Thousands have visited Rwanda for gorilla tracking holidays but never got a chance to discover the rich cultural village of “Iby`Iwacu”. The Village offers a touch cultural experience beyond other Rwanda adventures making tourists understand the true Rwanda culture and its people. Was once in Kinigi a place near Rwanda’s Volcanoes Park where I found three young women ranging from 15-20 years walking down the village and I asked where are you going young ladies? One answered “to raise our culture across the world “.I thought for a second and asked her again how and she still answered “ Our village is a home to all cultural activities in Rwanda “and probably she was referring to Iby`Iwacu cultural village found 2 & half hours from Kigali and just 15minutes drive from Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge.
I finally followed them to an inviting village with all you need about culture. The guides are too friendly and performers are ever ready for any task. There is a lot to see and discover but sometimes tourists desire to explore exciting activities –cultural dance, farewell performance, the witch doctor station, the back cloth and grinding seeds without leaving out the warriors act. After enjoying to your fullest you can buy some crafts sold and made by locals but don’t forget to carry some 25$ per person to part with as entrance fee to the village a fee which supports the village and other community members in need. However you can negotiate and the fee is sometimes lowered according to the number of tourists wishing to enter the village for the exposure. It’s a great experience to blend culture and Gorilla tracking while in Rwanda a thing you can only find in Kinigi at Iby`Iwacu cultural Village.
The traditional warriors always welcome tourists with a traditional song and later you are directed to the kings palace hut a place with amazing setting indeed ancient and it brings out the real sense of kingship in the African tradition. The acting king and Queen give the tourists an opportunity to put on the king and queen attire for photos. Looking around is free so long as you enter the village and traditional dancers and drum performances take most of your attention spending more time watching how they dance and drum. Still tourists are given a chance to join traditional dancers in the dance that is if they feel like a great opportunity which binds locals and tourists. Besides guest who participate in different cultural activities find it interesting and unusual hence giving the village more credit as the best option after every Gorilla trek. Making flour, acting like a king & Queen, trying to drum and dance, learning about local herbs and participating in give away or wedding ceremony are the most done activities by tourists.
The village is also convenient for overnight stays especially a night before the trek and after since its close enough to the Gorilla start point at volcanoes National park. Apart from the Gorilla permit, staying close to the park is another prime factor for every gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda. However the Virunga Mountain View behind the village adds value to the cultural village attractiveness. Are you looking for good budget accommodation near volcanoes national park? Or an amazing Rwanda cultural experience? The traditional culturally built huts in Ibyiwacu are open 24 7 to meet all your shelter need and also give you the most outstanding Rwanda culture adventure you ever wanted. I don’t remember having visited the cultural village before but the footsteps and inspiring statements of a Rwanda local lady made it for us.
