Things To Do In Huye

Huye is located about 135 Km south of Kigali. It is an attractively compact and peaceful town with a reputation of being the intellectual and cultural centre of the country.

Some still know this town as ‘Butare’ but since the 2006 local administrative reforms, it’s now called Huye.  Huye is located about 135 Km south of Kigali. It is an attractively compact and peaceful town with a reputation of being the intellectual and cultural centre of the country. Butare was the largest and most important city in Rwanda prior to 1965, when it lost out to the more centrally located Kigali as the capital of the country.  Below is the list of things to do in Huye: 

Ethnographic Museum

The National Museum of Rwanda is well worth a visit of a few hours. It is just 1.5km from the centre of town. This beautiful space sits in wide, tranquil gardens at the edge of Huye city, 132 km south of Kigali.  It was given to the city as a gift from Belgium in 1987 to celebrate 25 years of independence. This captivating museum houses one of Africa finest ethnographic collection. Its seven galleries cover an impressive array of topics on almost anything about Rwanda you can imagine: banana beer, geology, cosmology, farming, music, dance, poetry, history, tools, hunting, animal husbandry, weaving, woodwork and transport are all profiled here, giving visitors a rich insight into culture of Rwandans.

King’s Palace Museum (Nyanza)

Based in Nyanza,  one the way to huye, 88 km south of Kigali City, and Situated on a hill 2km southwest of town, this museum is less about ancient history and more about royal residences. The displays centre on a replica king’s ‘palace made entirely with traditional materials offers a detailed look into Rwandan traditional seat of their monarchy. Inclusive in the ticket price is a guided tour that helps explain some of the architectural idiosyncrasies inside the royal compound, including why the royal beer brewer’s hut had an entrance without a lip, and other curiosities such as why the woman who looked after the king’s milk was never able to marry, traditional Rwandan royal cows known for their impressive horns, a colonial building which was also used as the palace for a time sits next door that contains a series of exhibits on the monarchy and court customs. On the neighboring hill of Mwima, you can also visit the burial grounds of King Mutara III and his wife Queen Rosalie Gicanda.

Ibisi bya Huye

A squeezed forest of Huye normally called Mu bisi bya Huye, the residence of Kanyagakecuru. This Kanyagakecuru, during the throne of King Ruganzu Ndoli, was staying in that forest, and had plenty of venomous snakes, that couldn’t allow people to bring their offerings to the king, and no one could fight her, because of all her snakes that were hiding in a thorn-bush that was surrounding her home, then one day, that clever king, took his time and negotiated  with Kanyagakecuru, who was satisfied and honored by the king’s approach, later the king gave him a gift of many goats, which started to finish that bush until they made it a ground, therefore snakes had to go away, and then the king took advantage and killed Nyagakecuru and the palace was finally a place to visit. And on the top of that hill there is still a sign of a fountain where Nyagakecuru used to bring those goats for water-feeding.

Inzozi nziza

 Rwanda’s first ever ice cream; Inzozi Nziza “Sweet Dreams” in Kinyarwanda, It was created through a partnership between the owners of an American ice cream business – Blue Marble Ice Cream and the women drummers in Butare. It is a for-profit enterprise, developed as a women’s economic empowerment initiative. The ice cream is made on-site with local milk, sugar and other ingredients.  Also on the menu are Rwandan chapatis (with local avocado), muffins, cookies, fruit juices, coffee and other treats.

Location:  University Road | opposite Credo Hotel, Butare, Rwanda

Phone: +250788738350

Huye Mountain Coffee

Located at 8.5 km from Huye complex bus station on road to NYAMAGABE ; about 15 minutes’ drive from Huye Town and 3 hours from Kigali,  A visit to Huye Mountain will give you first-hand experience on coffee growing and production. It will entail how coffee is grown, harvested, dried, roasted, ground, packed and finally delivered to consumers.

TIME FOREIGNER NO RESIDENT FOREIGNER RESIDENT EAC RWANDAN CITIZEN FOREIGNER STUDENT RWANDAN STUDENT
LONG TOUR 3HOUR 30$ 25$ 20$ 5000RWF 20$ 3000RWF
SORT TOUR 1HOUR 20$ 20$ 15$ 4000RWF 15$ 2000RWF

 

Phone: (+250) 0788 30 36 78

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.huyemountaincoffee.comHuye

Location: Ngoma KH 338 ST 21

 

Nehemiah’s Best Coffee

 On the main drag running from the upper town to the university, with Indoor and outdoor seating, Nehemiah’s Best Coffee  serves up pastries, omelettes, burgers, freshly made smoothies and great coffee, making it by far the best spot in town for a light meal in cool surrounds.

Location:  University Road | Next to Credo Hotel, Butare, Rwanda

Phone: 25078388015/ 0783880153

Hours6.30am-10pm Mon-Sat/ Sun: 10am-10pm

University of Rwanda Arboretum

Created in 1934 by the brothers of charity to promote agroforestry in Rwanda, today, it has more than 148 species of hardwood and 56 conifers, encompassing a mixture of exotic and indigenous species in a territory of 200 hectares. Walking around the Arboretum gives a peaceful ambience, birds and butterflies and noisy troops of monkeys that one can easily spot while walking through the forest.

Location: RN1 university of Rwanda Huye campus

Where to stay:

Maison Sifa

Located in Butare, 1.2 km from Ethnographic Museum, Hôtel Maisons-Sifa provides accommodation with a shared lounge, free private parking, a garden and a terrace. With free WiFi, this 4-star hotel offers a 24-hour front desk and a shared kitchen. The hotel features family rooms.

Adresse:
Taba – Huye, Butare Rwanda

Phone:
+250 782 128 760

Email: [email protected]

Four Steps Hotel

Four Steps Hotel is located on Ku Itaba in Butare, Rwanda. The hotel features botanical gardens and a business center. Free WiFi is provided for all guests. Each room is designed with an en-suite bathroom and fitted with a flat screen TV, a refrigerator and a bedside lamp. The hotel serves complimentary breakfast to guests daily. Guests can also enjoy a variety of French, Oriental and African dishes at the on-site restaurant. Drinks ordered from the bar can be enjoyed outdoors at the garden.

Phone0788 358 681

Centre d’Accueil Mater Boni Consilii

Centre d’Accueil Mater Boni Consilii is conveniently located in the Huye City, close to National Museum and only 1.5 kilometers away from the city center.  The hotel provides plenty of peace and quiet, comfortable accommodations are available as the hotel offers 20 self-contained rooms.

Email: [email protected]
Tel: +250 788 283 903
+250 783 777 626

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