Wilderness Sabyinyo newsletter – July 2024

The peak season continues at Sabyinyo, definitely an exciting time for us as we hosted a wide variety of guests during the month, from couples who have been celebrating to families who enjoyed their treks – but perhaps most especially the children who stayed behind with us and enjoyed activities at the lodge, where I believe the sheep, fellow children who played with them in the village when they visited, and tree-planting were the real stars for the kids, and left everyone planning a next-time trip to come back to their new home in Rwanda.

What’s more, the joy didn’t stop there for the bird enthusiasts. July was a wonderful treat for them in the evenings, as we noticed an increase in migratory birds on the property – and thanks to the new binoculars that we received this month, and the colorful vegetation that keeps the birds coming, it’s been sweeter than honey to see the joy of our guests while they get to experience such a wonderful time here.

As July whizzed past, our staff were sadly counting the days as we had to say goodbye to our Assistant Manager, Patrick Bizumeremyi.

Patrick who has been with the lodge since 2019, has been of great value in charming and creating unforgettable memories for our guests. He has also been gracious to every staff member who worked with him the entire time he was with us, and as sad as it was to send him away from Sabyinyo, we were happy that he wasn’t going to too far from us. 

He is beginning a new journey with our fellow family members at Wilderness Bisate. We’re more than certain he will enjoy his time over there and we can’t wait to see him grow even more in the Wilderness Family.

July was baby boom season for our camp. In the past month three of our team members (Eric, Muzungu and Isaac) were blessed with babies – and to make the joy even more intense, all were beautiful bubbly baby girls. The babies and both their parents are healthy, and we are all excited to see the babies grow to become very important people in our society. And while we wait for more babies due to arrive later in the year, we’re grateful for the miracles that continue to happen right here at Sabyinyo.

As part of their ongoing efforts to drive socio-economic development projects in the rural areas adjacent to Volcanoes National Park, the Sabyinyo Community Livelihood Association (SACOLA) collects rental and community levies from Wilderness Sabyinyo. In July SACOLA was able to donate four cows to needy families of genocide survivors, significantly improving the lives of these families in the Kinigi and Nyange sectors here. 

The donation ceremony was a symbol of hope and restoration for the recipients who have endured extreme hardship for decades. Among the beneficiaries was Karakowe, who expressed her profound gratitude upon receiving a beautiful cow from SACOLA. She shared her emotional story, recounting the devastating impact of the 1994 genocide perpetrated against the Tutsis in Rwanda, during which all her cattle were slaughtered, leaving her with nothing.

Karakowe said, “This cow will help me in so many ways: I am excited now as I am going to enjoy milk again, the manure will also make my land fertile, and my crop production will double. God bless SACOLA”.

The cow donation is not just a symbolic gesture; it is a practical intervention aimed at improving the livelihoods of the beneficiaries. The cows will provide a steady supply of milk, which is a crucial nutritional resource for the families. Additionally, the organic manure from the cows enhances soil fertility, boosting agricultural productivity. This, in turn, contributes to food security and generates additional income for the families.

The four families who received the cows in July are a testament to the positive impact of SACOLA’s work. Their stories of resilience and hope are a reminder of the importance of community-driven development initiatives. As SACOLA continues to support more families in the coming months, the ripple effect of their efforts will contribute to a more resilient and prosperous community.

Wilderness and Children in the Wilderness (CITW) are thrilled to have been able to support Rushubi Primary and Secondary School with a volleyball court! The USD 4,500 funding needed for the construction and supplies was generously contributed by Wilderness Sabyinyo guests.

Rushubi Primary and Secondary School is situated close to this lodge in the Volcanoes National Park area. The school has 1,370 students and 39 teachers, so it is a busy school with a lot of activity, and is led by passionate Headmistress, Leontine Mukankuranga.

Since 2023 the school has included CITW Eco-Club activities to their weekly lesson plan, and during the 2023-24 school year, showed great commitment to this environmental education. We were therefore delighted to support the school with the volleyball court, and final details were confirmed in July, just in time for the school holidays to start.

This means that the sports field will be fully ready for use in the new school year of 2024-25. So, starting in September, the court will be the site for weekly fun and sporting activities for students and teachers.
“We thank the Wilderness Sabyinyo guests for their thoughtful support, and the Wilderness and CITW team for the implementation! We can now practice more sports with our learners and compete in some friendly competitions with other schools”, said Leontine.

The construction was undertaken by a local company, facilitating further empowerment and income in the community through additional job creation. The sports uniforms and balls were procured from local markets, so that revenue could also flow back to local retailers.

Last week Leontine and Aline, our CITW and Community manager, inspected the volleyball field and all the relevant materials received. Now the only elements missing are the students, who are enjoying their well-deserved school holidays!

The Wilderness Sabyinyo team was delighted to welcome repeat guest Gail Woloz to Rwanda recently. This time Gail, through her Travel & Safaris outfit, brought a group of women to Sabyinyo to experience Volcanoes National Park and all the beauty Rwanda has to offer.

They did not travel light! They all arrived with additional luggage to support our CITW and community projects via Pack for a Purpose.
The Sabyinyo team, together with Aline Umutoni, our Rwanda CITW & Community Manager, welcomed the guests to the lodge. Aline had the opportunity to explain to this special group of guests how their donations would be distributed and how much it is appreciated.

The group brought 107kg of supplies and other necessities, which will be distributed to the schools and the villages in the area. Thank you!