Rwanda Safari & Travel Guide: Complete Activity Descriptions

Planning your Rwanda safari? This comprehensive activity list helps you discover 100+ experiences across Akagera, Volcanoes, Nyungwe, and Lake Kivu to build the perfect multi-day itinerary—and qualify for the 30% gorilla permit discount (save $450).

Originally compiled by Akagera Safari in July 2009, this is the same detailed Rwanda safari activity reference our team uses daily to design custom programs for travelers, delegations, and institutions. We're sharing it publicly for the first time in November 2024, giving you insider access to every activity, attraction, and experience available across Rwanda's national parks and regions.

The insider secret: Spend 2+ nights in Akagera, Nyungwe, or Lake Kivu after your gorilla trek (November-May), and get 30% off your $1,500 permit. This activity list shows you exactly what to add to your Rwanda safari itinerary to extend your stay, maximize your experience, and save $450.

What's included: Detailed descriptions of wildlife experiences in Akagera National Park, gorilla and golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes National Park, chimpanzee tracking and canopy walks in Nyungwe Forest, Lake Kivu activities, community-based tourism, cultural tours, health and education sector visits, conservation organizations, and more. Whether you're planning a classic wildlife safari, primate adventure, or educational program, this comprehensive Rwanda safari resource covers every option.

We review and update this Rwanda safari activity list monthly to ensure accuracy. Some details may evolve as Rwanda's tourism infrastructure develops. Last updated: November 2025.

1. Rwanda Safari Activities to Combine with Gorilla Trekking

1.1. Millennium Village Tour, Bugesera

The UN Millennium Villages Project (MVP) is probably the most famous and most comprehensive development initiative of our time. Spread over ten African countries, it is designed to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and lift some of the world's poorest areas out of extreme poverty within only five years. In Rwanda, the MVP started in December 2005 in Bugesera District, a desperately poor and dry region that was also severely impacted during the genocide. Our Millennium Village Tour gives answers to those visitors who want to know more about the challenges that so many African communities face, and teaches a variety of interventions that have proven to be successful in the fight against poverty. A truly educational experience, the tour touches on topics such as sustainable agriculture, education, health care, infrastructure, micro-enterprise development as well as peace building and reconciliation, while offering opportunities to authentically experience aspects of the local culture, including food, language and traditions. Guided in part by local inhabitants, the tour offers very personal insights into the lives of the villagers while ensuring that the community and the individuals involved in tourism benefit from the initiative.

1.2. Lake Kivu Coffee Tour, Gisenyi

The Kivu Coffee Tour combines an educational experience where visitors learn about the coffee growing process with the stunning scenery of Lake Kivu. Its shores are particularly fertile and host a range of plantations where some of the best coffee in the world is grown. In early 2008, NDA started to collaborate with Ingoboka, a local cooperative of coffee farming families. We have trained some of their members to provide a very personal introduction to coffee growing that will teach you everything you need to know about this complicated process from crop to cup.

On Nyamirundi Island, you will visit the plantation of one of Ingoboka's member families. Each coffee plant is hand-raised and cared for by the farmer. Combined with the volcanic soils of the area, this special treatment gives the coffee a full-bodied, yet non-acidic flavor. Ingoboka has a total of 350 members, all of whom own small coffee farms on or close to the shores of the lake.

From the island, you will continue your journey to the nearby Gashishi Washing Station on the shores of the lake. During the main coffee season (March to June), you can witness over 700 men and women working at the station day and night, but the washing station is also a fascinating place in other seasons. The process is actually rather complicated and involves over 20 different steps. You will receive a full explanation of this coffee processing, from picking to washing and later roasting, and even have the chance to pick a few cherries yourself. After an opportunity to sample the cooperative's coffee, you will return to Gisenyi.

1.3. Dancing Pots, Kanama/Gisenyi

The Dancing Pots experience offers the visitor a unique opportunity to learn about and interact with a community of settled and forward-looking Batwa – or 'historically marginalized people' in the words of the government of Rwanda. Located close to Gisenyi, the members of Abatigayubuke are harnessing their famous traditional skills of pottery and performing arts to make a living and to serve as an exemplary Batwa community that is fully integrated in the area's social life and structures.

Today, there are only about 33,000 Batwa left in Rwanda, representing 0.4% of the population. Recent official statistics (2004) revealed some highly disturbing facts: 30% of the Batwa population is economically non-active (compared to just 1% of the total population), 69% are casual laborers (compared to 9%), only 23% of adults are literate (compared to 78%), 43% are landless (compared to 12%), 20% have inadequate housing (compared to 3%) and 35% have no appropriate latrines (compared to 5%). Finally, 37% rely on non-potable water (compared to 19%).

Nevertheless, the Batwa are able to maintain a distinctive identity and culture and are particularly renowned for their skills as potters, dancers and musicians.

The idea of the Dancing Pots project is to create valuable opportunities to provide financial resources to improve their socio-economic conditions and enhance their social status. As a visitor, you will have an introductory presentation on the Batwa before reaching the village. You will then travel to Abatigayubuke's community and be greeted by a welcome dance. Afterwards, you will enjoy a few hours of interaction, learning about the pottery skills as well as the intriguing performing arts practiced by the Batwa, including special dances, songs and a variety of unique musical instruments. Before ending your visit with a small traditional ubusabane get-together party, you will enter into discussions about Batwa culture and life and how the community tries to be a vital part of Rwandan society.

1.4. This is Africa, Nyamirambo

Nyamirambo is a bustling multi-cultural commercial district in Kigali that offers visitors a typical African flair. Comparable with South Africa's "Township Tours", this unique experience brings you right into the heart of the colors, noises and smells of urban Rwanda. Guided by the young and charming women of the Nyamirambo Women's Center (NWC), the tour allows visitors to experience the West African tailors, the hair salons, the recording studio with its local rap music, the butcher and the Muslim quarter with its Arab influences. You will have a little Kinyarwanda lesson and visit a small market with a shopping list. Afterwards, your hosts will invite you to one of their homes where you will learn how to cook a Rwandan meal, and share lunch over intriguing conversations. The charm of this experience is its authenticity – you will take part in the real life of colorful Nyamirambo.

1.5. Humure, Akagera

When several communities of Rwandan refugees were thrown out of neighboring Tanzania in late 2006, the Rwandan government offered them land in the inhospitable areas south of Akagera National Park. They had lived as refugees in Tanzania since the violent times of nation building in 1959. You will visit the villages of Humure and Ramiro in Ndego Sector to learn about their basic village and community development activities.

