AZIZI LIFE CULTURAL EXPERIENCE RWANDA
Azizi Life Cultural Experience Rwanda is probably the best-kept secret of Rwanda’s Cultural Experiences, Cultural tourism that connects with the rural people & Communities of Rwanda.
Many will say they have visited Rwanda for gorilla trekking, but just a handful will say they have experienced Rwanda’s Cultural life something only known to the few that make it a point to add Azizi life Cultural Experience Rwanda to their Rwanda Safari.
Rwanda is popular with short gorilla trekking Holidays that last 2 Days. Rumoured to be one of the “easiest” Gorilla trekking safari destinations, a typical Rwanda gorilla trip could see One fly-in, drive 80km – 2hours to Volcanoes national park, overnight at one of the opulent Rwanda gorilla Safari lodges; Sabinyo Governor Lodge, Volcanoes Lodge. Be up early for breakfast and transfer to the Kinigi Park offices for a gorilla brief, trek the mountain gorillas, return to the lodge for lunch and thereafter transfer 80km -2hours back to Kigali International airport for a late evening departure flight – Not our style of Holiday Planning.
Located in Muhanga town, approximately 1 ½ – hours for Kigali, Azizi Life Cultural experience Rwanda is a community-based project that offers visitors an in-depth understanding and involvement – personally experiencing Rwanda’s Culture through a range of up to six (06) locally operated and guided community experiences.
AZIZI LIFE CULTURAL EXPERIENCE RWANDA OFFER THE FOLLOWING EXPERIENCES
ADAY IN THE LIFE OF A LOCAL ARTISAN:
The Azizi Life Cultural Experience Rwanda morning begins with a drive to a nearby village, where you and your Azizi Life local interpreter will be welcomed by the ladies from the Local weaving cooperative. After introductions from your hostess, a morning of family chores begins. You might help out in the kitchen, collect water from the valley spring, cut grass for the farm animals and get out in the fields for a seasonal agricultural activity – get involved
At noontime, you’ll share a simple local meal with your host family, with plenty of time to chat and learn about each other’s lives.
After lunch, you will join with the artisan cooperative for an afternoon of weaving lessons. You will learn how to harvest and prepare the natural fibres, and then the artisans will teach you how to create your own piece of sisal jewellery. You will love sitting with the ladies as you weave and laugh together.
The day finishes back at the Azizi Life office, with a cold Fanta and a chance to think back over the highlights of the day. There you can browse through some of the beautiful crafts made by the Azizi Life artisans and do some fair trade shopping – Something we recommend to support the cause.
TRADITIONAL COOKING INVOLVEMENT:
Your day begins not in the kitchen but in the fields as you learn seasonal planting or harvesting of fresh ingredients for your traditional meal.
Once the ingredients and water have been collected, food preparation begins with washing, peeling, pounding, and grinding the ingredients using traditional methods and tools.
Throughout the process, your hostess and the ladies of the local cooperative will teach and guide you, always allowing you to experience the day at your own pace.
Once your meal has completed cooking in the outdoor kitchen, it will be time to enjoy! Choose to eat with a fork or with your fingers, as you taste the fruits of your labours. Sitting in the home of the host family, there will be plenty of time to chat and learn about each other’s lives.
The day finishes back at the Azizi Life office, with a cold Fanta and a chance to think back over the highlights of the day. There you can browse through some of the beautiful crafts made by the Azizi Life artisans and do some fair trade shopping – Something we recommend to support the cause.
TRADITIONAL DRUMMING & DANCING CLASS INVOLVEMENT
Whether you have natural rhythm or not, with an Azizi Life Cultural Experience Rwanda instructor, you will enjoy learning traditional drumming and dancing.
No experience or expertise is necessary; it is simply fun for anyone brave enough to experience this.
An Azizi Life Cultural Musical Experience begins with a mini-performance from a small traditional performers troupe – a perfect starter pack for yet a day of beats & rhythm. After enjoying your “starter-pack”, you will be helped to get dressed in a traditional costume. Your dance instructor will then begin to teach you some basic dance moves and share a bit of the history of Rwandan dance moves. After some practice time, the instructors will help you put everything together into a performance of your very own.
Photos & Videos..??!! Just don’t worry about this: a Realm Africa Safaris photographer will be on site to capture this moment – we will definitely share these memories with you!
TRADITIONAL CONSTRUCTION
You have definitely seen high rising buildings in Kigali, but this Azizi Life Cultural Experience Rwanda offers you a chance to learn something about the traditional building techniques, some of them used since the times of the King –get involved!
The day starts with you getting involved collecting water and soil, which you will then be taught how to make into mud bricks. After making your own mud bricks, you will dig the foundations and learn how to lay the bricks in a way to ensure the building is structurally strong. At this point, you will have used up all your breakfast and will definitely be hungry. You and the team will pause work and share a simple traditional home-cooked lunch with your host family – experience the taste of a Rwandese traditional meal.
In the afternoon, you will go and collect banana leaves, which you will be taught how to make into a strong rope that can then be used to lash wood together to make a roof. You finish the day back at the Azizi Life Cultural Experience Rwanda office with a cold Fanta and all the knowledge you need to build your very own mud brick house.
TRADITIONAL BANANA JUICE EXPERIENCE
Traditionally shared at weddings and other social gathering & celebrations, banana juice (and beer!) has long been a central part of Rwandan parties. Although nowadays banana juice can be easily bought from the local store, the traditional technique for making your own brew is a much greater labour of love.
Traditionally shared at weddings and other social gathering & celebrations, banana juice (and beer!) has long been a central part of Rwandan parties. Although nowadays banana juice can be easily bought from the local store, the traditional technique for making your own brew is a much greater labour of love.In the morning, of your Azizi Life Experience, you will work with your rural host to collect green bananas and the leaves needed to begin the banana juice making process. Next, you’ll dig a pit and bury the bananas to ripen over time.
After enjoying a simple meal with your host family, you’ll head into the valley to collect water. Usually, the banana ripening process takes four (04) days, but don’t worry – you won’t need to wait! Realm Africa Safaris will have already informed your hosts who will have some already-buried bananas for you to dig up for the experience. You’ll then hand peel, mash, and strain the bananas for juice using traditional techniques, and bingo!! – you’ve made authentic banana juice.
The day finishes back at the Azizi Life office where we boil the juice so it is safe to drink – now you can taste and take away your traditional hand made banana juice.
EXPERIENCE RWANDA’S PATHWAYS
Rwanda boasts of unending lush green hills, beautiful valleys and welcoming smiles from the people, it may be one of the easiest and most exciting places in East Africa to explore by foot. All around the rural communities, there is already a vast network of paths ready and waiting for you to explore.
Enjoy local knowledge and good company as you explore with a local Azizi Life guide. The guides, speak either English or French, they will enrich your pathway experience with information on the local communities you pass and points of interest. You may choose between a scenic rural excursion and an in-town exploration, visiting the local markets and experiencing other aspects of peri-urban life. This experience can be tailored to you choosing your own pathways – of course with professional guidance for both Realm Africa Safaris & Azizi life Cultural experience Rwanda.
Azizi Life Cultural Experience Rwanda is our Best recommendation for travellers visiting Rwanda and are keen to experience the rural life Of Rwandese. The Azizi Life Cultural Experience Rwanda is a perfect add-on to all our Rwanda Safari Itineraries – it’s just 1 ½ -hours from Kigali.
