Gorilla Guardians Village

The village at Kinigi was set up as a livelihood project for people living against the boundary of Volcanoes National Park, including men who had hunted in the forest, giving them an income that depends on the park rather than competes with it. Visitors get drumming, dance, a reconstructed king's house, demonstrations of traditional medicine, banana beer brewing and archery, run by the community itself. It was called Iby'iwacu before being renamed.

What you actually see

• The intore dancing - drumming and dance performed by the village group.
• The king's house - a reconstruction of a traditional royal dwelling.
• The banana beer - brewing demonstrated and tasted.
• The community model - a project run by park-edge villagers and former hunters.

When to go

Year round; visits are booked in advance rather than turned up for. Mornings are the usual slot. The rains make the ground muddy but the programme runs regardless.

Honest expectations

It is a staged programme, not a working village, and visitors who expect otherwise find it artificial. Prices are high and extras are pushed. The value is in the community income rather than the authenticity.

Nearby

Volcanoes National Park headquarters is alongside, and Musanze is southeast.