Africa Travel News, Rwanda Information and Gorilla Safaris

Dubai World, major holding company owned by the United Arab Emirates is to invest US$230million in eight tourism facilities in Rwanda.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Government of Rwanda and Dubai World on September 26 sealed the deal that will put the country at a higher pedestal in the East African region.

The minister of state in charge of industry and investment promotion in the ministry of commerce, industry, investment promotion, tourism and co-operatives Mr. Vincent Karega signed on behalf of Rwanda while the vice president and prime minister of UAE and ruler of Dubai Mr. Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum signed for Dubai World.

During an interview with East African Business Week at her offices in Kigali on October 2, the deputy director general in charge of investment promotion at the Rwanda Investment and Export Promotion Agency (RIEPA) Ms. Clare Akamanzi said this initiative from a single source has superseded their 2007 expectations.

“This is very exciting and a major development for the country. Each of the projects on their own is big. This has enabled us to surpass our 2007 target. Our target for investments this year was $229million.”

The Dubai World has pledged to increase its investment portfolio. In a press statement sent to Business Week, the chair of Dubai World Mr. Ahmed Bin Sulayem said, “This is an important strategic deal for Dubai World. Rwanda is recognised as the most improved sub Saharan nation. It has come along way in sustainable development, and has a safe environment which still has tremendous potential for growth”.

He added, “The development offers both partners significant opportunity. Construction on the developments will commence in late 2007 and we will open an office in Kigali to manage the existing trading operations, paving the way for increased tourist arrivals who seek quality service and high end experience.”

On his part, Karega revealed that the country is on an unstoppable growth curve. “Our vision for Rwanda’s socio-economic transformation is to position our country as a hub for excellence and quality service. Tourism is a pillar for rapid economic growth within that context. Our policy choice for tourism is to become a high end destination capitalising on unique natural beauty, security, property rights and zero tolerance for corruption.

The MoU states that Dubai World will fully take over the 60-room Akagera game lodge and turn it into a four- star facility. In addition, a joint venture with Government is to be set up to operate the 1,080 Akagera National Park in conjunction with the Rwanda Office for Tourism and National Parks (ORTPN).

The partnership will also see the re-development of the Gorilla Nest Lodge in the breath taking Volcanoes National Park. The giant UAE investment group will set up a creative five-star tented camp in Kinigi, northwestern Rwanda.

The Dubai World will also fully take over the $7.2million (Rwf3.99) Nyungwe Eco-lodge that is being constructed by ORTPN. The Arab group is to also build a new upscale 150-room hotel at the up market Kigali Golf Course in Nyarutarama. It will also re-develop the 18 hole golf course and the golf and country club as well as building town houses and villas.

The famous world conservationist, Jack Hanna and his TV crew is in Rwanda to participate in the June 30 Kwita Izina gorilla-naming ceremony. They arrived in the country on Sunday, patently full of curiosity for the upcoming event which will take place in Kinigi, Musanze District, Northern Province – in the Volcanoes Mountain National Park, the home to the endangered mountain gorillas.

Hanna is also going to carryout a comprehensive documentary about safari or tourist attractions in Rwanda like the golden monkeys, chimpanzees, birds, landscapes in addition to the Kwita Izina event.

The annual gorilla-naming ceremony is aimed at promoting Rwanda tourism to the world, and to increase public support for protection and preservation of the endangered spices in the whole world. With this, the Office of Tourism and National Parks (ORTPN) of Rwanda has decided to extend Kwita Izina programme to other primates other than gorillas alone.

Upon his arrival at Kigali International Airport, Hanna disclosed that the designed documentary will be screened on DSTV’s discovery channel, where the programme is watched by over a million people worldwide. He added that, “Every time I go public on television in my country [USA] I say something good about the rising Rwanda, especially on tourism. And here we are talking about 40, 000 people watching.”

Chantal Rosette Rwigamba, the Director General of ORTPN confirmed: “We are indeed glad that Hanna has pledged to broadcast live for one hour—free, on discovery channel a documentary about Rwanda tourism.”

This year’s Kwita Izina gorilla naming event, with the theme, “Caring for Wildlife concerns us all”, will witness the naming of 23 gorillas. Rosette said: “We shall celebrate the efforts of all those that have contributed to the wildlife welfare and its conservation. Indeed, that is why many world conservationists like Jack were invited. Others are coming. This is just the first arrival.”

When asked what needs to be done to push Rwanda tourism sector to higher levels, Jack Hanna advised; “Increase animal population especially in Akagera National Park. Also ensure that the Park has variety of animals,” and also promised to work together with Rwanda in achieving this.

He urged Rwanda to diversify safari attractions to increase period of stay of tourists, “for it is a sure way of making more revenues.”

Hanna also came with Nick Baird as part of his crew, who is the Director of Public Health Services at America’s First Responses Solutions a full-size American firm providing value-driven technology solutions to public and private sectors.

Nick said: “Rwanda, a country with meager resources should be proud of its good leadership, for it is the main reason to its numerous success stories like fighting HIV/AIDs,” as he celebrated his first visit to the country.

Hanna owns a multi-million country safari lodge in Kinigi, Northern province, where he stays whenever he visits the country.

Late Steve Irwin’s family expected in Kigali at the mountain gorilla naming ceremony this June.

Late Steve Irwin, a crocodile hunter wasa famous wildlife activist a former director Australia Zoo in Qeensland. He died in 2006 after being stung by a stingray during one of his shootings.

His family, wife and two children, has been invited by Rosette Rugambwa the Director General of Rwanda Tourism Office known as the ORTPN to be among the guest of the mountain gorilla naming ceremony to take place at Volcanoes National Park.


Other outstanding personalities who support the conservation of mountain gorillas have been invite to attend this event though the list is not yet out to the public.

Rugambwa also noted that Rwanda is a home to the biggest number of the remaining 700 gorillas in the world. These gorillas are shared with Uganda and Congo since they keep migrating among the three countries.

The ceremony will start in the morning, having the gorillas named by specific people and followed by the adoption of gorillas.

“The adoption is in four categories and those available are Bronze for $5,000 or more, Silver for $15,000, Gold Category for $25,000 and the Platinum Category for investment of $50,000 or more, said Rosette Rugambwa.

Many companies,according to ORTPN, are already using gorillas in their names, logos or advertisement campaigns, acknowledging the contribution of gorillas to their marketing strategies.

“Adoption of a mountain gorilla allows such companies to fulfill the moral obligation of ensuring the long-term survival of mountain gorillas, ” a statement on the ORTPN’s portal says.

Gorilla safaris and tourism have developed over the past years and contribute the largest portion to Rwanda tourism industry.

Volcanoes national park sited among the Virunga Mountains supports families of mountain gorillas that are the next relatives of human beings.

Among the many wildlife safaris to Rwanda, gorilla trekking safaris have been rated to have the highest number of tourists. They contribute two thirds of the total number of Rwanda safaris and tours.

Chimpanzee safaris in Nyungwe forest national park come next to gorilla safaris. Nyungwe forest is a home to many primates and a wonderful place to bird lovers.

The tourism industry of Rwanda has upgraded historical sites and national parks to boost the tourism industry as a whole.