Nyanza Kings palace and museum Butare

Nyanza Kings palace and museum Butare, Nyanza Kings Palace and National Museum in Butare- Nyanza is one of  the best stopovers for tourists heading to Nyungwe National Park in the western part of Rwanda. Nyungwe National Park is famously known as the home for chimpanzees and several other 12 primate species.

The Kings palace

The King’s Palace Museum in Nyanza is a hidden treasure that show cases the monarchical reverberations of Rwanda. This place was a traditional seat for Rwanda kingdom and an important location during the colonial period.
Legendary,

Nyanza, which was once the beating center of Rwanda, was a place where conflicts were fought, and power was snatched. Originally nomadic, the monarchy moved from court to court until it found a stable home and Nyanza was the tangible decision because of its strategic location and rich history.

 This restored royal residence, which is fashioned like a beehive and has a sophisticated thatched canopy that gives rise to memories of a bygone period, is a magnificent citation to Rwanda’s past.

The kingdom’s capital was originally and lively occupied by as many as 2000 residents whose houses were built in the same industrious skills as seen in the museum today.
On a visit to the palace, visitors can now explore the King’s Palace replica, which was made in Rukari using traditional materials and techniques, which is a reconstruction of the historic palace.
in the same place, learn about how farming and construction have changed throughout the ages, explore the grounds and get to know the Inyambo, or long-horned cows. You will discover that cows are a part of the royal tradition and are utilized in several  recognised events, you will realize that they are stunning, and possess a stately dignity that is uncommon for cows. As part of the grooming process, you can hear the shepherds perform amahamba songs and learn about the breeding methods.

Though the monarchy was abolished when Rwanda gained independence in 1962, the   custom of grooming and breeding Inyambo is still carried on by the Rwanda Agriculture Board.

 The National Museum- Butare (Ethnographic Museum)

As you travel to Nyungwe National Park a combination of the Nyanza palace and the ethnographic museum forms a complete cultural trip before reaching out for the chimpanzee excursion.

The Ethnographic Museum, a noteworthy gift from King Badouin of Belgium in the late 1980s, provides a sense of Rwanda’s rich cultural heritage. It is one of Africa’s most admired ethnographic collections is now proudly housed there, telling a tale that is immensely in line with Rwandan culture.

The museum presents seven halls with an amazing collection of archaeological, historical, anthropological, and artistic artifacts, each complemented by informative images. While in the museum, the displays begin with geography and geology exhibitions, then progressively to exhibits of tools used in woodworking, farming, hunting, animal husbandry, pottery, and weaving.

The museum also provides a highlights on the social importance of cattle in Rwandan society hence providing an appreciation of traditional clothing and building styles. Through an immersive investigation of Rwandan practices, beliefs, history, culture, poetry, oral tradition, and cosmology, the final room provides visitors with a comprehensive understanding of this extraordinary society.
Additionally, the Ethnographic Museum has a well-known craft center that highlights Rwanda’s rich artisanal traditions. This place is not only an exhibit of Rwanda’s and regional and cultural past but also a monument that carries the weight of tragedy for the murder of Queen Dowager Rosalie Gicanda and several other people during the Rwandan Genocide

Preparing a visit  to the Nyanza Palace and museum

Depending on your departure time from Kigali, you will drive to Nyanza for about two and a half hours. While at the palace premises, the area guide will take you through the palace’s history and then leave you to explore on your own.

This place has a restaurant where you can have lunch or may decide to eat in the nearby Butare town.

The palace and museum are always open for visitors on all days except on 7th April, a day for commencing the memorable time of those who lost lives during the 1994 genocide, and on Umuganda day (the last Saturday of every month), it opens at midday. So, take note of those days as you plan your visit.

Many visitors always spend 2 hours at this place and then proceed to Nyungwe or back to Kigali though it is always a half-day excursion.

All in all, a visit to the king’s palace and the national museum in Butare, can best be combined with a chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk in Nyungwe National Park.