Explore Kings Palace Museum Nyanza Rwanda : The king’s Palace Museum is located in Nyanza District, Southern Province, approximately 88 km from Kigali City. The king’s palace is a significant historical site that provides insight into Rwanda’s culture and traditional way of life. The palace which is the main tourist’s attraction was a home of King’s Mutara III Rudahigwa’s and a significant center of power in the region. The Palace offers a detailed look into the Rwandan monarchical system and its abolition in early 1950s due to colonialism and the modern palace, which was built by the Belgian colonizers for King Mutara III.
The traditional palace contains the models of the traditional homes contains three huts made of mud walls and grass-thatched roofs, first house belonged to the king and was continuously guided by his bodyguards. A second house belonged to a young virgin woman who was in charge of milking the cows and storing the milk. A third house belonged to a young virgin man who was in charge of producing and storing alcohol for the king. You can enter each house and get appreciation of how the Rwandan people used to live and understand the importance of different structures within a traditional Rwandan home.
The modern palace is an inspiring structure that showcases the splendor and glory of the Rwandan monarchs. It was built by Belgian architects for King Mutara III. The Palace is made up of various buildings that include living quarters, various bedrooms including for the king’s mother whenever she decided to visit, and a basement designed to keep alcohol and milk cool.
The palace was restored to its 19th Century state as a model and was made entirely with traditional materials. Recently the Long horned royal cows “Inyambo” were introduced because cows form an essential part of the Rwanda Culture and were originally the King’s symbol of prestige. Visitors are always captivated by the sequence of these royal cows which are famous for there is inspiring long horns, height gentle nature and the traditional poems.
The museum itself is just as interesting as the four-legged creatures out back. It showcases a model of a king’s palace from with a thatched roof, royal hut arrows, utensils, bows, drums, shields, and fresh milk hut traditionally run by an unmarried woman. Tourists can also explore the colonial-style home that was once the royal residence of King Mutara III Rudahigwa. The interior design is exceptionally striking, mixing Rwandan patterns with European-style furniture some of which was actually owned by the king .While visiting the king’s palace museum you will get to learn about the deep Rwandan history and the way back style of living. Visitor on a Rwanda cultural tours can also explore others interesting restored cultural site to learn more about Rwanda’s history and culture such as Kigali genocide memorial.
Tourists can also combine their cultural exploration with other wildlife safaris, visitor can go for fascination game drives in Akagera national to add on a life experience and adventure safaris. Akagera national park is the only savannah national park in Rwanda housing a variety of interesting wildlife including the African big 5 animals such as buffaloes, lions, rhinos, elephants and leopard other animals includes giraffe, topis, zebras, bush-baby, hippos, crocodiles, Defassa Waterbuck, Topes, Bohor Reedbucks, Oribis, Semi-Aquatic Sitatunga, Eland .During the games drives here you will get an opportunity to see almost all the wildles specoies that makes the park their dwell including the bird species such as pied crow, long crested Eagle, Viellot’s black weaver’s fish eagles, Grey-backed Fiscals, Cattle Egret, Black-headed, Hamerkop, Sacred & Hadada Ibis, and the Augur Buzzard among other.
Visitors can also opt to for chimpanzee trekking, this is the most rewarding activity to add on your adventure in Rwanda. This fascinating primates can be trekked in Nyungwe forest national park. While in the park visitor can also explore the park through taking [park in a canopy walk of about 50m above to get the deep insight of the parks beautiful landscape, birds and spot some apes that dwell in the forest such as duikers, golden cats, Klipspringer, impalas, Bushbucks, Buffaloes, Elephants, Bush pigs, Gant forest hog, Blotched serval, Carnival genet, Congo clawless, Mongoose, otter, serval, Felis, black-fronted duiker, western tree hyrax, and many more.
Mountain gorilla trekking, this is the great and unique activity to do in Rwanda ,famous gorilla trekking is carries out in Rwandans Virungas mountains at volcanoes national park located in the northwest of the province. This fascinating mountain gorillas trekking can only be found and carried out in only three countries such as Uganda, democratic republic of Congo and Rwanda itself. You can also encounter the rare Golden monkey tracking in the park, Volcanoes National Park offers excellent opportunities for bird watching with over 200 bird species exists among others
If you’re a bird lover you can also encounter with different bird species that dwell in the region. Rwanda is a paradise of over 700 bird species alone which are scattered between the countries dispersed areas, swamps, lakes, rivers and vegetation and cover over 20 species of birds that are endemic to the Albertine rift valley such as Rwenzori apalis, Dusky Crimson-wing, Red-faced woodland, Rwenzori batis, Dusky turtle dove, Rwenzori double collared sunbirds, African long-earned owl, double toothed barbet, grey crowned cranes, spur winged lapwing, grey backed fiscal, black headed heron and Egret
You can also visit the Rwanda twins lakes such as lake butera and lake Ruhondo for relaxation after a long day activities where you will be granted with a lot of the water activities such as sport fishing, boat cruise and canoeing , swimming and kayaking among others.
