Bugesera reconciliation village in Rwanda is part of the country’s ‘Unity & Reconciliation’ efforts to unite individuals and move the country forward as a whole. The initiative was initiated by the Rwandan government in the aftermath of the 1994 genocide. Survivors of the genocide live with repentant ex-‘perpetrators’ of the genocide in this attempt. Bugesera reconciliation village in Rwanda is among the most visited villages in Rwanda.
Bugesera, also known as Mbyo Reconciliation Village, is a one-hour drive from Kigali’s capital city where criminals and victims, killers, and survivors coexist. Following the genocide in Rwanda in 1994, neighbors slaughtered their neighbors, shattering Rwandan society. The genocide is also known as the 1994 massacre of ethnic Tutsi and politically moderate Hutu community in Rwanda. These atrocities began in early April 1994 and lasted around 100 days, until the Hutu Power movement was destroyed in mid-July. The Hutu extremist carried out mass killing of the Tutsis who were considered an inferior group in the country. In the 100 days of the massacre over 800,000 people died those were majorly the Tutsis, the lesser Hutus and Batwa.
The genocide did not only take human lives, but it also destroyed the livelihoods of many families. Victims couldn’t return to their villages. Perpetrators who have been in prison didn’t have a place to go, so officials created six Reconciliation Villages including Mbyo where 60 families are living currently. Join us at Achieve Global Safari for this exclusive tour of Mbyo’s unfaithful past.
Bugesera reconciliation village experience in Rwanda
A visit to Bugesera reconciliation village is an opportunity for travelers to listen to the touching stories of these people, which make them appreciate how far Rwanda has become in bringing its people together transforming the country into the most hospitable nation with loving and caring people to interact with.
Visitors to Bugesera reconciliation village will also get an opportunity to interact with the local community and get-togethers, engage with villagers, taste their traditional dishes and drinks, and meet warm and genuine people. Participate in activities like agricultural tasks, cooking, weaving lessons, and even join a lively local dance troupe. These interactions provide a unique perspective on the beauty, resilience, and love of the Rwandan people.
Visitor will also get a chance to experience community reconciliation, the heart of the Bugesera Reconciliation Village lies in how a cross-section of local communities managed to reconcile and live together in the same village. Witness the resilience and healing process of these communities.
Other places to visit in Rwanda
Akagera national park
Safaris holidays to Akagera National Park are attractively designed to meet your African Safari needs and interests. These holiday Safaris to Akagera enables visitors to enjoy the amazing moments in wildlife game drives, boat safaris, bird-watching experiences, behind-the-scenes experience, and an activity focused at wildlife conservation in Akagera National Park by African Parks.
Akagera National Park protects a unique Savannah eco- diversity and has over 90 species of Mammals, sizeable herd of buffalo, Impala, zebra, and topi are abundant on the open plains, whilst smaller antelope such as oribis, klipspringer, bushbuck, and reedbuck range throughout the Akagera National Park, together with giraffe and warthog. Papyrus swamp areas are home to the specialized, rarely-seen Sitatunga. Elephants tend to concentrate around the lakes including Lake Ihema and Lake Rwanyakazinga which are inhabited by a large population of hippo, One of Africa’s highest densities. Regarding primates, olive baboon and vervet monkey are common, less so is secretive Doggestt’s silver monkey, serval, Senegal galago, and porcupine. Equally exciting, Akagera National Park boasts a healthy population of lions and black and white rhinos that were reintroduced.
Volcanoes national park.
The Volcanoes National Park is one of the few remaining havens of the mountain gorilla, with its landscape’s gentler slopes and more open bush allows for some of the most effortless tracking and observation of these animals than other parks. The park is a home to five of the eight volcanoes in the Virunga mountains massif and with hills richly blanketed with rainforest, bamboo forests as well as open grassland, swamps, marshes and small lakes. It’s also sanctuary for other wild such as of the golden monkey, bushbuck, spotted hyena and majestic birdlife. There are 10 habituated Gorilla groups in Rwanda all within this national park.
Nyungwe national park.
Nyungwe Forest National Park is a closed-canopy rainforest and home to 13 species of primates, including, most famously population of chimpanzees. Nyungwe is also the largest single forest block in Africa, one of the last high-altitude primary forests, and one of the largest mountainous rainforest on the entire continent. Biodiversity here is fascinating and it is one of the most endemic species-rich areas in all of Africa. Nyungwe is a protected reserve for many species of primates such as the Ruwenzori colobus monkey, chimpanzee, owl faced monkey and grey cheeked mangabey. These forests are home to 300 bird and 75 mammal types, includes the gorgeous Rwenzori Turaco, black-fronted duiker antelope, leopards, serval, and porcupines. There is even talk of reintroducing forest elephant into the park as Rwanda continues to establish itself as a world
Visit to Lake Kivu
Lake Kivu is the biggest lakes in Rwanda with stunningly natural wonders. It is located in the western part of the country, stretching from the north in the foothills of the Virunga mountains down to the south near Nyungwe forest national park. The lake is shared between the democratic republic of Congo and thereby making up the biggest part of the border between the two countries.
The lake is one of the beautiful lakes in the central Africa. It is surrounded by lush rolling hills and dotted with many stunningly beautiful green islands. This gorgeous scenery is largely because of its location in the Albertine rift valley. The lake is home to 28 different fish species including the blue-spotted tilapia, the red tilapia, and Nile tilapia among other species. Water birds like the Common Waxbill spotted Yellow-throated Greenbul, Speckled Pigeons, Chin-spot Batis, Ashy Flycatcher, Cardinal Woodpecker, Bronzed Sunbirds and so many more. Visitors can explore the lake by taking a boat cruise tours, swimming, Kayaking or even relaxing on one of the many beaches along the shorelines.
The Bugesera Reconciliation Village offers an authentic and immersive experience, bridging the gap between the calamities of the past and the challenges faced by the community today. It’s a relatively undiscovered treasure for those seeking meaningful cultural encounters in Rwanda.
