Combining Gorilla Trekking With a Cultural Experience in Rwanda.
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda has been an exceptional and thrilling experience whereby tourists from all corners of the world come to trek the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural bedding in the Volcanoes National Park. These primates are said to be sharing 98% of their DNA with human beings and are only found in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, which makes gorilla trekking a unique experience. Whereas gorilla trekking is the most popular tourist activity in Rwanda, the country is also a destination for other activities including mountain hiking, bird watching, game drives, nature walks as well as cultural tours. Combining gorilla trekking with a cultural experience in Rwanda will give you a complete tour of the country of thousand hills as is known of.
Though Rwandans are now living a mixed lifestyle of different cultures brought through immigration, inter marriages and colonization, there have been efforts to preserve the cultural practices of the indigenous people that were passed on from one generation to another through cultural ceremonies, language, stories, dressing style.
Various sights are available across the country with various specializations including museums, art and craft centers as well as cultural villages to choose from depending on individual interest to combine with gorilla trekking. While visiting the sites you will get a chance to meet people and listen to stories, watch traditional dance performances and more by combining your gorilla trekking with cultural experiences. Proposals of the combinations are described here below.
The National History Museum (Kandt House Museum): this very first modern building in Rwanda was named after Dr. Richard Kandt who was the first Colonial German Governor of Rwanda. The museum has three parts: one exhibiting the life of Rwandans before the colonization, the second describes life during colonialism and the third one exhibits the life after independence. The museum also showcases vegetation’s, wildlife and geographical features of the country. The museum being in Kigali, It can be combined with gorilla trekking by either doing the visit before departing to the Volcanoes National Park or after the gorilla trekking before your flight back home.
The Kings Palace museum is also another historical site to combine with gorilla trekking experience. Situated in Nyanza district, in the South part of the country; the museum served as a Palace for the Last King of Rwanda MUTARA III RUDAHIGWA.
The Palace contains a traditional royal residence, the King’s Palace is a beautifully-crafted thatched dwelling shaped like a beehive. There are also a few elegant long-horned cattle “Inyambo” decorated with jewelry, trained in following movements and songs of their keepers.
The Gorilla Guardians Village also known as the Iby’iwacu cultural village, mostly combined with gorilla trekking as it is close to the Volcanoes National Park. Founded by former park wardens and former poachers in an aim of protecting the park and finding an income generating activity other than disturbing the park and its habitat. At the center you will enjoy watching traditional dances, traditional games and performances.
The Ethnographic Museum would be also a good option for combining gorilla trekking with a cultural experience in Rwanda in that this museum contains some of the best ethnographic collection. You can learn a lot about Rwandan history and culture from traditional tools, farming instruments and wood works.
Nyamirambo Women’s center in Nyamirambo gives an occasion of visiting Kigali city by observing the old Kigali suburb in comparison to the modern city. At the Center you will be able to see how women earn their life in making clothes and art crafts with their own hands. Also a cooking lesson is offered to give a hand on local food cooking practice.
Azizi Life a collection of arts and craft made from local, natural and renewable materials manufactured by men and women who chose to deal with consequences of the 1994 genocide against Tutsi by mutually supporting each other to build a reconciliation. By visiting the center you will learn how in the aftermath of the Genocide against Tutsi in 1994 families of perpetrators and survivors joined hands for healing mission of community and social development through hand crafts.
Combining gorilla trekking with a cultural experience in Rwanda will be more meaningful.
Combining gorilla trekking with a cultural experience in Rwanda would be a memorable experience as you will be able to get an insight of the history of the country, the traditions and ways of living of ancient Rwanda compared to today’s modernized ways of living. All you need is to have a professional tour operator who will help you to design an itinerary that best fits with your interests. We at Rwanda Eco Company and Safaris will make sure that your safaris to Rwanda is unique and leaves with your lifetime memories from designing your itinerary, booking your accommodation and ensuring safe and comfortable transportation during your stay.
