A Village Walk around Nyungwe Forest
A Village Walk around Nyungwe Forest is a very exciting, priceless, and rewarding way of discovering the culture and traditions of the people living around Nyungwe Forest National Park. This thrilling tour allows visitors to learn about the village and the people, as told by the local guide, and get the chance to interact with the enchanting communities living around this Protected Area. Book Now
Chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda, forest hiking, and canopy walks are undeniably the main activities that draw visitors to Nyungwe Forest National Park but the highlight of the trip usually turns out to be the village walk where guests are provided the incredible opportunity to interact with the people, gain first-hand knowledge on their ancient cultures and traditions, some of which are still practiced here, get an insight into their day-to-day lives and difficulties they might face. For your village walk around Nyungwe Forest National Park, you can visit Banda and Bisesero villages among others.
Banda Village.
Easily accessible during hikes from the Uwinka Reception area or a mountain road, visiting Banda Village is one of the unmissable walks around Nyungwe Forest National Park. This small and rich cultural village is actually in the heart of Nyungwe Forest and inspires visitors with its entertaining dances, friendly and charming people, breathtaking cultures, and traditions.
Spending just hours in Banda Village holds memories that last a lifetime, as visitors get the chance to learn how the locals spend their day-to-day lives, take magnificent photo opportunities, taste their mouth-watering foods, interact and learn from the women weaving baskets, be introduced to banana beer brewing and even taste it. Learn about the culture behind the beer ceremonies and you will be amazed by the process of brewing it. During your village walk to Banda, you will be thrilled by their traditional dance performances, traditional marriage rites, and how they have changed over the years.
Another thing that will take your breath away during the guided walk around Banda Village is how the locals are enthusiastic about their values and the passion they exhibit while helping you understand them, the opportunity to weave your own basket with guidance from the local women and even purchase some of the handicrafts.
Bisesero Village.
Known as the “hills of resistance”, Bisesero Village is a small, hilly, and verdant village close to Nyungwe Forest National Park, about 30 kilometers southeast of Kibuye. This is not an ordinary village but rather a fundamental figure in shaping the history of genocide in the country. While on your village walk here, you will learn how some brave Tutsi resisted the Interahamwe Militia during the 1994 genocide with simple weapons such as sticks, rocks, and spears, against machetes and guns used by the Militia. Thanks to the hilly terrain of Bisesero village, the people took advantage and strategic cover on the Muyira hilltop and thus were able to fight against the enemy. This place is filled with history and might be an emotional moment you can also get the chance to visit the “Bisesero Memorial Center”, the final resting place for over 40,000 victims of the genocide.
Other incredible opportunities for village walks around Nyungwe Forest National Park are provided by Kitabi Cultural Village, the Nyungwe Cultural Village, Nyungwe Eco Village, the Cyamundo Culture Group, and Friends of Nyungwe Troops among others.
The 1000-square-kilometer Nyungwe Forest National Park is not just known for its phenomenal village walks but for other unmissable activities as well. These activities include chimpanzee trekking tours, Black and white colobus monkey tracking, canopy walks, bird-watching adventures, and guided forest walks/hiking to explore one of the 15 hiking trails.
Rwanda is home to an abundant array of unique and captivating wildlife, even on our doorstep. You do not have to go without tracking mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. You can spare time for a 1 day Rwanda gorilla trek with our specialist guide, you’ll be taken for a life-changing experience to discover the most prolific, iconic, and rare primates, so get your cameras ready!