The communities were founded in November 2006 through an emergency program of CARE International. With funding from the German government, some 220 houses have already been constructed with roughly 150 more in the pipeline. Every family further received 1ha of land, frequently directly bordering the nearby Akagera National Park. The conditions are very harsh because this is one of the driest parts of the country. Few things grow and regular invasions of game animals pose a threat to fields, houses and even lives.

Today the villages feature very vibrant communities that make the best out of the adverse circumstances. They have started a range of micro-enterprise projects and have a variety of fascinating stories to tell. Moreover, while the inhabitants were originally Rwandans, they have developed an interesting mix of cultures, traditions and skills, resulting from the decades of interaction with their hosts in Tanzania and beyond.

1.6. History-minded Kigali City Tour

You will experience Kigali on a history-minded tour of the city. Far from simply looking at buildings and listening to a few anecdotes, you will learn about life in Kigali during several different time periods and begin to understand the impact each era had on the Rwandan people. You will look at the colonial history during which the city was founded in 1907, the post-independence period that started in 1962, the run up to the 1994 genocide as well as the modern Kigali with new residential and government areas. The main stops include the first colonial building in Kigali, the Hotel des Mille Collines made famous in the movie Hotel Rwanda and Camp Kigali, a small memorial that provides an excellent introduction to the subject of the genocide. Finally, you can also choose to visit the Kigali Memorial Center, a must-see for most visitors to the country and the main genocide museum. A burial site with over 250,000 victims of genocide, the memorial includes an exhibition on the history of genocide in Rwanda, a children's memorial exhibition and an exhibition on comparative genocide in the world. The large memorial garden contains ten mass graves where families and visitors may pay their respects.

2. NATIONAL PARK ACTIVITIES & LAKE KIVU

2.1. Volcanoes National Park – General Introduction

Situated in northwestern Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park is one of the country's most popular tourist destinations. Since reopening in 1999, it has experienced a growing number of visitors each day, thanks in large part to its role as the world's most popular mountain gorilla sanctuary. With fewer than 700 of this species left, tourists can catch a rare glimpse of the gorillas as they can nowhere else in the world. Beyond gorillas, however, the park is also able to offer some of the country's most spectacular scenery and diverse vegetation. It is part of the Virunga Conservation Area and covers more than 125km2, including five extinct volcanoes: Muhabura, Sabyinyo, Gahinga, Karisimbi and Bisoke. The latter two can be climbed during one or two-day treks.

Against this backdrop, tourists can hike through the lush bamboo and Hygenia rainforest, open grassland and swamp of Volcanoes National Park to discover golden monkeys, bush duiker, buffalo and spotted hyenas. You will not have to listen too hard before you hear one of the 178 recorded bird species in the park. Look through the gaps in the dense forest canopy and you will also see the breathtaking peaks of the volcanoes standing tall at over 4,500m.

Made famous as the research base of the late American primatologist Dian Fossey and, subsequently, as the setting for the film Gorillas in the Mist, the park continues to uphold its reputation as a destination for unrivaled wildlife encounters. The edges of Mt. Sabyinyo are also where you will find Fossey's tomb, as she was buried among the gorillas she grew to love so dearly.

Experienced guides will take you through this impressive montane ecosystem, where you can witness the sights and sounds of the heart of Africa.

2.2. Volcanoes National Park – Gorilla Trek

Deep in the heart of Rwanda's thousand hills exists a creature so precious and rare that tourists the world over come each year to catch a glimpse. It is the critically endangered mountain gorilla, and more than half of the almost 700 remaining in the world make their home in Rwanda's stunning Volcanoes National Park. These highly sociable primates sleep in trees but spend most of their waking hours on the ground, moving less than 1km a day and remaining easily accessible. Let an experienced gorilla tracker guide you through the towering Hagenia and Bamboo trees, weaving vines, and flowering Lobelias of the park to their tiny oasis, where you will spend one hour face to face with man's closest living relatives in their remarkable natural habitat.

Visitors can follow one of the park's seven habituated gorilla families as they go about their daily lives in troops of anywhere between 8 and 39. Watch a mother tenderly feed her baby while the younger gorillas frolic in the bushes around her. Feel the cautious stare of a 200kg silverback on you as he keeps a protective eye overhead. Witness a youngster put on a chest-beating display to playfully signal his dominance.

During your hour with the gorillas you will come to experience the inspiration for the film Gorillas in the Mist and understand why the late American primatologist Dian Fossey made it her life's mission to live with, study, and protect these gentle giants.

A trek to the heart of Volcanoes National Park could also bring you into contact with golden monkeys, buffalo, bush duiker and a vast array of bird species. For conservation reasons, each gorilla family can only be seen by one group of eight tourists per day. This is a once in a lifetime wildlife experience that should not be missed.

2.3. Volcanoes National Park – Golden Monkey Trek

They may be less well known than their mountain gorilla counterparts, but Rwanda's golden monkeys are no less precious and rare, and are well worth a visit. Found deep in the heart of the Volcanoes National Park's bamboo forest, the golden monkey is one of the most endangered primates in Africa. Indeed, it is thought that the Virunga volcanoes, which form part of the boundary between Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, are home to the last viable population of these monkeys.

Weighing some 5-15kg, golden monkeys have distinct golden bodies and cheeks that contrast with their black limbs, tails and crown. While their diet of primarily leaves and fruits has been well recorded, little is known about the environmental needs of golden monkeys and total population numbers have never been confirmed. Still, tourists have the unique opportunity to view one of two newly habituated groups within the park. The Kabatwa group is made up of 40 monkeys and lives on the slopes of Mt. Sabyinyo. For the more advanced trekker, there is the Musongo group, with 100 individuals, which lives higher up on the slopes of Mt. Karisimbi.

For one hour, you will be able to observe these rare monkeys in their stunning natural setting as they climb trees, feed on bamboo shoots, and play happily in front of you. Although smaller and nimbler than mountain gorillas, making them more difficult to spot, they are becoming more accustomed to visitors and thus bolder.

2.4. Volcanoes National Park – Karisimbi Climb

The spectacular chain of Virunga mountains in western Rwanda is home to Mount Karisimbi, a dormant volcano that towers over the surrounding lands at 4,507m tall. It is in fact the highest of the eight major mountains in the mountain range, and the fifth highest mountain in all of Africa. Its name may mean "little white shell" in Kinyarwanda thanks to its often white-capped summit, but spend the two days it takes to climb to Karisimbi's sharp-peaked summit and you will realize there is nothing little about this volcano.

