Gorilla guardian village / Iby’Iwacu cultural village : On the edge of Volcanoes National park is an indigenous community Gorilla guardian village / Iby’Iwacu cultural village, that was mobilized into Mountain gorilla guardians which was formally known as Iby’Iwacu cultural village. Travelers to Rwanda can include this activity to their trip so that they can learn and explore more with indigenous community. Most of our Clients either on a Rwanda wildlife Safari or a gorilla trekking Safari find it thrilling and worth it to have an experience with this village, you learn and bond culture with another group of people far away from your home. The traditional dances with their wavy arms flying in air, surely gives it a rhythm as to why this is the Gorilla guardians Village.  This engages the tourists in to songs, dances, art, cultural rituals, ceremonies and storytelling. Guests are allowed to be part of preparation of local brew from bananas, traditional cooking classes and making products like local ghee or even participate in the traditional dances.

Gorilla guardian village / Iby’Iwacu cultural village is just located around Parc National des Volcans or the Volcanoes National Park  in Kinigi, Nyabigoma and Musanze district and Northern Province. Take faith and have a visit to Iby’Iwacu to share with local people their traditional locally made homes alongside their ancestral heritage treasures including lifestyles, activities, artifacts and ways of living of local people.

Activities Performed by the Gorilla guardian village / Iby’Iwacu cultural village

Itineraries will be tailored according to the interests and wishes of our Clients to include any of the Activities below

1. 1. We have a community walk, guided by a community member, to visit different sites within the community. This tour offers an unusual and unforgettable insight into the everyday lives of the village communities.
   2. Visiting the king’s house replica and listening to all the Kings stories, the meanings of different symbols within the palace guided by a local guide. In this place you can be a king for minutes, hours and days. You will be enthroned and can exercise kings powers as bestowed to you by a village elder through a village ceremony.
   3. Eight different types of traditional dances by all community categories; men, women, youths and the children, and other local and traditional musical instruments (i.e. Intore dances, drumming, Ibyivugo, Umuduri, Ikembe, Iningiri, Inanga, Ingoma, Amakondera, Agakenke, etc)

      

   4. The famous SONGS OF THE GORILLAS sang by the famous Ngayabatema, commonly referred to as Kayuku.
   5. Visiting a local traditional healer to hear about the different medicinal trees, shrubs, grass and their traditional medicinal uses and how they are administered to local patients.
   6. Visit traditional clinics and pharmacies, the elderly and hear their interesting stories of pre and post colonial era.
   7. Visit local schools and if you are a teacher, you could offer and attend lessons and see how children are taught in schools.
   8. Prepare and have a local lunch or diner with local people.
   9. Attend a local banana brewery process and have a taste of local banana beer.
   10. Exchange of flow of experiences and ideas between local people and visitors (sharing cultural experiences).
   11. Ex-poachers ways of hunting /techniques, methods and stories from ex-poachers in particular Batwa (pygmies).
   12. Batwa pottery making experience, lessons and engagement
   13. Artisans and craft making by women, men and children, etc.
   14. Local football matches with tourists, and many more activities.