Cultural safaris in Rwanda
Rwanda, the heart of Africa has been a unified society from time immemorial and has diverse cultures that make it unique from other societies in Africa. Rwanda natives practiced pottery, pastoralism and cultivation. They are distinguished by their way of dressing and always carrying a stick with them.
Their cultural dances are expressive and dynamic which are worth the time of visitors and most visitors often get engaged and join them in the mesmerizing upbeat dances. Various cultural sites in Rwanda help commemorate the different cultures. Cultural safaris in Rwanda consist of visits to the cultural sites gives visitors a glimpse of what cultural Rwanda looks like;
Iby’iwacu Village:
This spectacular village is located in the vicinity of Volcanoes National Park in Musanze district. This contemporary cultural site offers visitors an immersive and exceptional experience of day-to-day Rwandan rural life. It helps showcase the dynamic traditional practices, such as evocative dances, vibrant handicrafts, and sensational storytelling, providing a glimpse into the daily social interactions of local communities.
Nyanza King’s Palace:
This artistic King’s palace was first built in 1897 by the Belgian architects but later on it was rebuilt by the king of Nyanza in 1932. He reconstructed the palace and built a modern house that is a celebrated tourist attraction even up to today. The palace is located in Nyanza town in Rwanda and is north of Butare ethnographic museum.
This civic precept historical site was the residence of the ancestral Rwandan monarchy until the troublesome times of the late 19th century. It offers a deeper insight into what life pre-colonial Rwanda monarchs lived and its convoluted traditional rituals.
Butare Ethnographic Museum:
This ambient place of old art is also known as the National Museum of Rwanda. The cultural notion museum houses an impressive collection of artifacts dating from the early 19th century, baroque art, and monochromatic historical objects that show the diversity of Rwanda’s linear cultures and vibrant history. Some of these artifacts are purchased by tourists and act as souvenirs on their adventures in Rwanda.
A visit to the museum offers opportunities for extraordinary artistic photography to visitors and to meet some of the celebrated artists in Rwanda. They can draw portraits of visitors which further improves on the experiences in the country.
Kigali Genocide Memorial:
The monument is approximately 9 kilometres from Kigali International Airport and a bus to this area costs about $2. This formal and dignified museum commemorates the unforgettable bloody 1994 genocide that ended a lot of innocent lives.
It plays an important role in providing educational resources and dynamic exhibitions that act as remembrances of the gone victims and document the cataclysmic events. Visits to the museum subsequently contribute to the lives of the orphans as some of the funds go to the orphanages that look after them.
Rwanda Art Museum:
The artistic merit museum is located in Kanombe in Kigali city. This spectacular museum showcases the contemporary Rwandan art pieces of all times by the best artists and further promotes local artists who are extremely talented and can compete on a global scale. The efforts by the management of this informative museum contribute to Rwanda’s artistic development.
Kandt House Museum of Natural History:
This spectacular museum is located in the Nyarugenge district and was formerly known as the Natural History Museum. The contemporary museum was named after Richard Kandt who was a German explorer. This tactile museum offers vivid insights into Rwanda’s exceptional biodiversity, geology, and unique natural history.
This therefore makes it such an interesting destination for scientists and nature enthusiasts combined. Several activities are done in this museum, including an explanation of the history of Rwanda and the formation of different physical land forms that set Rwanda apart, especially the volcanoes. The information is acquired from researchers and experienced professional tourist guides.
Best time to visit cultural sites in Rwanda.
The best time to visit these cultural sites in Rwanda is the dry season time which is the period from June to August that is less busy as you are approaching the peak season. However, visits to the cultural sites are not only limited to this particular time as they can be visited all year round.
What does it cost to visit these cultural sites?
A visit to the cultural sites costs international guests who are students $6, adult residents $10 and adult non-residents $12 on entrance which is a non-negotiable fee. East African citizens who are students pay 500 Rwandan francs, adult East African students residents pay 3000 Rwandan francs which is also the same fee for the Economic Commission of Great Lakes Countries.
The fee includes professional tourist guides’ assistance as they take you around explaining and giving all the relevant information that visitors need to know about the cultural sites.