Starting from your base at Bisoke, you will begin the arduous two-day climb through dense rainforest up the sides of Karisimbi. Along the way you may witness emissions of smoke and steam from the volcanoes that flank its sides, including the deadly Mt. Nyiragongo in the Democratic Republic of Congo. After trekking six hours on the first day, spend the night camping in a tent on the mountain at a breathtaking altitude of 3,700m, and witness an explosion of stars in the clear African skies. A further four-hour trek the second day will take you to the summit, where you can stop to take in the view of the volcanoes, the calm lakes, the dense forests and all the other majestic sights of the land. You will witness the diverse and striking landscape of Rwanda from the highest point in the country.

The climb up Karisimbi is a demanding one that will test your physical fitness, but the rewards are well worth it.

2.5. Volcanoes National Park – Bisoke Climb

Mountain gorillas may be Rwanda's main tourist attraction, but the country also offers many little known secrets that serve as equally rewarding experiences. One of those secrets is Mount Bisoke, Rwanda's third tallest volcano. Bisoke is located in the Virunga mountain chain, which extends across the borders of Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. Because it is not as well known as its larger counterparts, namely Mount Karisimbi, few tourists ever make their way to Bisoke's peak. That, however, is all the better for you as you will have the chance to explore this extinct volcano, home to the biggest crater lake in the Virunga chain at 3,711m, in its natural state.

The climb to Bisoke's summit is a steep one that takes roughly two hours to complete. There are also shorter hikes to closer crater lakes for those unable to make the challenging ascent to the top. Whichever route you decide to take, you will be rewarded with a trek through some of Rwanda's most beautiful rainforest, which is also home to a vast array of bird species. Navigate through the giant lobelia and hagenia trees to discover an ecosystem still relatively untouched by man. Do not let its smaller stature fool you; a climb up Mount Bisoke is a great experience that few others will have had.

2.6. Volcanoes National Park – Dian Fossey's Tomb

In the late 1960s, Rwanda's Virunga mountains became home to one of the world's most famous primatologists, Dian Fossey. Inspired to travel to Africa by a friend's photographs and stories, Fossey took out a loan and made the trip in 1963. Fossey's life, and those of Rwanda's endangered mountain gorillas, would be changed forever. Fossey founded the Karisoke Research Center in the remote rainforests of northwest Rwanda and, for the next twenty years, devoted her life to living with and studying eight gorilla groups in the surrounding mountains.

Fossey revolutionized the way the world viewed gorillas. No longer were they seen as savage beasts, but rather as gentle giants not all that different from their human cousins. She was accepted by the gorillas in a way no person ever had been before. In fact, photographs showing gorillas touching her hand were the first ever recorded peaceful contact between man and gorilla. But as much as Fossey would have liked to live and conduct her research in peace, poachers constantly troubled her. She fought hard for anti-poaching measures to protect the gorillas she had come to know so well.

In 1983, Fossey published Gorillas in the Mist, a detailed look at her scientific research and how it came about. It served as the inspiration for the 1988 film of the same title. Just two years later, however, she was brutally murdered as she slept in the bedroom of her cabin. Today, Fossey's legacy lives on, namely through the conservation efforts of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International. Fossey was buried next to her favorite gorilla, Digit, not far from her research center. Tourists now have the chance to visit her tomb in remembrance of one of the most dedicated and fearless wildlife researchers in the world.

2.7. Nyungwe National Park – General Introduction

Located in the impressive hills of southwest Rwanda, Nyungwe National Park is the country's newest national park, and also one of Rwanda's best-kept secrets. Covering 1,000km2, it is the largest area of montane forest remaining in East and Central Africa. Nyungwe dates back to the last Ice Age, making its ecosystem one of the world's most diverse. A trek through this park will put you under towering mahogany trees wrapped in 100 species of colorful orchids and epiphytes. In fact, with over 200 different types of trees and hundreds of flowering plants, any one of Nyungwe's 50km network of hiking trails is guaranteed to be a unique and memorable experience. Through the rustle of the lush canopy overhead, you will also hear the enchanting calls of almost 300 different bird species, including two dozen of which can only be found on the Albertine Rift.

Hiking Nyungwe's trails can take anywhere from one to seven hours, during which time you might discover any of the park's thirteen different types of primates. From chimpanzees to black-and-white colobus monkeys, Nyungwe contains roughly one quarter of all Africa's primates.

Should one day not suffice, you can also choose to spend the night at the rustic ORTPN Resthouse, or camp right in the forest itself under the magnificent starry sky at Uwinka. Complete another trek on your second day and discover several impressive waterfalls hidden deep in the heart of the forest.

2.8. Nyungwe National Park – Chimpanzee Trek

Nyungwe National Park is home to thirteen different species of primates, one of the most sought after of which is the chimpanzee. Although there may be just 500 chimpanzees in this park, most of what the world knows of these primates has come from research conducted in East Africa, and tourists from around the world come to Nyungwe to try to catch a glimpse.

Let a trained guide take you through the flourishing rainforest as you track down these nimble mammals. Chimpanzee tracking is not an easy feat since the terrain and vast bushes makes spotting them difficult. They also live in communities of up to one hundred individuals, the composition of which is constantly changing. However, the chimpanzees at Nyungwe are becoming increasingly habituated and tourists now have a 50% chance of seeing them. In fact, you will hear them before you ever see them. As their calls get increasingly loud, you will feel the excitement of knowing you are hot on their trail.

Be one of the few to spot these primates in their natural habitat. Seize the rare opportunity to watch them feed, play, and swing through the branches of the bush canopy as they go about their daily lives. After spending the half-day it takes to track chimpanzees, you will come to understand what it was that kept the world famous primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall fascinated by and studying them for over 45 years.

2.9. Nyungwe National Park – Colobus Trek

Few visitors find themselves able to pass up the opportunity to see the Ruwenzori colobus monkey, perhaps the most notable primate of Nyungwe National Park. You will not have to venture far into the park to spot a colobus since a large group of the black-and-white leaf-eaters has recently settled around the park's campsite, and a number of them are usually present to welcome guests upon arrival. But let a well-trained guide take you further into the heart of the park and you will get a more up-close-and-personal look at this uniquely distinct breed of monkey in its natural setting.

