When you focus on travel, you focus on so many things. There are other experiences beyond the Gorillas in Rwanda, the variety of other experiences across the Land of a thousand hills are usually in different contexts and settings and totally depends on the perception of the learner / traveler. Educational experiences are one of those elevating travels to Rwanda many people that take part in them enjoy every bit of the moment.
Rwanda’s history alone offers numerous opportunities to explore cultures and traditional ways of life which may disappear if not well documented. Even when they are now few tourists that inquire about these cultural experiences, those that do explore fully and this has made cultural tourism to rise day by day in Rwanda. The past tragedies have been forgotten; now people are focused on promoting tourism through culture, history, dance, arts and crafts, foods. traditional teachings, community visits, village tours, coffee and tea experiences. We are a leading Safari Tour company in Rwanda.
Below are some of the regional and local skills which are being explored, even though a few are on the verge of being forgotten if not well familiarized.
Imigongo – cow dung painting:
Traditional arts and crafts are produced throughout the country, one of them being this special imigongo bold, geometric art that adorns many traditional hut houses in the villages and many luxury lodges/hotels of Rwanda. The imigongo is a unique cow dung art with history of 18th and 19th century by Kings of the Gisaka Kingdom. The King had his hut walls adorned in this mixture of cow dung, ash and clay. The paste -like compound has so far been used in any places for different arts and decoration items because the King taught the local women of the kingdom his method of doing it who later passed it on through the generations.
Currently the process of creating the imigongo is remarkably fun for the visitors/ tourists with the use of the abundant cow dung, ashes and natural dyes materials with great artistry an item comes out with great results, they proceed to buy them as souvenirs after enjoying their trips in Rwanda.
Kivu crop to cup coffee experience tour:
The mind-blowing coffee experience takes you a day to visit, explore and learn about the process of coffee from the coffee plant to the cup of coffee that you take at the end of the experience. This tour is so educative because it enlightens the coffee growth very well. The tour starts from Gisenyi on a boat trip along Lake Kivu in Rwanda to Nyamirundi Island where you visit a coffee plantation by the local coffee cooperative. This place is believed to grow the best coffee beans in the world as the volcanic soils of the island give the coffee incredible body shape and great flavor at the time of tasting. You meet with the farmers that assist in the coffee farms, depending on the time of the year, you will watch them harvest or sorting the coffee, feel free to take part. The Ingoboka coffee cooperatives own several coffee plantations and washing stations in this very area. Proceed to the nearby washing station, take part in the washing process of the coffee beans, this process takes over 20 plus steps which seem sophisticated and fun. Go ahead and participate in the roasting process, this is a traditional process, roast your own on the set open fire, later proceed to have the great taste of the coffee in your won cup. This is the end of the Kivu coffee experience, from crop-to-cup.
Local music and dance:
Music is on way through which you will brighten up an occasion or events. Both locals and foreigners who visit Rwanda enjoy music especially when it is performed/ presented in a traditional manner in traditional wear. Music communicates a lot of things and it is always good to interpret the meaning of the song and the choreography in the dance. There are several types of dances in Rwanda but the most popular one is called the Intore dance which is sometimes called the “dance of heroes” it is usually performed by the men of Rwanda. It is a war dance men perform while holding weapons (currently they do not carry real weapons but rather replicas). Everywhere you go, the sound of music is usually associated with poetry and expressiveness, music, poetry and dance have continuously been the most spectacular expressions of the Rwandan culture. There are several other dance styles with different meanings for different occasions which you will meet once you visit Rwanda.
Rwanda arts and crafts:
Besides the art in music, there is fascinating arts and crafts that are always done by the local Rwandans through handcrafts which has made the handcraft sector to grow day in day out. It is a small but steadily growing sector in Rwanda. The country is very proud of the rich cultural heritage and history hence the unique handcraft works. The arts and crafts include a lot of things like decorative art for the household objects, painted war weapons for decoration, engraved drawings, clothing, jewelry, foot wear, mats, basketry, wood products, pottery, woven and embroidery among others. Visitors enjoy learning about these arts and most of them have the country’s history and traditions they are linked to. Azizi Life an industry partner and friend has helped a lot by partnering with artisans and local designers to provide great products crafted by hands using the Rwandan local, natural and renewable materials. Visitors like to buy these as souvenirs.
Clay pottery tour:
Tourism in Rwanda keeps expanding day by day, most tourist now love to explore, discover and learn more of the local touristic activities. Having a chance to participate in the experimental tourism with their hands on, is so rewarding to them. The pygmy people also known as Batwa or Twa the oldest inhabitants of the Great Lakes region of central Africa must be credited for these pottery works; they make them and sell throughout the country. They are great builders; they build mud houses in the different villages. Today, potters in Rwanda have acquired modern tools to give great work from the clay, they have switched from the traditional ceramics to molding different decorations and flower vases. Most travelers take part to be delicate with the process trying out beautiful pieces with their own hands with instructions from the local artisans. Gatagara Pottery is one of the potteries practicing area which is very near Kigali city, this experience can be added to other great experiences in the country.
There are many other educational travel experiences in Rwanda, you will engage in them when you are here, we customize those memorable itineraries as per your own need. We believe there is more to explore in Rwanda beyond the mountain gorillas and wildlife.
