Local Communities Around Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda
Local communities around Nyungwe. Nyungwe Forest National Park lies in southwestern Rwanda, near the borders with Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. While the park is rich in biodiversity, its success in conservation depends heavily on the people who live nearby. The local communities around Nyungwe play a vital role in protecting the forest and benefiting from eco-tourism.
These communities also carry deep cultural knowledge, traditions, and a growing stake in sustainable tourism.
Where Are the Communities Located?
Several districts border Nyungwe National Park. The most notable include:
- Rusizi District to the west
- Nyamasheke District to the northwest
- Nyaruguru District to the southeast
- Karongi District to the north
Villages sit along the park’s edges and near popular entrances like Gisakura, Uwinka, and Kitabi. These areas serve as key gateways for visitors and guides.
Who Lives Near Nyungwe?
The communities near Nyungwe are mostly agro-pastoralists. Families depend on farming tea, bananas, beans, and maize. Some raise goats or chickens. Tea plantations, especially near Gisakura and Kitabi, provide steady income.
The majority belong to the Banyarwanda ethnic group, but the area also includes Batwa communities—indigenous forest dwellers who once lived in Nyungwe before it became a national park.
The Batwa, also known as the “forest people,” have faced displacement but continue to preserve cultural practices through dance, storytelling, and traditional medicine.
Community Involvement in Conservation
The Rwanda Development Board and park authorities have invested in community-based conservation. Local people now help track primates, guide nature walks, and monitor park boundaries. These roles offer income and reduce illegal forest activities.
Revenue-sharing programs return a portion of park profits to nearby villages. These funds build schools, clinics, and water systems. In return, locals gain motivation to protect the forest rather than exploit it.
Anti-poaching patrols also include community members. These efforts help build trust between conservation officials and residents.
Community Tourism Opportunities
Many villages offer cultural tourism activities. Visitors can join banana beer brewing, traditional dances, or village walks. The Kitabi Cultural Village is a great example. It offers home stays, crafts, and meals prepared by local women’s groups.
Near Gisakura, the KARUNDI cooperative runs a handicraft center. Guests can buy handmade baskets, jewelry, and woven textiles. These purchases support artisans and reduce dependence on forest products.
Tourists who engage with local communities enjoy deeper, more meaningful experiences. At the same time, they support sustainable development.
Challenges Facing Local Communities
Despite progress, communities around Nyungwe still face challenges. Poverty, food insecurity, and land scarcity remain real issues. Some residents still depend on illegal firewood collection or hunting to survive.
Displacement of the Batwa continues to raise human rights questions. Many lack formal land ownership or access to education. Efforts to include them in tourism and conservation have improved, but gaps remain.
Climate change also threatens local agriculture. Irregular rainfall and soil erosion affect crop yields. This adds pressure to encroach on protected areas.
Building a Shared Future for Nature and People
Nyungwe’s success is tied to the people who live around it. Conservation cannot work without local support. Through tourism, education, and partnerships, Rwanda is building a model where communities and nature thrive together.
Travelers can support this vision by choosing community-run tours, respecting local customs, and learning from the people who call Nyungwe home.
