Gorilla and Golden Monkey short break, Rwanda

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION
1. The accommodations you will use on this trip use solar energy and hydro power/ generator for back up.
2. Vegetarian and Vegan food is available in every hotel on this safari.
3. Food is locally sourced from the surrounding communities except what is not produced locally like Bacon, Cheese etc.


ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE
1. We provide reusable water bottles to avoid the use of single use plastic bottles that are dangerous to the environment and are a source of much waste. This waste is difficult to dispose of both in the park and at the hotel.

2. The money from gorilla trekking permits is used in running the park. Some of it has been used to buy land from the community to expand the park.

3. The tour guides and ranger guides on this safari are expert nature guides. In Nyunwe national park - they have given opportunities to community youth to guide clients.

4. We take guests to the gorilla guardians village which was formally known as Iby'iwacu cultural village. This has former poachers as part of the group. They no longer poach and instead use their time to share the cultural of their land. They are involved in community engagements towards conservation of wildlife and flora.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY
1. Ingagi Park view Lodge is owned by Rwandans and employes Rwandans at all levels of the lodge.
2. The guides who take you on this trip are Rwandans - including the park rangers and community guides.
3. The porters are locals from the area where the park is located. They are passionate about conservation because they see the direct benefit of tourism to their local community.
4. You will visit the locally run Gorilla guardians village for an experience of Rwandan culture. Some of the members are former poachers from the Volcanoes national park.
5. Visiting gorillas and golden monkeys in their natural habitats helps in preserving them and their habitants. Part of the revenue from visitors goes in paying rangers who are involved in guiding clients in the forest. The government also uses the revenue to provide good roads, heath care and education facilities.



EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY
1. The guides and lodge staff are Rwandan. This has been great contribution to conservation efforts because they are having opportunities they would otherwise not have if it was not for tourism.
2. This trip is LGBTQ friendly, all are welcome to book it.
3. We pay minimum wage to our staff. And the lodges we use on this trip equally pay minimum wages.
4. On this safari, you will be with a local tour guide resident in Rwanda. We are committed to having the local population grow in appreciating the nature. When they directly earn from tourism, they advocate to preserving nature. It is also good exposure for them to interact with people from across the globe.