Cultural Encounters in Volcanoes National Park

Cultural Encounters in Volcanoes National Park : Cultural encounters within the volcanoes are among the top tourist activities that are carried out within the park by tourists who love to explore the culture of various communities within Rwanda. Volcanoes National Park is popular for having endangered mountain gorillas which are found on the slopes of the Virunga Mountains. While on a safari in Rwanda, one can participate in various activities and have an amazing and quality time while having a tour to the park.

While in the Volcanoes National Park one can visit the Ibyiwacu cultural village which can be visited while on the Rwanda cultural tours where you can have a visit to many cities and their attractions such as musanze city where you will visit the ibyiwacu cultural village to have an amazing experience within Rwanda.

The cultural encounters in the ibyiwacu cultural village offers great experiences in case one wants to know more about Rwandan culture. While on a visit, one can participate in activities such as preparation of local dishes, community walks, banana beer making and subsistence farming among others.

However the cultural village gives a look back to a number of years ago when the country was under different kingdoms. On arrival at the cultural village, you will be welcomed by guards protecting the village where you will find a number of huts like in the old times and while here, you will be in a king’s palace for a whole day. On a lucky day, you will be dressed in the traditional attire of the king and queens which is quite entertaining. After choosing the king for a day, a fire place will be lit just like the old days when kingdoms still existed and a medicine man will come in front of you making traditional herbs that were used as medicine a long time ago. The king and queen will be entertained as well as other tourists through different cultural dances and plays. Traditional marriages will be carried out as well to show how it was during the old days which is quite amazing once you take part. You will as well be taught about farming while using traditional tools like hand hoes, how to harvest various crops, weeding, how to make banana beer which is a delicious drink which you will have a chance to taste if interested. Visiting the cultural village will make you have an amazing experience where you will encounter with the locals and thus get to understand more about the culture of Rwanda.

OTHER ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE VOLCANOES

GORILLA TREKKING

Gorilla trekking is carried out within the Volcanoes National Park where you can spot different gorilla families. The trekking involves one to hike the Virunga Mountains where you will spot gorilla families such as Agashya family, Amahoro family, Ugenda family among others. During the trekking, you will spend an hour with the gentle giants where you will get to know more of their behaviors.

GOLDEN MONKEY TREKKING

Those interested in having a golden monkey trekking, then the park is a place to visit while on a Rwanda safari. Just like the mountain gorillas, the golden monkeys are also habituated and ready to be trekked. The golden monkeys are found in the bamboo trees of the different virunga mountains. Tourists will spend an hour with them and understand more about their behavior in the wild.

HIKING THE VIRUNGA MOUNTAINS

The Volcanoes National Park has different virunga mountains that can be hiked while on a safari within the park. These include, Mount Sabyinyo, Gahinga, Muhabura, Bisoke and Karisimbi which can be hiked and spot a number of attractions such as twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo on Mount Muhabura, Lake Kivu among others. Other mountains include Mount Nyiragongo, Mount Nyamuragira and Mount Mikeno.

VISIT THE DIAN FOSSEY GRAVE

Dian Fossey was an American primatologist that worked hard to ensure that the gorillas within the park are protected from poachers. Dian was found dead in her cabin and no one knows who murdered her. But before her death, she had established the karisoke research center where she protected and treated the orphaned gorillas and those who were hurt during poaching. Therefore while on a safari, one can visit the grave.