Cultural Tours in Rwanda

Cultural tours in Rwanda offer tourists a great opportunity to learn more about the different yet unique cultures that exist in the country. In addition to this, it is through taking a cultural tour in Rwanda that you will be able to freely interact with various local, watch folk dance performances from traditional dance troupes and taste traditional cuisines prepared by locals in the communities you visit during your Rwanda safari.

Rwanda, also known as the ‘ Land of a thousand hills’, is well known for its natural beauty, with green terraced hills, blue crystal lakes and clean streets. Although the country may not be culturally diverse as compared to her neighbors like Uganda and Congo, it has a very rich cultural that its people are proud of and quick to show case to the whole world. 

There are only three distinct ethnic tribes that exist in Rwanda and these include; the Twa who were known to be hunter-gatherers, the Tutsi who were predominately cattle rearers, and the Hutu who were crop growers. However much has changed over the past decades and now these tribes have also diversified their means of livelihood as well.

Cultural tours in Rwanda offer visitors an opportunity to interact more with its native people and learn more about the Rwandan culture. These cultural tours involve tourists visiting local communities in Rwanda especially those near the national parks. 

There are four national parks in Rwanda and these are; Volcanoes National Park, Akagera National Park, Nyungwe Forest National Park and Gishwati-Mukura National Park that was recently opened to the general public in 2019.

A safari to Rwanda is not complete without a taste of its indigenous culture.  Cultural tours in Rwanda can be combined with other activities such as; a wildlife safari in Akagera national park, gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park, Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest national park.

Visitors on a cultural tour in Rwanda can engage in a number of activities such as; traditional dances, songs, arts and craft making, folk tales, cooking traditional Rwandan delicacies, visiting local beer breweries, cattle farms, and bee keeping farms. Some of the cultural sites that visitors can visit during a Rwanda cultural tour include;

Genocide Memorial Sites in Rwanda:

Some of the most visited tourist sites in Rwanda are the genocide memorial sites such as; the Kigali Genocide Memorial Site, Gisozi Memorial Site, Murambi Genocide Site, Nyamata Memorial Site, Gisenyi Memorial Site, Nyarubuye Memorial Site, Ntarama Memorial Site, and Bisesero Memorial Site. These various genocide memorial sites have been constructed to commemorate the lives of thousands of individuals who died in the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. 

Tourists who get to pay a visit to any of these genocide memorial sites are given a detailed account of what transpired during the civil war, the damage that the genocide war inflicted on the people of Rwanda, and also how the country is moving forward from her tragic past. 

Bugesera Reconciliation Village:

Visitors on a cultural tour in Rwanda can pay a visit to the Bugesera Reconciliation Village, which is located just a few kilometers from Kigali City. This village or rather community was established by the Rwandan government for Rwandan refugees who had lost all their property during the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. After peace was restored back in the country, a lot of civilians lost their property and loved ones as well. The government came up with the idea of creating the reconciliation village in order give the Rwandan refugees a fresh start, and also reconcile all people from the different tribes of Rwanda. Now, the people living in the Bugesera reconciliation village can be seen living side by side in harmony with one another. Visitors who visit the reconciliation village are entertained by a group of local dancers, singers and drummers. 

Iby’iwacu Cultural Village:

Most cultural tours in Rwanda are never complete without a visit to the Iby’iwacu cultural village located just outside Volcanoes national park. The cultural village gives visitors an opportunity to learn and enjoy the traditional Rwandan culture. 

What is unique about the Iby’iwacu cultural village is that a great majority of the men in this village are reformed poachers, who are now taking part in the conservation projects within the national park. Visitors who pay a visit to the Iby’iwacu cultural village are entertained by the traditional Intore dance group through dance performances, folk tales and songs. 

Visitors also get to take part in tradition cooking classes, preparation of local banana brew, milking cows and making products such as local ghee. Tourists can visit the Iby’iwacu cultural village after trekking mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park.

The King’s Palace in Nyanza:

Visitors can not miss paying a visit to the King’s palace in Nyanza, which is about 25 miles from Butare town. Visitors get a tour around the dorm styled palace learning about the cultural history of past Kings of Rwanda, and you will also get to see some royal regalia such as spears, shields, drums and other ornaments that were used by Rwanda’s past kings. You will also get to be crowned as a King or Queen, and have pictures taken as souvenirs to take back home with you.

The Ethnographic Museum in Butare:

Visitors on a cultural tour in Rwanda can also pay a visit to the ethnographic museum, located in Butare town. The ethnographic museum is situated just a kilometer away from Kigali City and is the ideal place for visitors to learn about the people of Rwanda and their cultures. The ethnographic museum in Rwanda was constructed by the Belgian government and was opened in 1989 to the general public. The museum has seven exhibition halls that visitors can tour, and each exhibition hall has something new to display such as; cultural artifacts, regalia, and even an entertainment center. 

Other places that visitors can visit during a Rwanda cultural tour include; Camp Kigali, Rwesero National Arts Museum in Nyanza, Ndaba rock, Nyamata Church, Richard Kandt House, Nyamirambo Women’s Center, Caplaki Craft Village, and Kimironko market among others.

Conclusion: Cultural tours in Rwanda are a must do for any tourist visiting the country. It is always an exciting and thrilling experience when you get to interact with other individuals from various cultural backgrounds. It is through such interactions that we get to appreciate one another more and learn to live in unison with one another despite the different cultures we come from!