Volcanoes national park has a number of community projects some managed by Rwanda government while others by the local people. Rwanda is bordered by Tanzania in the west, democratic republic of Congo in the east and Uganda in the north and Burundi making it a landlocked country. Rwanda’s tourism potential lies in the natural attractions such as gorillas, wild life parks, lakes, golden monkeys, birds and chimpanzees.

Mountain gorillas can only be found in Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi impenetrable national park in Uganda, Virunga in DRC. In Rwanda, Mountain gorillas can only be seen in volcanoes national park and the park is just a 2 hours’ drive from Kigali city.

Rwanda is recognized as a safe tourism destination because of efforts they have put in place to ensure that the tainted image especially of the 1994 genocide is cleared and its now actually seen as one of the best attractions.

The gorilla naming ceremony is one of the events that is committed solely to the enhancement of the livelihood of the community and the people that live next to volcanoes national park.

Dain Fossey was the first American primatologist to research about gorillas in volcanoes national par. Her works still go on through the foundation she formed as far as 1964

The people in the community continuously competed for resources and so they hunted down wild animals and raided part of their habitant to ensure that they get some food and some income. The need to improve the welfare of local people forced Dian Fossey to come up with a foundation that would help the locals to find some income and suspend poaching

Community tourism has increased the desire of every one to visit volcanoes national park in Rwanda. Not less than 20000 people visit volcanoes national park each year.

Since 2005, the government of Rwanda is sharing money with community people whereby 5% of the money collected from gorilla trekking in volcanoes national park is given back to the communities around the park thus generating a lot of social and economic benefits.

The community posed by sabinyo community lodge provides accommodation to tourist as well as providing market for local foods and crafts such as baskets, jewelry among others.

The iby’iwacu cultural village is another advantage for community tourism. Tourists visit the village people and buy things from them such as local people, music, dances and the history of the people of Rwanda.

Historically the people lived in peace with mountain gorillas and other wild animals including the forest dwelling Batwa pygmies in Virunga forest who were later chased away during creation of volcanoes national park and other parts of Ngungwe forest national park.

The Batwa group of people were left with no home and were not allowed to do any of their traditions such as fruit gathering and hunting. With mountain gorilla tourism, Batwa group of people have been rehabilitated through agriculture, social welfare and education.

The gorilla fund looks at protecting the culture of Batwa group of people. Most people visit the villages of these people to learn about their tradition, way of living among others.

Tourists pay some money to have a feel of Batwa experience with activities such as dances, hunting, their art and crafts. The collections from these activities go towards the welfare of Batwa themselves and this encourages them to do conservation