Azizi Life Experience – Best of Rwanda Cultural Safari

Posted on: April 15th, 2016 by gorillaadmin No Comments

rwanda-aziz-experienceThe Azizi life experience is probably the most attractive tourism activity on a Rwanda Cultural Safari and if you want to send some time with the locals, then this is one of the activities that you need to engage in. Rwanda has very rich cultures and a cultural tour is the best way you can get to experience of this and you will for sure enjoy the trip because these are very friendly people who will welcome you with open arms. They willing happily walk you through and also demonstrate how they live that traditions life style which involves a lot of the music, dances and drama, there are lots of  delicious tradition dishes as you will see them, you learn about their farming methods and so many other experiences you will go through if you have enough time.  

A visit to this place should be arranged through their office prior to your arrival so that you can even get a home family should you need say inclusive participation. Like the name suggests, this tours gives you a real life experience of the life of a local Rwandan.  With a host family you can participate in all activities and learn better than just reading about them or being told stories. There are about 6 activities you can engage in.

Activities at the Aziz Life Cultural Tour

For the one day cultural tour in this village, you will have the Azizi Life interpreter with you to help you with the language barrier. After the introduction form the visitors and the host family is very important for purposes of better rapport.  You can choose what to do say the kitchen duties, collecting water for domestic use from the springs in the valley, you can go cut grass for the animals or go digging in the garden and while there you can help with the planting or weeding.

When you retire most likely in the afternoon and go home to have lunch. You can always share a meal with your host family and you can also help preparing it and will be a good time for you to chat about a lot of things.

In the afternoon, you can join the artisan cooperative of weaving and make some baskets, hats and anything else that they weave. This is the time you get to learn how to harvest and prepare the raw materials like natural fibers as well as how to weave things like the sisal jewelry to take home as souvenir. In the evening, you will drive out of the community to your hotel.

Constructing a Traditional House

The locals will also teach you how their buildings are traditionally constructed. Follow all the steps starting with collecting water, the soil and then they will teach you how to mix it up so you can make the mud bricks. With the bricks ready, you can then dig the foundations and then learn how they lay the bricks carefully so as to create a firm building.

After the home-cooked lunch with your host, you can go collect some banana leaves which you will use to roof that house with the help of ropes made from banana fibers. After roofing, it will be time for you to drive back to your hotel or to the airport if you have a flight to catch.

Dance and Drummer Lessons

Azizi Life Musical Experience gives you the chance to engage in some short performance with traditional performers. Trainers will teach you the essential steps you need to dance and they will tell you about the history or that Rwandan traditional dance. You can always record performance on video if you wish to watch it later.

There will be a lunch break and afterwards the expert drummers will be there to teach you a few traditional beats but you can also do your own free style. No experience is needed to enjoy this experience.

Making of Banana Juice

This is banana beer that locals share during weddings or any other celebrations and you will find that it is served a lot on local parties.      You need to learn the traditional technique s of making this beer rather than just buying it from the stores.
You will begin with collecting the bananas and the banana leaves needed in the brewing. Next you’ll dig a hole and bury the bananas to ripen which takes about 4 days.
If the bananas are already ripe, then you will need water from the valley. You’ll then peel, mash, and strain the bananas; you will have made an authentic banana juice. You will have to boil the juice and after that it is ready for tasting and can take with you to your hotel.

Learn the Traditional Methods of Cooking

With regards to cooking, you need to select a dish but most cases seasonal dishes.
You start from collecting food from the garden, you can learn how to plant and harvest the seasonal crops before you start the preparation.

You should have all the ingredients from the garden or the store and start cooking with the help of the host. This process will include washing the ingredients, peeling if you have to, pounding or grinding using local methods in case of foods like ground nut or millet.

The host family and some other ladies will be more than willing to take you through the journey of cooking a traditional meal which you will be sharing amongst yourselves afterwards and eat using your own fingers.  Cooking is done from the African fire place and this will be a great experience.

Rwanda Cultural Safari | AA Safaris & Tours Ltd

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