From mere forest to tourist attraction

WESTERN PROVINCE KARONGI — When it was allocated to him by his late father, little did John Baptist Rugigana, the owner of Mahoro Island know that at a certain time the Island would attract people from many corners of the world and boost the tourism industry in Karongi District. Mahoro Island, just thirty- minutes away from Kibuye is an exclusive place with lots of attachments that keep dwelling into people’s minds long after the visit.“I will never forget this place, simple yet wonderful, I have loved every thing about this island,” are the comments filling the long list of visitors’ books. Indeed many first time visitors to Mahoro Island feel cheated if they are not asked to comment on their experiences. “I host on average 50 tourists a day and on weekends they are more,” says Rugigana. Being the proud owner, Rugigana in the past 6 years has been able to turn a forest island into an adorable place. In his will, Sebahire who formerly owned many islands equally divided them among his seven children. “Though it’s a thorny bush, you could sell it and earn school fees,” recalls Rugigana in one of his father’s remarks.Rugigana would get the chance of closely exploring his inherited property and making best plans for it. In 2001 he started what seemed like a simple business then but has really expanded today. “I can’t believe white men come all the way from their countries to just set a foot on Mahoro Island,” remarked Pierre one of the tourists. Not only for whites but the island is a home away from home even for Rwandans.Lately the Mahoro Island had been closed over sanitation grounds; but Colonel Fidel Ruganintware pleaded with authorities to allow him relax there with his family without getting any services from the restaurant.One would wonder why people choose Mahoro as their priority destination yet Kibuye has very beautiful beach hotels. It’s a small isolated island with grass- thatched tents but there is more to that. “I always go there to play volley ball,” says Enoch Rukundo, one of the regular visitors to the place. To add to the beautiful volley ball court, are the swings that are just few kilometers from the lake. With a bushy environment around, a move around the place is always inevitable since it’s yet another adventurous experience. Plantations of Guavas provide fruits. Indeed people who go camping there are not mistaken.“The secret behind hotel management is not the beautiful buildings,” explains Rugigana. At Peace Island we try to keep everything natural as we can, right from food.” As he is talking, one of his eight workers is slaughtering a hen for roasting. The meals are prepared immediately because there are no preservation mechanisms like a refrigerator.As people swim on to the next island nearby, they are taking a clear glance at all the neighboring deserted islands. Meanwhile Shema, the monkey also exposes her swimming styles as well as jumping from one tree to the other in excitement of seeing visitors.It takes planning and being quite creative and that is what Rugigana who coaches the best swimming club in the country, Kivu swimming club, has used this spot to appeal to the outside world. In case of competitions, no one in Kibuye can hesitate setting an eye on Kassim or Jackson competing for they are both good swimmers at the national level. Today as the Mahoro Island staffers are preparing for Christmas festivals, more games have been included on their usual games to include Volley ball, water surfing and swimming.The mega vision for this island owner together with his donors is to build a 200 million dollar paradise for the tourists to enjoy to their maximum. To reach his target Rugigana has resorted to boat hiring services to simplify tourist transport.However, being an island, it’s costly to maintain hygiene; as all the waste materials have to be transferred to Kibuye town for disposal yet there is a reasonable distance.Rugigana proudly boasts of maximum sanitation in the place. “When many eateries were temporarily closed on sanitation grounds, the Minister of state for Health, Damascene Nyaruhirira commended our hygiene here yet it’s an island,” he boasts.As I write this, Christmas bookings are in progress though the place is almost filled to capacity. It was a long road from merely a forest to a tourist attraction.Ends