you’ll see a variety of birds, especially in the morning where they are more active. The views of the park over the top of the ridge are spectacular.
- Length: 7km
- Duration: 2 to 3 hours
- Best Time: Early morning (7am) or late evening (3pm)
- Cost: $30 per person
- Number of people: minimum 3
The Arts and crafts will show you how local artisans create their products. You will visit a family who has been passing down blacksmithing from generation to generation. They are the ultimate recyclers as they use every scrap of metals to repair pots and pans to grain mills and turning old vehicle springs into garden hoes.
- Duration: 3 to 5 hours
- Best time: anytime of the day
- Cost: $30 per person
- Number of people: minimum 3
Local Produce: witness how banana beer producer make banana beer in their home and then visit a local bar to taste his wares beer. You will learn also the culture around banana beer and why it’s important in Rwanda. From here you will visit a cooperative producing honey ”ubuki” in Kinyarwanda using combination of both modern and traditional method of bee keeping. You can sample the delicious local honey on the comb and maybe some to take with you.
- Duration: 3 to 5 hours
- Best time: late morning and early afternoon
- Cost: $30 per person
- Number of people: minimum 3
For more information or bookings about these activities contact us or the Akagera National park Management
Source: Akagera National park