Panoramic View: Each cottage has a breath-taking view of the
lake below and the hills in the distance.
For instance, local artisans were
hired to build the village’s structures
and furnish the cottages; women from
the community are involved in making
the traditional crafts like mats and
baskets on display; most of the food
cooked in the restaurant is bought
from locals, and the boats that take the
tourists for rides on the lake are owned
by the villagers. In addition, apart from
the Manager, all the staff employed
at Rwiza village hail from within this
community.
Far from seeing this practice as
exceptional on his part, Deo simply
sees this as good neighbourliness.
“There is a saying in French that
goes, ‘You can choose your friends,
but you don’t choose your neighbours.’
And so we have to be on good terms
with our neighbours. Our philosophy
is that Rwiza village can only be
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Live museum: A member of the communit
also benefits the locals.
truly successful if it helps to improve
the livelihoods of the people in the
surrounding community,” he says.
Things to do at Rwiza Village
There are a number of fun things to
do at Rwiza village depending on your
preferences and how much time you
have:
Swimming: Most definitely one of the
coolest things you can do at Rwiza
village is to plunge into the crystal
clear waters of the fresh lake below
and take a leisurely swim alone or with
friends. After swimming you can lie
down and bask in the sun as you enjoy
the scenery and listen to the chirping
of birds.
Hiking and Bird watching: Speaking
of birds, Kibuye is home to a number