"BUTARE" a Prefecture de Butare Travel Page by nsbm

A definite air of academia pervades this enclave of learned Rwandans. All around town visiting professors with laptops and local estudiantes dot the gravel pavements. Easy to navigate on foot and pleasant to discover with its art-deco weathered main street!

The town of Nyanza has a great market enclosed by a fortress like wall. This is surrounded by the bustle of colourfully painted one-story establishments with coal-heated ironing tailors; foot operated ‘singer’ seamstresses; young taxi-tout townies and local farmers and sellers with produce. Truly the life of Africa teems in its characteristic townships. The need to trade and socialise reverberates throughout human history no matter where people are….take time to walk around and indulge in the local drama!

just north of Butare and easily accessible by taxi nyanza is home to the bygone Royal Heritage of Rwanda ..see things to do

30km west of Butare is the town of Gikongoro. Located on a flat hillock, with a 360 panorama, on the outskirts of town is this new genocide memorial. The location was the missionary school where thousands of Tutsis fled for sanctuary but their faith and fate were betrayed by the holy men who sheltered them, leading to mass extinction of many…60 000and counting!
The museum at the front contains history as well as film material of the Troubles…but the real reason to visit are the well presented ‘real-life’ portrayals in the classrooms at the back. Very sombre and the ‘scent’ of death and damnation lingers. Very emotionally charged….be prepared. Visit to empathise and sympathise with Rwandans- they are glad for the outside world to know what happened. Visit to assist the local community in their endeavours; and even if you don’t make it to the macabre exhibits just being there the locals appreciate your concern to venture this far. Worth the detour. Easily accessible by taxi from Butare U$10 return.
See Things to do