An acrobatic species that rarely comes down from the trees, you will get to witness the colobus swinging from branch to branch in the uppermost levels of the rainforest canopy. With their lightweight frame and thumbless hands, it is quite a spectacular feat to watch as they soar through the air. Then, follow them as they leap downwards and see their long hair fan out to act as parachute-like support.

Tracking colobus monkeys in Nyungwe is quite a unique experience. While the species as a whole tends to be highly sociable, the monkeys that have made Nyungwe their home move throughout the park in semi-habituated troops of several hundred animals. In fact, the park is home to the world's largest ever-recorded arboreal troop of black-and-white colobus monkeys. Find one and you can be sure there will be many more to come.

2.10. Nyungwe National Park – Nature Walks

Nyungwe National Park is a true rain forest in that it receives over 2,000mm of rainfall each year. As such, its 50km network of trails offers tourists an unparalleled experience and intimate access to one of the richest ecosystems in all of Africa.

Choose to walk one of the many outlined nature trails through the park and expose yourself to a vast array of flora, fauna and wildlife unlike anything else in the country. There are the colored trails that begin from the Uwinka campsite, which vary depending on length and what you want to see. For instance, while the 2.5km Blue Trail is good for sighting any of the thirteen primates and 270 birds that live in the park, the more challenging 10km Red Trail is known for spotting chimpanzees and weaves its way past four impressive waterfalls. If it is waterfalls you want, however, there is a specifically designed trail that begins from the ORTPN Resthouse and takes you through rolling tea plantations, ravines and across several streams to the base of a unique waterfall. The Waterfall Trail takes anywhere from three to six hours to complete.

A number of other trails also exist, including one that takes you through the nearby Gisakura Tea Estate, an impressive rolling tea plantation just outside the park, which also happens to be home to some 40 colobus monkeys. For something completely different, the Kamiranzovu Trail leads trekkers through marshland replete with colorful orchids. And, for the very fit there is the Bigugu Trail, which takes hikers on a six-hour ascent up to Bigugu peak. At 2,950m, it is the highest point in the park.

Nyungwe offers visitors a vast array of choices in terms of trails, difficulties and wildlife sightings, but whichever you choose, it is sure to be an unforgettable experience.

2.11. Akagera National Park – General Introduction

On the eastern border of Rwanda lies a park so vast it contains three distinct eco-regions. Akagera National Park covers 2,500km2 and is composed of savannah, mountain and swampland, all of which follow the meandering course of the beautiful Akagera River.

The park is home to some of the country's most stunning wildlife and serves as the premier destination for those looking to enjoy a Rwandan safari. Elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, leopards, baboons, zebras, crocodiles and a variety of antelopes are just some of the creatures you may see on a safari through Akagera. The numerous rivers and lakes throughout the park are also home to one of the highest concentrations of hippos anywhere in Africa. Birdwatchers too will be thrilled with the over 500 documented species of birds found throughout the park, including one of the continent's largest concentrations of big water birds.

Akagera can be seen in one of two ways. A boat trip along the serene Lake Ihema will offer you the chance to get up close and personal with hippos and crocodiles as well as numerous birds and a vast array of floating vegetation. Conversely, a game drive will take you through much of the savannah and allow you to stop at your own convenience as you come across wildlife. Akagera is quickly making a name for itself as one of Rwanda's premier tourist destinations and is not to be missed.

2.12. Akagera National Park – Safari

Rwanda may be a country known for its mountain gorillas but it is also home to some of the biggest game in the world. Take a safari through Akagera National Park and you will find yourself in the humbling presence of soaring giraffes, eye-catching zebras and a variety of different antelopes. Drive alongside the Akagera River, the most remote source of the Nile, and find yourself staring into the eyes of hippos that comprise one of the largest concentrations of their kind in the world. During your drive, you might also stumble upon leopards, spotted hyenas, elephants, buffaloes, baboons, crocodiles, bushbucks or the ever-striking impalas. All of these creatures make their home in the mixed savannah, mountain and swampland of this park, which lines Rwanda's eastern border with Tanzania.

A safari through Akagera National Park remains one of the top must-see attractions for tourists on their visit to Rwanda. Treat yourself to an unforgettable adventure through some of the most diverse and exciting wildlife in the country.

2.13. Akagera National Park – Boat Safari

Many visitors come to Rwanda hoping to hit the dirt road in their 4x4 on a spectacular game drive through Akagera National Park. But there is another way to get an inside glimpse at this magnificent park and you do not need a car to do it. Boat trips are offered along Lake Ihema, one of the park's eight scenic lakes. Besides allowing visitors to soak up some sun out on the relaxing water, the trip also affords an extraordinary look at some of the park's most diverse vegetation and wildlife that might otherwise be missed.

Cruise the waters of Lake Ihema and you are all but guaranteed to see some of the largest concentrations of hippos in the world, not to mention the giant crocodiles that your boat will coast by. You will also find yourself in the awe-inspiring presence of water birds too numerous to mention, including fish eagles, malachite kingfisher hawks, African jacanas, marsh flycatchers, blue-headed coucals, herons and storks.

A boat trip through Akagera will present you with wildlife that no game drive ever could, since many of the park's over 500 species of birds make their home along the shores of Lake Ihema. Do not miss the opportunity to stare a pod of hippos straight in the eyes. Follow up a boat trip with a rewarding evening safari and your visit to Akagera National Park will be complete.

2.14. Lake Kivu

As one of the Great Lakes of Africa, and indeed the highest on the continent, Lake Kivu is one of Rwanda's greatest natural treasures and offers visitors an extraordinary experience. Lake Kivu lies on Rwanda's eastern border with the Democratic Republic of Congo and is part of the Great Rift Valley. It covers a surface area of over 2,700km2 and stands 1,460m above sea level. It also ranks as the fifteenth-deepest lake in the world and contains the world's tenth-largest inland island, Idjwi. Lake Kivu has gained notoriety as one of Africa's 'killer lakes' thanks to its location along the rift valley and the resulting volcanic activity. The mix of methane and carbon dioxide in the water is believed to have led to massive biological extinctions roughly once every 1,000 years.

Take a drive along the unpaved road that gently wraps around the shores of this beautiful freshwater lake and experience some of the country's most magnificent scenery. You will weave through hills and mountains, countless eucalyptus trees, and breathtaking hills terraced with bananas as you make your way. Three scenic resort towns line the shores of Kivu and offer visitors a range of relaxing accommodations to take in the sights and sounds of the lake. Whether you choose to stay in Gisenyi in the north, Kibuye further south or Cyangugu at the lake's southernmost point, you will find yourself with stunning views and the most magnificent sunsets in the country.

