Astone Miya - The Eye Rwanda

She has her mother’s gift for cooking

January 6, 2015by Astone Miya0 comments

Marie-Michelle Rukohoza (Michou) est une jeune burundaise qui a hérité du talent de sa maman (Mama Mado ‘au coin d’Ixelles’). “we mutoto uko na mukono wa Mama yako”

Michou est une jeune femme mariée et maman de trois enfants…

Elle et son mari avaient le projet de rentrer au Burundi mais bien plus tard lorsque qu’ils seraient à l’aise professionnellement et financièrement mais un évènement grave a précipité son retour dans le pays natal de sa maman. Après 21 ans passé en Belgique, elle décide alors, non sans peur de l’inconnu, de rentrer au Burundi en 2011, sans projet et sans moyens financiers.

A son arrivée, Michou a vécu ses premiers mois à Bujumbura en mode ‘vacances’ mais elle a tout de suite pris le chemin qui se traçait devant elle sans le savoir…

Sa vie active a commencé lorsque le gérant de ‘ Au Coin d’Ixelles’ est parti et elle s’est retrouvée très vite gestionnaire du restaurant. Au bout de 2ans et demi, Michou a l’impression d’avoir fait le tour et n’a qu’une envie, c’est de retourner vivre avec son mari et ses enfants à Bruxelles où elle est née. C’est sur les conseils de sa famille et de sa meilleure amie qu’elle décide de s’accrocher, de rester et d’ouvrir son propre restaurant !

Après plusieurs mois de recherche et elle finit par trouver l’endroit en plein centre-ville, pour cela elle est obligée de s’associer avec l’ancienne gérante qui a loué l’endroit jusqu’en 2017. Qu’à cela ne tienne Michou accepte! Avec l’aide d’un architecte d’intérieur burundais, Michou rénove son restaurant et y met des couleurs chaudes et chaleureuses, y installe les fauteuils et crée son coin ‘lounge’, les tables et les nappes (gitenge) son coin ‘resto’ est enfin prêt! La terrasse et le bar passent au relooking également ! Le Paprika Restaurant Lounge Bar est enfin prêt…

Dès l’ouverture du restaurant, les clients affluents, curieux et très critiques. Michou prend ces critiques positivement et améliore le service et la qualité ses plats. La spécialité de Michou est le ‘Chop Chop’ (viande de chèvre grillée) mais elle cuisine également tous les plats qui sont présentés sur son menu. Lorsque l’on demande à Michou comment elle pourrait définir la cuisine Mama Mado (Au coin d’Ixelles), celle-ci nous explique qu’elle a voulu faire une cuisine familiale avec des proportions comme à la maison ! La spécialité de sa maman est le ‘Mukeke’.

Michou a commencé à cuisiner à 11 ans lorsqu’elle vivait à Bruxelles, Mama Mado assise sur la machine à coudre qui était installée dans la cuisine familiale, lui enseignait l’Art de la cuisiner à l’Africaine. Celle-ci n’aimait pas cuisiner car cela l’empêchait ‘de regarder la télévision, de sortir avec ses amis ou de faire ses devoirs’. Malgré elle, elle se retrouvait souvent à la cuisine pour préparer les mets que sa maman lui avait appris, pour la famille et pour les invités ‘car il y a toujours des invités chez nous’ comme le souligne Michou !

Dans la cuisine que Mama Mado a transmise à sa fille Michou, c’est d’avant tout privilégier la qualité et le choix des meilleurs produits frais que l’on trouve au Burundi que ce soit pour la maison ou pour leurs restaurants, c’est comme cela qu’elle lui a transmis le ‘goût’….Lorsque les personnes goûtent ses plats, ils disent en swahili “we mutoto uko na mukono wa Mama yako” (la fille a la main de sa mère).

Tout comme sa maman, Michou est une personne facile à vivre et très ouverte d’esprit, c’est sans secret qu’elles sont très appréciées de beaucoup de gens, en plus de ses amis et de sa famille.

Si Michou est arrivée là où elle se trouve maintenant c’est grâce à sa famille et surtout sa maman qu’elle chérit précieusement et qu’elle remercie infiniment pour ‘la passion et le don de cuisiner’.Très bientôt, Michou prévoit de faire un ‘buffet’ pour le Lunch à un prix très abordable.

Pour les fêtes de fin d’année, Michou nous concoctera de bons petits plats et nous invite à les découvrir tout bientôt (sur facebook). Les idées ne manquent pas chez Michou et elle nous surprendra de plus en plus avec sa cuisine de caractère !

