Bakunzi on why tourists are in love with Rwanda

Greg Bakunzi is the manager of Amahoro Tours, a tour and travel company. He is also the co-founder and manager of Red Rocks Intercultural Exchange Centre and Backpackers’ Campsite, all based in Musanze, Northern Province. He told Moses Opobo about his job, and why Rwanda is a top gorilla trekkers’ destination…

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Greg Bakunzi is the manager of Amahoro Tours, a tour and travel company. He is also the co-founder and manager of Red Rocks Intercultural Exchange Centre and Backpackers’ Campsite, all based in Musanze, Northern Province. He told Moses Opobo about his job, and why Rwanda is a top gorilla trekkers’ destination… What exactly do you do?We are tour operators. We contribute to the local tourism industry by facilitating safaris and community based tourism around our home town. At the Red Rocks Intercultural Exchange and Backpackers’ Campsite, one can come and participate in community tourism while having a place to stay, like mountain hiking, biking, cycling, and basket weaving, among others.Why do tourists come to Rwanda?The tourists I’ve spoken to have talked of the country as clean and beautiful. They actually call it "the Switzerland of Africa” because of its landscape and greenery.Another attraction is the mountain gorillas. The country has been packaged as the gorilla trekking destination of choice. People want to see for themselves how close these gorillas are to humans.How unique are gorillas from other animals?Gorillas live in large families. Every family has a Silverback, which is the dominant male and head of the family.They only eat bamboo shoots and some grasses from the park. They don’t drink water at all