3. CITIES, MUSEUMS & CULTURE

3.1. Kigali

In 1994, Kigali was devastated by the events of the Rwandan genocide, during which over one million people were killed in the space of one hundred days. Today, however, the city has rebuilt itself into the rapidly expanding economic and cultural hub of Rwanda. With a population of over a million, Rwanda's capital city offers everything visitors could need to feel at home. The hotel industry is booming, with top-rated establishments continually popping up. New office buildings such as the Ecobank tower and Centenary House are being built each day. Banks, bookshops, markets, sports clubs and souvenir shops line the streets, not to mention the wide array of bars and night clubs that come to life in the later hours. Restaurants also offer a vast array of cuisine, ranging from African and Indian to Chinese and Italian.

Kigali today is the picture of a modern African city. Since its founding in 1907 under German colonial rule, it has come a long way. Although the traditional capital was the home of the Mwami (King) in Nyanza, today the President's home and offices can both be found in Kigali. Take one look around, and you will notice that the city seems to be built on a spectacular series of never-ending hills. In fact, Kigali is spread across four ridges and the valleys in between, ranging from an elevation of 1,300m to 1,600m. The city center is concentrated on one of these ridges, and the nearby Mt. Kigali soars to an elevation of 1,850m. With a vast network of mini-vans, taxis and moto taxis, visitors will have no problem getting around. Kigali is also home to the Kigali International Airport, which services daily international flights.

Spend some time in Kigali and get to know one of the most complex and rapidly changing cities in all of Africa.

3.2. Gitarama

It may come as a surprise to many that Gitarama, located 50km south of Kigali in Rwanda's Southern Province, is in fact the second largest city in the country, with a population of almost 100,000. While it may be an unassuming city that rarely makes the radar of most visitors, it is of note for several reasons and well worth a visit.

Gitarama is of historical importance for the role it played on January 28, 1961, the day when the people of Rwanda first gathered together to declare themselves a republic. Gitarama is also the birthplace of Rwanda's first president, Grégoire Kayibanda, whose modest tomb can still be viewed there today. Only 3km away from Gitarama is the giant Kabgayi Cathedral. Built in 1925, it is the oldest cathedral in the country and was the seat of the first Catholic bishop. Its enormous and tranquil interior makes the cathedral well worth a visit. A small museum next door is also of note for its ancient hand tools and weapons, musical instruments, old clay pots and baskets, old indoor games, ancient clothing and military uniforms, and information on traditional medicines.

Because of its location at the junction of the roads heading southward to Butare and westward to Kibuye, many visitors pass through Gitarama without ever stopping. Indeed, this city may not have the cultural offerings of Kigali or the beaches of Gisenyi, but Gitarama nevertheless offers an enriching experience that makes a day trip worthwhile.

3.3. Butare/ Huye

Kigali may be the seat of political power in Rwanda, but Butare has long been considered the intellectual capital of the country. A city of 77,000 in the Southern Province of Rwanda, Butare is well worth a visit for all of its deep-rooted historical and educational offerings. Formerly called Astrida after the Belgian Queen Astrid, the city is known for a range of historic sites such as the country's first and most important colonial education center (1929), the Ruhande Arboretum (1934), the big Catholic Cathedral (1937) and various old houses from colonial times. Later, the city became home to the National University of Rwanda (1963) and the National Museum (1989), hosting the finest collection of ethnography in the whole of East Africa as well as workshops for traditional skills, a botanical garden and a famous dance troupe.

Butare remained the largest and most important city in Rwanda until 1965, when Kigali became the post-independence capital. Today, Butare offers visitors a unique contrasting experience. On the one hand, visitors can gain a richer understanding of the political and cultural history of Rwanda. On the other, they can discover the educational institutions and the students that are promising to move this country forward towards a brighter future.

3.4. Ruhengeri/Musanze

If spotting gorillas is your goal, then chances are you will soon become familiar with the city of Ruhengeri, recently renamed Musanze. Located in the Northern Province of Rwanda, Ruhengeri is the major jump-off point for the renowned mountain gorilla trekking at Volcanoes National Park. Ruhengeri is the fourth largest city in Rwanda, with an estimated population of 93,000. It is also one of Rwanda's most naturally beautiful towns. Nestled among the soaring volcanoes of the park, the outlines of three distant volcanoes in the Virunga mountain chain can usually be spotted in the backdrop.

Although most visitors use the town as little more than their urban base for gorilla trekking excursions, Ruhengeri is a good place to soak up the real flavor of African life. With a vibrant market and the opportunity to stroll the ins and outs of the dusty town roads, Ruhengeri offers visitors a chance to feel the pulse of a lively African city.

3.5. Gisenyi/ Rubavu

The town of Gisenyi is a colonial beach resort situated on the northern tip of Lake Kivu in Rwanda's Western Province. Its three sandy beaches are lined with fading old mansions and hotels that give the town a romantic old world feel. And yet, the town's recent boom in upscale hotels has once again placed Gisenyi on the map and made it a premier destination for visitors.

Gisenyi's sister city across the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo is Goma, a city that has experienced much turmoil of late due to conflict and volcanic activity. But Gisenyi's beauty is well known among locals, with residents of Goma regularly making the trek across the border to take advantage of Gisenyi's beaches.

Gisenyi made history during the 1994 genocide as the home of the country's provisional government. Today, it continues to make history as the home of Bralirwa, Rwanda's only brewery. That is where the country's famous 750-milliliter bottles of Primus and Mützig beer are manufactured.

With a vast public beach, as well as several private beaches reserved for certain luxurious hotels, Gisenyi offers no shortage of opportunities to relax and soak up the sun along the shores of Lake Kivu. Safe from the deadly Nyiragongo volcano that threatens Goma, Gisenyi is a booming resort town that welcomes visitors back again and again. Take a day trip to Gisenyi and before you know it, you just might wind up staying a week.

3.6. Kibuye/ Huye

Kibuye is a lazy beach resort town along the shores of the stunning Lake Kivu in Rwanda's Western Province. As one of the three resort towns that line the lake, Kibuye is often thought to be the prettiest. Make the two-hour drive from Kigali and you will feel as if you have entered a whole new world. Kibuye is devoid of the hustle and bustle that can often be overwhelming in Kigali. Instead, Kibuye offers visitors a peaceful and quiet chance to relax along one of the country's most beautiful freshwater lakes. A small range of accommodations awaits visitors, all of which offer spectacular sights and sunsets over the water. Take a boat trip along Lake Kivu to the nearby Napoleon's Hat Island to see its colony of fruit bats, or to Amahoro Island, where you can enjoy a drink at its scenic bar, and where you can even camp overnight. For the more adventurous, water skiing is also available.