Ouvert tous les jours sauf le mardi

Adresse: Bd de l’Uprona, 9

Téléphone: +257 71 770 007

Email : rukohoza@gmail.com

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/#!/lepaprikabuja?fref=ts

Places

Buja Café’s Akimana is bringing back her ‘savoir faire’ to her country

January 6, 2015by Astone Miya0 comments

Buja Café

Interview de Cynthia Akimana

Cynthia Akimana est une jeune burundaise qui a voyagé et travaillé dans plusieurs endroits de la planète. Elle ramène dans ses bagages son savoir- faire à Bujumbura…

Depuis quand es-tu rentrée au Burundi et que t’ont apporté tes voyages à travers le monde ? La transmission de tes expériences qui font le succès de ce paradis qu’est le Bujacafé?

Je suis rentrée depuis 2011 après avoir séjourné 23 années successivement à Lausanne (Suisse), Toronto (Canada) et Dubaï (EAU). Mon souhait de revenir au Burundi (projet mûrement réfléchi) était de pouvoir transmettre le savoir-faire que j’ai acquis durant ma carrière hôtelière à l’extérieur du pays et promouvoir une nouvelle gamme de services à la clientèle burundaise.

Comment est né le Bujacafé?
L’idée de Bujacafé est venue de mon associé Jules Katabizi, un entrepreneur passionné par le café. Il est venu me trouver à Gitega où j’effectuais une consultance dans le domaine de l’hôtellerie. Après avoir discuté du projet auquel j’ai de suite adhéré, je l’ai rejoint à Bujumbura pour démarrer le projet. C’était un « match made from Heaven » d’un visionnaire et une gourou de l’hôtellerie. De là est né Bujacafé et nous avons ouvert nos portes le 8 août 2013.

Comment pourrait-on te présenter? Une jeune femme passionnée et qui réussit tout ce qu’elle fait, avec la ‘Positive Attitude’ ?
Simplement, une jeune Burundaise, passionnée par l’hôtellerie qui a eu la chance d’élargir son savoir dans 3 zones différentes (Europe, Amérique et Moyen-Orient), mais aussi par le contact avec les autres. Cette passion, je la porte fièrement dans mon cœur et elle correspond à ma nature. Je suis une personne joyeuse et conviviale, qui a réussi à créer avec toute mon équipe une ambiance chaleureuse dans un endroit cossu.

Que pourrais-tu recommander à un jeune qui aimerait s’installer à son propre compte ?
Le Burundi est un pays où il y a encore beaucoup à faire. Je continue à encourager les jeunes Burundais qui sont à l’étranger à rentrer au pays pour que tous ensemble nous puissions reconstruire ce beau petit pays qu’est le nôtre et lui redonner le rang qu’il a jadis eu sur le plan économique. Mais il faut aimer son travail et s’y consacrer à fond.

Quelles sont tes passions mis à part le Bujacafé?
Je suis une personne très sociale et me réjouis de passer du temps avec des personnes qui me tiennent à cœur, sortir au restaurant, danser, voyager, aller à la découverte autour du monde sont une partie de mes passions.

Quelles sont les surprises que le Bujacafé prévoit pour les fêtes de fin d’année et pour la Saint Valentin ?
On prépare de bonnes choses pour les fêtes de Noël et du Nouvel An dont la fameuse bûche de Noël bien sûr ! Et pour la Saint-Valentin, je pense que l’ambiance qu’on a essayé de créer dans notre jardin vous offre Saint-Valentin toute l’année.

Lifestyle

A Guide to Valentine’s day in Rwanda

January 6, 2015by Astone Miya0 comments

Romantic ideas to blow your love awa

By Ngabirwe Emmanuel

Very soon it will be Valentine’s Day. The streets will be filled with couples in red and black ensembles, or others dressed to the nines, headed for an evening of staring soulfully into each other’s eyes over candlelight at some fancy establishment. Because we love Love, here are some ideas for things you can do to make this coming Valentine’s Day even more special for you and your boo.

Delight her with Chocolate: What is Valentine’s Day without chocolate? Take her for a chocolate treat at one of the many cafes in Kigali- Brioche, Shokola, Papyrus Bakery, RZ Manna, and Palador Venceremos all do a mean chocolate treat.

Go shopping: Whichever of you does this less often, now is your turn. Take him (or her) shopping for a change. All the main shopping malls normally have some special Valentine’s Day sales. Raid Nakumatt, Woodlands Superstore, or Simba Supermarket and spoil your significant other by having them pick out anything they want on your tab.

Getaway: It’s a good thing the next February 14 will be a Saturday. Leave Kigali, go out into the country, or into some of the smaller towns outside of the capital, and enjoy a tranquil weekend in the virgin countryside, with pure air and the gentle sounds of water or birds or lowing cows around you. A place with water would be nice- think Gisenyi (if you want lively beaches) or Kibuye (it is more serene and untouched). A day-long visit to Akagera National Park would give you something exciting to do together, and to crown a perfect day, you could spend the night in the magnificently intimate Ruzizi Tented Lodge.

