As one embarks on a journey to watch the endangered mountain gorillas, they can also roll their journey to this cultural spot around the Iby’Iwacu village. Along with the joy for the gorillas, there was a need to combat poaching behaviors that negatively affected their conservation efforts.
The cultural village, also called the Gorilla Guardian Village, was started to respond to gorilla poaching, which went out with some of the individuals within the communities around the park.
Possibly in Rwanda, gorilla trekking happens in the northern part of Volcanoes National Park, and it’s the same locality where this amazing traditional community is positioned. Just along your tactical gorilla encounter, supplementing your gorilla experience with visiting the local people sounds like a great idea. The Iby’Iwacu cultural village is among the thrillers of volcanoes for a remarkable gorilla trek in Rwanda.
Therefore, gorilla trekking safari is known to be Rwanda’s most thrilling adventure. As many travelers flock to the country, the biggest number want to secure their sight on the gorillas.
In the first place, it’s important to understand that the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village (Guardian Village) operates as a non-profit organization. The village was established in 2005 to improve the lives of people staying around Volcanoes National Park. This was aimed at combating gorilla and wildlife poaching and encroachment on the park.
Through the provisions of the park, the conservation incentives towards the community were to support community initiatives to uplift the livelihood of local people.
The cultural village displays great highlights of traditional rural Rwandan villages, and here visitors have a chance to meet and interact with local people. The community offers the best cultural experience in Rwanda for travelers on safari. Find the famous Rwanda’s traditions, people, history, and lifestyle, which are all done in one place.
The place is located in Musanze district within the Kinigi region, close to Volcanoes National Park. It’s positioned in the foothills of Mount Karisimbi. This village is the unifying unit for Rwanda’s cultures of the Hutu, Tutsis, and Twa/Batwa people.
What to do at Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village
Community walks
Bump into a physical interaction with the local communities on their reach out to them. When visiting the community, the local guide takes a walk that displays much of what cultural encounters offer. The local guide takes you close to experiencing the social life of the Batwa people.
On this local walk, it takes you to local schools, markets, and meeting centers for the local people in the community. You will see many local art shops where you can spend a little money and buy yourself some simple African-made art as a souvenir.
Home visits
Experience a demonstration of the true-life experiences of the local people by visiting their homes. The Iby’Iwacu guardian village is a demonstration of the true lifestyle of the Rwandans. Get a true and first-hand look at the people of Rwanda. Visit a Rwandan home and learn how to prepare their local foods. On your visit, you will even enter the grass-thatched homes of the local people and experience the house arrangements for the locals.
Meet grown-up people and listen to this special narration of Rwanda during and after the Belgium era, before and after the genocide incident. Get a taste of the local beers and dishes, and get entertainment full of dances and traditional songs.
Visiting the King’s Palace
This spot was reserved to exhibit the ancient traditional leadership of Rwanda under the arrangement of the kingdom. It was known how kings ruled and managed their courts, and a king would make any decree and implement it instantly, but it was always unquestioned.
At this demonstration palace, you get to watch all royal activities, which were always executed, being performed. With a customarily experienced guide, we will lead you around the palace and let you feel the real African taste of leadership.
A walk to the Batwa Community
Another alternative activity to do at the Iby’Iwacu cultural village is to go on a visit to the Batwa community. Also referred to as the forest pygmies, the Batwa lived as forest gatherers and hunters who once survived in the gorilla sanctuaries in Rwanda and Uganda.
These people were forcefully evicted from their ancient forests in 1991 in the name of gorilla conservation. Today, the Batwa people were resettled, and among the areas where they can be found in Rwanda is Iby’Iwacu cultural village. The lives of the Batwa people outside the gorilla sanctuary contribute greatly to the thrilling moments on a gorilla tour.
When the Batwa resettled, they had to shift from the ancient life of hunting and gathering to other developments like pottery, art crafting, singing, dancing, and drama, which keep you entertained in their various lifestyles.
Get entertained with traditional dance and drama
Entertainment exhibits through dances, songs, and drama make you enjoy a true feeling of Rwandese. Wearing their traditional dancing attire and local musical items, it’s a surprise to let you appreciate their time. The Rwandese traditional musical tools include Amakondere, Ingoma, Umuduri, Inanga, Iningiri, Ibyivugo, and Agakenke.
The rhythm of traditional musical instruments is accompanied by the melodies of traditional songs and dances. As you watch, you find yourself swallowed up in engaging these amazing men, and as well, you take part in the Kitagururo dances.
Testing local beers
Birds of the same feather always fly together, and the locals always find it more appropriate to gather and enjoy the tasty beers. The local beer buzzing is a unifying factor among the locals; get unified with them as you enter into an agreement to sit under one roof and taste these locally made beers.
The local beers were mostly used during ceremonies and parties in ancient life, during harvests, and to welcome newly born babies. Anyone who wanted to join the celebration had to take part in the drinking. The locally made brews from the bananas are taught to visitors how they’re made.
Conclusion: The local visit to Iby’Iwacu cultural village is mainly combined with the thrilling gorilla safaris going mainly to Volcanoes National Park.
Add Comment