BUHANGA ECO-PARK

The history of Rwanda is very old, and this mysterious 13 ha forest is a testimony to it. All the kings of Rwanda have passed through here, for it was here, says oral history, that the royal house of Rwanda's founder, King Gihanga, was located. The spring known as "Gihanga", where the enthronement ceremonies were held, has become a place of pilgrimage. For a long time, local communities refused to cultivate the land or cut wood. Today, this forest is a site of considerable ecological importance and its singular beauty makes it an exceptional place. Not far away, the Gihondohondo cave (6 m long) was used for enthronement rituals. There are also giant ficus trees, trees that symbolized royalty, one of which measures 14 m in circumference. No one could enter this wood, which remained sacred until 2004. Since then, its old cobbled paths have been accessible to visitors. Initiates still practice the cult of Lyangombe, a legendary hero who loved pleasures. After his death, God had granted him and his friends a pleasant stay at the top of the Karisimbi volcano! Since then, initiates have been practicing kubandwa, a traditional cult of ceremonies designed to stop evil spirits or to invoke the spirits of ancestors with banana beer. For bird lovers, the best time to visit the forest is in the early morning or late afternoon when the birds are most active and their songs amaze us.