Kibuye offers some historical sights of interest, including a museum of regional artifacts and the Bisesero genocide memorial just 30km away. Bisesero is a church situated on a beautiful mountain above Kibuye. Here, visitors can learn about and reflect on the horrors that took place at this site during the 1994 genocide and take in the breathtaking views of Lake Kivu below.

As tourist towns go, Kibuye is still relatively free of the traditional trappings. Do not miss your chance to soak up the sights and sounds of this calm and peaceful lakeshore town.

3.7. Cyangugu/ Rusizi

Cyangugu is an old border town located at the southernmost tip of Lake Kivu in Rwanda's Western Province. Its sister city is Bukavu, across the border in the Democratic Republic of Congo, from which it is separated by the Ruzizi River.

The town once served an important role as a trading gateway, and the many fading facades of old buildings are left to tell the story. Today, with a population of roughly 20,000, Cyangugu has become a slow-paced, low-density district known for its natural beauty. It is not far, however, from the more industrial and high-density Kamembe, which hosts the Kamembe Airport and services regular flights to Kigali.

A drive from Kigali to Cyangugu will take you through massive rolling tea plantations, banana fields, brickworks and rural villages. From Cyangugu, you can take short boat trips out on the scenic Lake Kivu and make a day trip across the border into Bukavu. Or, if you want to simply relax, away from the fast-paced life of Kigali, a refreshing sandy beach awaits. Besides the spectacular views of Lake Kivu which Cyangugu affords, the town is also a top tourist destination due to its proximity to Nyungwe National Park, one of the last remaining forest areas of Rwanda, and the home of many of the country's most impressive bird species and primates.

3.8. National Museum, Butare/Huye

Butare is a quiet university town that most visitors only drive through to get to Nyungwe National Park. However, in doing so, they miss out on one of Rwanda's most important historical sites, the National Museum. Rwanda is a country with deeply-embedded cultures and traditions and a rich history. A trip to the National Museum in Butare will bring you one step closer to understanding the people of Rwanda.

While many of Rwanda's tourist attractions focus on raising awareness of the 1994 genocide, the Museum takes visitors further back into pre-colonial times, to help them better understand the development of Rwanda as a modern African state. The Museum has seven main exhibitions. The first takes you through the basic geography of the country, including climate, vegetation and wildlife. From there, you will learn about different food sources, such as bee keeping, fishing, gathering, hunting and trapping, and various types of habitation. You will also discover different types of handicrafts, including pottery, wood carving, and weaving, as well as learn more about the traditional costume and jewelry of Rwanda. The final exhibition takes you on a detailed tour through prehistoric Rwanda, and will allow you to see first-hand many of the artifacts and metal works used at the time. By the end of your visit, you will have a better understanding of the Rwandan people, their culture, their history, and their current state of development. No trip to Rwanda can be considered complete without a visit to this national treasure.

3.9. King's Palace, Nyanza

Before the Europeans arrived in Rwanda, the region was organized as a centralized state under the rule of a monarch. Although the royal court was traditionally mobile, it soon came to settle in Nyanza, a town just 90km west of Kigali, near the intellectual capital of Butare. It was in fact in Nyanza that the first European met with the reigning Rwandan Mwami (King) Musinga.

A visit to Nyanza today will reveal a well-restored royal palace that now serves as a national museum. The palace is in the form of an enormous grass-laden dome that has been painstakingly rebuilt to 75% the size of the original. A guided tour through the traditional palace will reveal to you much about the ancient Rwandan kingdom and its legacy today. Of note is also the Mwami's traditional bed, made of stretched animal skin.

A stone's throw away from the reconstructed hut lays the more modern palace, which was constructed in 1932 for Mwami Rudahigwa Mutara III. It is situated on beautiful grounds and is surrounded by the ruins of other older palaces. Visit this royal town to learn more about Rwanda as a pre-colonial state and how its people lived. A trip to the nearby National Museum of Rwanda in Butare will complete the experience.

3.10. Museum of Natural History (Kandt House), Kigali

A German-born doctor, soldier, poet, scholar, naturalist and avid explorer, Dr. Richard Kandt became the first European who lived in Rwanda since 1907. He was appointed the first Resident Governor of Rwanda and saw his administrative residence expand into a series of twenty commercial houses. It was in fact the country's commercial capital until Belgian rule began in 1921. During his time in Rwanda, Kandt dedicated his life to researching the natural environment of the country. He was the first to determine the source of the Nile in Nyungwe National Park and arguably the first to introduce coffee farming to the region.

It has been over one hundred years since Kandt first moved to Rwanda, but his accomplishments remain no less impressive. Today, Kandt's former residence on Nyarugenge Hill in Kigali has become the Museum of Natural History of Rwanda. It is a tribute to Kandt's explorations and naturalist research and serves to depict the evolution of the region's environment and wildlife. Inside the museum are exhibitions dedicated to the country's geology, mining, volcanoes and more. A visit to the Kandt House offers visitors a rewarding look back at both the country's colonial and natural history.

3.11. Kigali Memorial Center, Gisozi

In 1994, over one million Rwandans were killed in a period of one hundred days. Today, the Kigali Memorial Center stands as a monument of remembrance to all those who perished. The Center was built on the tenth anniversary of the genocide by the UK-based Aegis Trust in partnership with the Kigali City Council. It continues to serve as one of the most important and popular visitor destinations in all of Rwanda.

Over 250,000 genocide victims are buried in mass graves, which surround the Center. Many of their stories are also documented in the Center's exhibitions. Let a genocide survivor take you on a tour through the Center and hear their own personal stories of suffering and survival. See the photographs of the faces of many of the victims that have been put up by remaining family members. Understand the history behind the genocide and witness the progress that has been made since.

To date, more than 100,000 visitors have come to the Center, including Rwandans and foreigners alike. It serves as a permanent memorial to those who fell victim to the genocide, as a place for people to grieve those they lost, and as a warning of the cost of genocides around the world. A visit to the Kigali Memorial Center is an unforgettable and moving experience that no visitor to Rwanda should miss.

