As the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) is struggling for tourism products diversification, the Buhinga Eco-Park has been fixed in new tourism products to be visited around the mountain Gorillas in the Northern Province of the country.
Buhanga “I Buhanga kwa Gihanga’’ records the fame since the monarchy period. The place has been important for ritual activities preceding enthronement of the Rwandan kings.
According to RDB officials working in Buhanga Eco park, Kings have to pass unspecified days in Buhanga, being helped by Abiru- those traditional historians in king’s court in all ritual activities designed for sanctification of Kings and their reigns before they get enthroned.
Buhanga has the sacred forest of Ibigabiro trees, Nkotsi na Bikara river considered as the sanctuary water source where all Rwandan Kings had to bath to get magical protection and get delivered from all omens.
At Buhanga, there is another place called Icyuhagiriro where all Rwandan Kings were washed from purified water of the said source. Buhanga also is said to be a home for Gihanga, the first King of Rwanda and the place was named from his (Gihanga) name
Buhanga is located in Bukora Cell, Nkotsi Sector, in Musanze District.
Beyond the role of the locality while enthroning Rwandan Kings, the trees and other objects from Buhanga forests are depicted with magical power, whereby some people have fallen victims after cutting Buhanga forest trees or were victimized by bad use of other object from this sacred area-History says that a former leader in the locality and his family have died while trying to extract Nkotsi na Bikara in order to lead water to his house
Rwanda For You Magazine
