Ishimwe Aline started out selling potatoes before becoming a hotel receptionist and later combining the job with waitressing. The experience she gained, training she received and money she saved enabled her to take another step forward and establish Kalisimbi Cave Resort at the age of 25. Ishimwe was born in Gicumbi District, where she also completed her primary and secondary education. She later joined the University of Rwanda to study technology. When the COVID-19 pandemic reached Rwanda and schools were closed, she returned home. As activities gradually resumed, she began thinking about what she could do to improve her livelihood.
She moved to Musanze District, where she started a business buying and selling potatoes. She bought potatoes directly from farmers and sold them at a lower price than other traders. While other traders sold a kilogram for Rwf400, she sold it for Rwf380. She says this strategy helped her attract many customers, enabling her to sell more than 100 kilograms a day and make a profit of up to Rwf8,000. Although the business was generating income, Ishimwe continued looking for other opportunities that could help her achieve her goals. She had noticed the growth of tourism in Musanze District, particularly gorilla tourism, and became interested in working in the hospitality industry.
She secured a job as a receptionist at a hotel in Musanze town while also working as a waitress. She says the German owners of the hotel noticed her dedication and arranged for her to receive additional training to improve her knowledge and skills in the hospitality industry. She later got an opportunity to study hotel management through a programme supported by the Imbuto Foundation. A year and a half after joining the hotel, she was promoted to become its general manager
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From Hotel Manager to Business Owner
The more she worked in the industry, the more she developed a passion for hospitality. Among the things that motivated her were the girls who worked with her and those who came for internships, who told her that they considered her a role model. she said: “I used to have many young girls who came to work there or for internships. Whenever we talked, they would tell me that one of the main things that motivated them to study tourism and hospitality was seeing a female hotel manager doing the job successfully.”
Ishimwe says these words inspired her to think about establishing her own hotel, with the aim of creating more opportunities for girls and providing them with a good and safe place to work. At the age of 25, she founded Kalisimbi Cave Resort using her savings and financial support she received from the German nationals who had previously employed her. The hotel is located in Musanze Sector, Musanze District, slightly above INES-Ruhengeri. It has 12 rooms decorated with traditional designs. Ishimwe says the rooms were constructed with environmental conservation in mind.
Resort Combines Hospitality with Local Agriculture
Kalisimbi Cave Resort also has a restaurant that serves meals prepared using produce from local agricultural and livestock activities. Ishimwe explains that they do not use chemical fertilisers in their farming activities, with the aim of serving guests natural meals made from fresh, locally produced ingredients.
The resort also offers wellness services, including sauna, massage, facial treatments and hair removal. To help guests gain a deeper understanding of Rwandan life and culture, Ishimwe has introduced agritourism activities based on farming and livestock keeping.
Guests, particularly foreigners, are given an opportunity to visit the farms and livestock facilities and participate in some of the activities carried out there. she said: “We take them to the farms where they can see the different crops we grow and visit the areas where we keep chickens, rabbits and cows. They can even milk the cows. We also plan to introduce more types of livestock.”
Ishimwe says they also plan to teach guests how to prepare traditional Rwandan dishes using traditional cooking equipment, so that their visit leaves them with a deeper understanding of the country’s culture. she said: “We do this so that when they leave Rwanda, they can say that at least they experienced and learned about a part of Rwandan culture during their visit.”
Business Targets Further Growth
Although her business has continued to grow, Ishimwe says she has not yet reached the level she aspires to, as the hotel has not yet reached full occupancy. However, she says there was a month when the hotel generated Rwf20 million in revenue despite only 30% of its rooms being occupied.
Ishimwe started the business with an initial capital of Rwf20 million. She says the equipment and other assets currently owned by the hotel are worth approximately Rwf200 million.