3.12. Kanombe Museum, Kigali

The former state house and residence of late President Habyarimana is located in Kigali about 4km from the Kanombe Airport and some 20km from central Kigali. The Rwandan government decided to set up this museum as part of a drive to promote reconciliation and Rwandan unity. This museum will serve future generations in the struggle to ensure that there will never be another genocide.

Visitors to the museum will gain insight into Habyarimana's government, receive an overview of the other museums of Rwanda and experience aspects of the vibrant Rwandan culture. Part of the wreckage of Habyarimana's plane which was shot down on April 6, 1994 is also on display.

3.13. Camp Kigali

Camp Kigali is the venue of the massacre of 10 Belgian UN Blue Berets on the first day of the genocide in 1994. Under the command of Canadian General Romeo Dallaire, they were deployed to guard the house of moderate Prime Minister Agatha Uwilingimana. After the violence began, Presidential Guard soldiers invaded the home, disarmed the Belgians and transported them to Camp Kigali where they were killed. Today, the Camp is a Belgian commemoration site that hosts a small museum and provides you with a first introduction to the horrible events of 1994.

3.14. Nyamata Church

Nyamata is situated in the Bugesera district of Rwanda about 35km from the capital city of Kigali. From the beginning of the 1960s, Tutsis from different areas of Rwanda were forced to leave their homes and live in this region which was considered undesirable by others due to adverse climatic effects and high disease burdens. As a result, Bugesera became a region whose population was predominantly Tutsi.

When the genocide started in April 1994, many people from Nyamata and surrounding areas came to gather in the town center. The Catholic Church and nearby houses belonging to the priests and sisters became havens for the frightened people hoping to escape death. They used the church as a refuge, thinking the militia would not kill them in a place usually considered a sanctuary. However, according to the testimonies given by survivors, on April 10, 1994 about 10,000 people were killed in and around the area of the Catholic Church.

Today, this site is visited by many tourists who want to better understand the events of 1994 and who want to honor the victims and survivors of the genocide.

3.15. Ntarama Church

Less than an hour's drive south of Rwanda's capital city, Kigali, the red-brick church at Ntarama is peacefully situated, shadowed by acacia trees. Ntarama Church, however, is the site where some of the most brutal killings of the 1994 genocide took place. The church was seen as a safe place by almost 5,000 people, many of whom were women and children seeking sanctuary. But Ntarama was not safe at all. The victims of the genocide remain there, their bones still strewn with lifeless chaos where they fell in 1994. Their belongings cover the floor: clothes, suitcases, a child's white sock – the last remnants of a desperate flight for life.

3.16. Murambi

The genocide memorial at Murambi is easily the most graphic memorial in Rwanda. It is located at the site of an unfinished school, where an estimated 40,000 Tutsis sought refuge with the encouragement of their community leaders and with the understanding that if they came willingly it would be known that they were not supporting the RPF. They were allowed to stay at the school for two weeks, at which point the local genocidaires, convinced that they had rounded up all the Tutsis, came in buses and began an organized attack on the school. There are only two known survivors of this massacre, both of whom now work as guides at the memorial. Visitors are led through the different classrooms, in which the bodies of the victims (preserved using powdered lime) are displayed on small tables. The bodies are so well preserved that in some instances facial expressions can still be clearly observed. In the largest schoolroom, the clothing of the victims has been hung from the rafters. To one side of the school buildings, the original mass grave pit created by the genocidaires and later exhumed by Rwandan authorities, can be seen. On the opposite side of the memorial is the new mass grave, where most of the victims were reburied according to Rwandan tradition.

3.17. Other Genocide Memorials

Kibuye Memorial Church

Perched on a hill and built by the victims' relatives, the Kibuye memorial honors the 4,000 killed in the adjacent church and has been called one of Rwanda's most moving memorials.

Bisesero Memorial

Bisesero is a mountainous region situated about 31km from the lakeside town of Kibuye. Historically, the majority of people who lived in Bisesero were Tutsis. They were called Abasesero, a name from which the region derived its name. The place is now known as the Hill of Resistance because of the heroic resistance mounted by the people of Bisesero during the 1994 genocide. About 50,000 people were killed at this genocide memorial site. The beautiful mountain setting with breathtaking views of Lake Kivu is in sharp contrast to the horrifying violence that took place at this site during Rwanda's 1994 genocide.

3.18. Intore Dancers, Butare

Music and dance play an important role in Rwandan traditions. The Rwandan people have a variety of songs and dances, ranging from those that commemorate excellence and bravery, to those with humorous lyrics. Traditional songs are often accompanied by a solitary lulunga, a harp-like instrument with eight strings. More celebratory dances are backed by a drum orchestra, which typically comprises seven to nine members, and produces a hypnotic and exciting explosion of intertwining rhythms.

Lucky visitors may chance upon spontaneous traditional performances in the villages of Rwanda. However, the finest example of Rwanda's varied and dynamic traditional music and dance is the Intore Dance Troupe. Founded several centuries ago, the Intore – literally "the chosen ones" – once performed exclusively for the Royal Court, but today their exciting act can be arranged on short notice through the National Museum in Butare. A more modern form of Rwandan music is the upbeat and harmonious devotional singing that can be heard in any church service around the country.

3.19. Ababerewe Dance Troupe, Kigali

The Intore dance troupe Ababerewe, literally "those who are well dressed," is a thrill to watch perform live. They can produce a collective hypnotic sound that will make your heart pound to its rhythm. The beautiful female dancers perform draped in brightly colored traditional wear called mushanana while the male dancers perform wearing traditional headdresses called imigara. Intore, literally "the chosen ones", is a tradition that defines Rwandan culture and tells stories of epic love, marriage and bravery.

3.20. Ballet Twizerane, Gisenyi

Ballet Twizerane is a traditional dance troupe from Nyundo in Gisenyi. It became popular on a local scale since 2000 and at the national level since 2006, when it was one of the top three finalists of the Panafrican Dance Festival FESPAD. With a professional culture show, the troupe is invited to perform at weddings, conferences and for regular hotel entertainment at the Lake Kivu Serena Hotel.

3.21. RwaMakondera Children's Dance Troupe, Kigali

RwaMakondera (Rwandan Horns) Children's Dance Troupe is an exciting new project from Ivuka Arts that aims to launch Rwandan art to global heights by bringing Rwanda's traditional dances to an international audience. After seeing children beg for money on the streets of Kigali each day, Ivuka Arts Founder Collin Sekajugo was moved to help these youngsters by teaching them a skill that could help them earn an income. He quickly recognized that a dance troupe could be just the thing – providing not only skills, but also a much-needed sense of belonging for these marginalized youths.

