The Gorilla Guardian’s Village is one of the exceptional safari destinations during your Rwanda Gorilla Safari because it allows travelers to learn about a typical Rwandan village tradition that has existed for Centuries.
Formerly “Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village, this cultural encounter allows visitors to meet and interact with the local people within their rural and raw environment with an option of taking in their exciting culture and traditions. The visit to Gorilla Guardian’s Village also allows travelers to experience the warm hospitality of Rwandans towards visitors as you will be welcomed and treated as a special guest that you are while enthusiastically presenting the different aspects of their customs, beliefs, culture and traditions, some of which will take your breath away. This is candidly a life-changing and lifetime experience as you also choose to spend an overnight at the “home stay” and become part of the family.
Exciting activities offered at the Gorilla Guardian’s Village
During your visit to the Gorilla Guardian’s Village, expect to be treated to a wide range of exhilarating cultural activities that will blow your mind and these include;
Guided community walks
During the Gorilla Guardian’s Village Community walks, you will be guided by a local community member who will take you to some of the outstanding sites in the area for an exceptional and memorable insight into the day-to-day lives of the village people. Depending on the season, you will see how they tend to their gardens, fetch water from the wells and carry on their heads with jerry cans, take care of their Livestook and many other interesting things.
Tour of the King’s Palace replica
Do you wish to learn about ancient Kingdoms of Rwanda during your visit? The Gorilla Guardian’s village also makes it possible for travelers to visit the King’s Palace replica, listen to the interesting folklores, understand the meaning of different symbols in the Palace and climaxed with an opportunity to sit on the throne to act as a “King”, exercise Kingly powers granted to you by the Village elder during an exciting ceremony.
Take part in Rwandan traditional dances.
While here, you will be introduced to the 8 different Rwandan traditional dances performed by children, youth, women and men. These dances are also performed with different musical instruments that include “ingoma”, “Ibyivugo”, “intore”, “Agakenke”, “ikembe” and “Umuduri” among others. These dances are accompanied by famous gorilla songs that will get you dancing in excitement all through.
Visit to the local traditional healer.
Once upon a time, the people of Rwanda used herbal medicine from plant roots, tree barks, stems, leaves and others. During your tour of the Gorilla Guardian’s Village, you will learn about the different shrubs, trees and grasses of high medicinal value and even get to understand what illnesses they treat. Additionally, you might be lucky to find some of the patients being treated.
Local school tours
Local schools tours are also unmissable during your visit to the Gorilla Guardian Village as you will get to learn from the locals and even teach a thing or two that you know in any of the subjects being taught. You can also attend lessons to have an insight into how lessons are conducted without computers, electricity and also donate (at will).
Preparation and enjoyment of local cuisines
You will learn about the local cuisines and how they are prepared before you participate in partaking what was prepared. Get the chance to follow the local women to the farms to harvest food (sweet potatoes, cassava, plantain, fresh beans, greens and vegetables as well as spices), learn how to grind millet into flour using stones and then make a delicious meal which you will taste.
Banana beer brewing
Just like wines and other drinks don’t miss during weddings back home, the local banana beer is a very important part of any Traditional Rwandan wedding, or any cultural function. You will learn about the brewing process from harvesting, ripening (although you will use already ripe banana since the ripening process takes days), and brewing, and you can get a chance to taste it.
Batwa pottery experience
The Batwa are known as the “first inhabitants of Central African forests” and are found in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. You will learn about their ancient ways that include the “pottery” experience.
Participate in a local soccer match
Usually, the Gorilla Guardian’s Village tour is climaxed by a soccer/football match between visitors and the locals, which you can take part and definitely enjoy.
Important do’s and don’ts during the visit to Gorilla Guardian Village
During your visit, make sure to always use the provided bins and avoid littering the environment, respect privacy when taking photos of the locals (by asking from the guide or individuals whether it is okay), not giving empty bottles to children, avoiding indecent dressing (skimpy tops, see-through clothes and mini-skirts), respecting the local norms such as not kissing in public and many others.