Iby’iwacu Cultural Village

The attractive Iby’iwacu cultural village is located in Musanze district, Nyabigoma in Kinigi around the magnificent Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. It is noteworthy that the word Iby’iwacu means “treasures of our hereditary home” which is a name well deserved for this contemporary village. The captivating village is the leading cultural center in Rwanda, the heart of Africa. It is located in the northern province of Rwanda and it’s just approximately 103.5 kilometers from Kigali city which is about a 2 hours and 17 minutes’ drive.

A brief history of the captivating Iby’iwacu cultural village.

This spectacular village was formally an area of poachers who used to deal in stealing gorillas and other wildlife to go and exchange them for pennies to make ends meet. However, in 2005, with the introduction of tourism and gorilla habituation taking shape in the forests of Volcanoes National Park, poachers were forced to evacuate the place and left it for culturally minded people and traditionalists who currently design culture tour packages that they sell to visitors through tour operators.

Uniqueness and attraction of Iby’iwacu cultural village.

The grand Iby’iwacu cultural village is popular and famous for its traditional way of life that encompasses grass-thatched huts where the indigenous Banyarwanda used to live and they have been conserved to tell stories and give a glimpse of what life was like centuries prior for future generations.

The dramatic village also stands apart for its charming lifestyle which encompasses evocative dances, creative dress codes and the territorial arrangements of the ancient kingdoms. These are staunch tourist attractions that visitors marvel at while in the village.

What activities can be done at Iby’iwacu Cultural Village?

Several exhilarating activities can be indulged in by visitors to this spectacular village and they incorporate the following;

Local brew tasting. Visitors who love liquor often enjoy tasting the local brew at this impressive village that is made out of local hubs and crops especially sorghum and millet which is not only strong liquor but also a medicinal herb for the body. All these add up to the overall exhilarating experiences of visitors in the village.

Visiting the amorous Batwa community. This comes along with spectacular entertainment from the local people, interesting folklore and meeting traditional medicine men who provide herbs that cure diseases at a relatively lower fee than other medical facilities. They further entertain visitors with their culturally spirited dances and tell stories of how they survive in the forests which could possibly be a survival guide to travelers in thick jungles.

Visiting the king’s palace. It is noteworthy that the indigenous Banyarwanda had a supreme leader who had superiority over the rest of the people in society and he used to live in a different ambient place. This place has been conserved up to today and it can be accessed by visitors to the village.

This offers opportunities for visitors to have a feel of how the ancient monarchs used to live their lives. Photography and videography are also allowed at the site which enables visitors to keep memories.

Watching and participating in the mesmerizing music, dance and drama of the beautiful Banyarwanda people. They perform synchronized dances to the visitors who come to their land and this offers opportunities for tourists to indulge in and share the fun.

Home visits and community encounters. These are guided by experienced professional tourist guides in the area and they take you through the whole community as you have a glimpse into what life is like while staying in the panoramic Iby’iwacu.

Bird watching can also be done. This is because there are several bird species that inhabit the forests next to the spectacular village as you approach Volcanoes National Park. This allows visitors an unusual chance to observe birds like the cinnamons, great blue turacos, egrets, Abyssinian ground hornbill, malachite kingfisher, African fish eagles, secretary birds and cranes. Blend these with the experience at the cultural village and you will live to tell a story of the beautiful land of Iby’iwacu.

Boat excursions. These are conducted on the nearby Lake Ihema in Musanze. They further offer visitors opportunities to view the beautiful scenery of the village from a distance and take nice looking pictures of it in the background.