Cultural/Village tours around Nyungwe National Park

Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda has a number of villages around it that could be explored for their uniqueness. Some of the villages surrounding Nyungwe National Park include the following,

Banda Village Tour

Banda village is just close to the Nyungwe National Park offices at Uwinka. Locals from this village are among the most exciting you will ever encounter. En route to Nyungwe National Park, you will explore their rich traditional lifestyles. You need to step out of your car and tour the lovely Banda village and its beautiful people. They produce plenty of handmade items through basket weaving and other methods. You can purchase them as souvenirs.

In Banda village, entertainment by the villagers comes through singing, dancing, and storytelling. This will enhance the tour experience as you get different perspectives from people through interactions. Learn some of the words in Kinyarwanda. You may also experience the traditional marriages in case you arrive at the right time. Move around the village and see how the people live and cook their traditional food.

Bisesero Village Tour

Bisesero village near Nyungwe National Park is situated on Bisesero hill, just overlooking Lake Kivu. This village is unique thanks to the presence of the Bisesero Genocide Memorial Center. This is a result of the Rwandan genocide that happened in 1994. During this time, thousands of Tutsis were brutally murdered here while trying to resist with stones, spears, and farming tools, and many others.

While touring the site, you will see a grave containing bones belonging to tens of thousands of people who died at the time. You can also interact with the people to learn their way of life. Try to learn one or 2 words from them, which will make them more excited to interact with you. Take photos of the distant Lake Kivu from the hill. You can also move around to feel the serenity of the atmosphere while viewing birds. View the tea and banana plantations en route.

Gisakura Village Tour

Gisakura village near Nyungwe National Park is another great place to tour. This is where you will interact with the local people while exploring the Gisakura Tea Estate. In the tea estate, you will excitedly participate in tea farming. This is your chance to learn how tea is planted, nurtured, and harvested. An opportunity to test the black tea is presented in a beautiful teacup. Consume this tea to know how nice it is compared to others you have taken so far.

Regarding interactions, the community will narrate the history of the tea estate and the people. They will also tell you what the benefits of the tea estate are to ensure that they conserve Nyungwe Forest. While walking through the tea estate, you can also take photos of the emerald scenery.

What other activities to do in Nyungwe National Park?

While on village or cultural tours around Nyungwe National Park, plan to include as many activities as possible to be more thrilled. The following are some of the activities you should not miss while at Nyungwe National Park,

Chimpanzee trek

This is a key tour activity to make your village tour exceptional. Trekking into the lush vegetation to locate a habituated troop of chimpanzees is memorable. For an hour, you will be in the presence of the chimpanzee troop after you see them. You will need a chimpanzee trekking permit to have the captivating chimpanzee trekking tour in Nyungwe National Park. This permit only costs USD 150 per person for a single chimpanzee trek.

Canopy walk

From the Uwinka Visitors Centre of Nyungwe National Park, you will hike to reach the suspended walkway, which is around 160 meters long. Imagine viewing the extensive forest canopy on a platform that is suspended 70 meters off the ground. There are many species of wildlife in Nyungwe National Park, including birds, primates, mammals, insects, reptiles, and plants, among others.

Birdwatching

If you are a birder and wish to enjoy a birding tour in an Afromontane Forest, Nyungwe is the perfect destination. This is a place with at least 345 bird species, and a tour here will expose you to some of the most colorful Albertine endemics. Come with your pair of binoculars and camera to see bird species like the Rwenzori turaco, Kungwe apalis, red-throated alethe, and strange weaver, among others.

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14:31 22 Feb 24

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12:45 21 Feb 24

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