'In tourism, there is nothing like difficult client'

Tired of the daily routine of entry-level corporate employment, Eric Kayiranga threw in the towel in 2011, and using his small savings bought a small car that he used as a special hire taxi. Today, he does not regret the move, having graduated from the rank of cab driver to a licensed freelance tour guide. How did you move from cab driver to tour guide? After I bought the small car for special hire, I got clients from NGOs who used to hire me for their work missions in Kigali and upcountry. On one weekend I was hired to take one of the mzungu staff to see the gorillas and surprisingly while there he offered to buy me a gorilla viewing permit! This was in 2004. This experience offered me something different from the images of King Kong that I used to watch when I was a child. Because I was so interested in nature since I was a little boy, this gave me wings to embrace a new career as an informed tour guide by reading extensively and by consulting senior people in the industry. I joined the Rwanda Safari Guides’ Association (RWASAGA), to professionalize my career. In the association I learnt more and started to correct my mistakes as the demand for my services grew higher and higher. Through different courses I attended with my colleagues, I gained trust from a number of local and international tour operators to conduct their safaris in and outside Rwanda. What are some of the countries you have toured in? I have been to Uganda, Burundi, and Eastern DRC. Have you ever encountered a difficult client? As an experienced tour guide I don’t think there is such a thing as a difficult client because at the end of the day the client is king. May be there are difficult tour guides but not difficult tourists, because people go on tour to enjoy. What tour package would you recommend for a Rwandan on a limited budget? Visit the museum, take a nature walk, or go mountain hiking. Perks of the job: Some of the benefits from my job are: knowledge, financial stability, the pride of doing what I love and have passion for. My advice to young people is to never lose hope in what they have dreams for. What are your personal best tourist spots in Rwanda? The canopy walk in Nyungwe, and the Akagera National Park for its large animals –especially giraffes and elephants. Why work as a freelance guide? Working freelance is all about the freedom. I like my freedom. Before joining this industry I had worked in many corporate offices, and I know what it means. How do you cope with low tourism seasons like now? We use it for training and refresher courses to update our knowledge, we make reconnaissance trips to new and old tourism sites, and to generally learn and discover more before the high season sets in.

Lifestyle

'In tourism, there is nothing like difficult client'