RwaMakondera brings together children from disadvantaged backgrounds and places them in an artistic community that nurtures their talents and gives them a platform for self-expression. By training under caring adults who take a genuine interest in their well being, these youngsters are given a renewed sense of hope and possibility for their future. RwaMakondera is founded on the belief that every child – including the voiceless and under-represented – has an important message to share. As such, the project is committed to helping children develop the skills and confidence that will allow them to raise their horns and sound them clearly throughout the world.

4. COMMUNITY-BASED TOURISM

4.1. Amahoro – Market Visit and Cooking Session, Ruhengeri

Greg Bakunzi is a fascinating young man who spent the first 20 years of his life in a refugee camp in neighboring Uganda. He came to his home country Rwanda for the first time after the 1994 genocide with a vision. Greg wanted to become involved in the slowly emerging tourism industry and engage as many of his fellow local countrymen in the process as possible. In 2003, he founded the small local tour operator Amahoro Tours and, a year later, a community-based tourism organization.

Greg's team will take you on an exciting visit to the local market where you will not only experience the special atmosphere of this bustling place but also buy the food that you will have to prepare for your traditional lunch at Greg's guesthouse. There, women from the community will invite you to help them in the kitchen as they explain the preparation methods of the local cuisine. While some dishes might be a little bit exotic, the women have been trained to ensure the highest possible hygiene under the circumstances, and the food is simply excellent.

4.2. Banana Beer Brewing, Ruhengeri

Rwanda is one of the major producers of bananas in the Great Lakes region and has one of the highest consumption rates. Bananas occupy 23% of the country's arable land and contribute more than 50% of annual crop production in terms of fresh weight. Banana is both a food and a cash crop for most producers and, as such, is a key component of Rwanda's food security. It is also the primary source of income for farmers in some of the most productive agricultural zones in Rwanda.

The predominance of beer bananas is controversial. High population pressure makes land use and food production a key concern. Some people at the Ministry of Agriculture have advocated replacing beer bananas with cooking bananas and/or more nutritious annual food crops.

4.3. Traditional Healer, Gisenyi

Traditional medicine, often bordering on magic, is still very much alive in Rwanda, and is practiced by no less than 5 different characters, the umupfumu (soothsayer), the umuhannyi (adviser), the umuvuzi (healer), the umurozi (sorcerer), and the magendu (unqualified, untrustworthy), each of them specialized in a particular set of diseases or problems. The traditional healers are knowledgeable in the use of medicinal plants, either alone or in combination with other substances. The most widely used of these plants is Umuravumba Iboza Riparia, which is thought to be effective against more than 15 common diseases.

The traditional healer that you will visit in Gisenyi is named Berkimas and he will be waiting for you at his house with his wife, some of his children and a few grandchildren. His daughter, Jeanne assists with the collection of some medicinal plants and most of the people in his house understand some of his treatments for diseases caused by general health issues or bad spirits. He will be waiting for you with different plants, trees and animal items in order to explain how they are used to heal patients. He will also have some of his consulting tools and explain his diagnostic techniques.

4.4. Banana Bark Art, Ruhengeri

This unique art form consists of using tiny, carefully cut slices of the dried bark of a banana tree and pasting them together to create a work of art. The labor-intensive nature of this art form makes it a time-consuming process that is very hard to accomplish without flaws. Luckily, flaws only add to the beauty and originality of each piece. The layers of bark come in a wide variety of colors that give the artisans significant freedom and creativity. When complete, banana bark art beautifully depicts African life and makes the perfect souvenir or gift.

Visit a women's association that makes baskets and mats from banana tree bark. You will get the opportunity to learn how the weaving is done and try your own skills.

4.5. Island Community, Lake Bulera

Located in northwest Rwanda close to Ruhengeri, Lake Bulera is home to Rusumo Falls and several picturesque islands. A boat or dugout canoe can take you to any one of these islands to enjoy the scenery and perhaps a packed picnic lunch. You also have the chance to learn more about the life of the islanders, to visit their school and to learn about their daily challenges.

4.6. Beekeeping, Ruhengeri

Beekeeping is one of the five value chains (milk, beef, fish, hides and skins, and honey) chosen by Rwanda for rural economic growth, and is receiving attention as its underlying advantages surface in the wider development perspective. The numerous positive points include minimal input requirements in terms of land, labor and skills, and potential for the involvement of poor women. Beekeeping provides supplementary income support to resource-strapped rural households and it remains one of the only activities that has no known detrimental effects to the environment if properly managed.

Beekeeping in Rwanda has been practiced for many years through successive generations and along inherited patterns. The activity has basically been traditional and of a non-commercial nature, with honey being used as a food product, medicine and for brewing traditional liquor. Many development organizations have been involved in supporting beekeeping activities with producer organizations but, in spite of these attempts, the sector remains underdeveloped. Production is mainly through traditional methods and the few modern techniques introduced have not been successful due to unsustainable implementation of projects.

In Ruhengeri, members of beekeeping associations produce beehives that they place in swamps or forest areas rich in certain types of plants. Visit a beekeeping farm where you will be able to learn more about the bees and the honey harvesting process.

4.7. Iby'Iwacu Village, Kinigi

Iby'Iwacu Cultural Village was started by Edwin Sabuhoro in an effort to improve the livelihood of communities around Volcanoes National Park, while at the same time reducing human pressure on the park resources. Through the village, former poachers directly benefit from tourism as an incentive for conservation. Iby'Iwacu displays lifestyles, activities, artifacts and ways of living of local people, an experience that eco-tourists often miss while in Rwanda. Iby'Iwacu village is not only a platform to showcase traditional lifestyles and dances to tourists and community members in a way that encourages participation, but also an income generating activity designed to promote conservation, increase local capacity, decrease unemployment and empower local people politically, economically and socially.

4.8. Banda Village, NNP

Banda village is located at the edge of Nyungwe National Park. It takes about two hours on a rough and windy road surrounded by attractive fauna and flora to reach the destination. Upon arrival in the village, visitors are welcomed by the community members and begin to learn about the challenges associated with protecting both the Nyungwe forest and the future of their community. Visitors also learn about the construction of the Kageno community center, the health clinic and the nursery school, and they begin to understand the changes that are likely to occur as a result of the socio-economic development taking place in Banda today.