Commission an art piece: If you are one for grand gestures, here is one for you. Why not commission a painting of your boo this Valentine’s? There are so many talented artists and art studios in Kigali- Inema, Ivuka, Yego, Uburanga- are just a few of many. Go visit one of them in advance and talk to the artists about it. They might ask for a photograph to paint from; or even better, you could do it the old-fashioned way and have your lover sit for the painting. Then buy them the painting as a keepsake. The memory of Valentine’s day spent sitting for a painting is one you will share for life- no matter how the painting itself turns out.

Go horse-riding: We have all dreamt of riding those magnificent beasts. C’mon, admit it! Now Valentine’s Day would be the perfect day to try it out. Whether you can ride or not, visit one of the equestrian centers in Kigali with your love and take a gallop on one of their well-bred horses. Fazenda Sengha, located atop Mt. Kigali, is ideal. For learners, they offer private instructions in the arena as well as trail rides through the surrounding hills of Mt. Kigali. Rugende Training Center, just past Kabuga is also another good option. They also offer horse riding lessons for beginners and have a great garden where the two of you can sit back and enjoy a quiet afternoon together.

Take a walk: The lovers’ walk is as old as love itself, and Kigali is a great place to take a stroll. The sight of two love birds walking, hand-in-hand towards the sunset is poignant and nostalgic, bringing back memories of the innocence of teenage love. Rediscover the effortless intimacy of walking with that special someone by taking a slow evening promenade through the quieter parts of Kigali. The back streets of Kimihurura, Kacyiru, Nyarutarama, and Kiyovu are perfect for strolling at any time of day. They are serene, with relatively little activity, and the tall trees and/or greenery all around provide a shade and a cool breeze for you and your love.

Finally, this is a kind of Valentine’s Day tradition. We won’t be the ones to chuck tradition, so lastly:

The romantic Valentine’s dinner: Nothing makes a woman feel so special, as dressing up elaborately for an evening out with her man. And nothing makes a man feel as masculine as taking his woman out to a fancy place for a good meal, an evening of laughter, and some intimate conversation. Some nice, classy places to go are the Kigali Serena, Hotel des Mille Collines or Grand Legacy Hotel. If you want something more intimate, try l’Epicurien with its great ambiance or Crystal Bar and Lounge (Top Tower) with its unmatched view of Kigali. Brachetto restaurant in Kacyiru and Sakae Chinese Restaurant in Nyarutarama are also good choices for their mouth-watering cooking and intimate setup.

Places

L’HACIENDA: Where creative cooking meets great ambience in Burundi

September 14, 2014by Astone Miya0 comments

For a new restaurant to take Buja by storm, there has to be something unique about it. After all, Buja is a city of great food. And yet, right in the centre of town, along Boulevard de l’Uprona, one restaurant has done just that-taken the city by storm. Its name? L’Hacienda.

Every evening, between 80 and 100 travellers, foodies and just about any group of friends will stream into Bujumbura’s latest culinary obsession as if drawn by some inner magic.

But what is it exactly that draws crowds of smiling guests to L’Hacienda?
Maybe it’s the architecture of the place.
The stylish design of the property, with its numerous prominent arches, evokes the architecture of a Spanish Hacienda after which the restaurant takes its name. The smooth curves of the arches give it an open and inviting air. Add to that the great, laid back ambience of the place, with its open-air seating and gushing fountain outside, the soothing tones of the walls and the beautiful art pieces in the interior of the restaurant, and you have the perfect hangout.

The superfast Wi-Fi also makes it ideal for those who (like me) would love to be able to send out quick emails while having a mid-morning coffee or enjoying that late afternoon beer.
Yet these things alone- decor, wireless internet and friendly staff might be found in any number of places.

What sets L’Hacienda apart?
One reason I think L’Hacienda is such a success is that the people behind it seem to work as a team. Owned by a Burundian, the business itself is managed by an amiable Belgian couple-Karim and Lyseth Jaffer. While Karim runs the kitchen, Lysbeth, mostly handles what might be called the externals of the place: decor, staff and communication. This way, they each utilise their individual strengths for the good of the business.

The second, more important reason, is certainly the food! After all, food is the soul of any restaurant, right? And this is precisely where L’Hacienda excels.

Meet the Chef
At the helm of the kitchen in L’Hacienda is a Belgian chef with the heritage of three continents running in his heart. Of Indian heritage, raised in Lubumbashi, having lived many years and married in Belgium, with a three-year stint in 1980s Rwanda, Karim Jaffer’s wide-ranging life experience expresses itself in the unique meals he prepares.

“I craft each meal to be a unique blend of my Indian, African and European culinary experience,” Karim told me in an interview.

The menu is varied and includes both the staples that any competent restaurant should have: standard coffees, spaghetti servings, pizzas and burgers; but also the “Spécialités du Chef” which features some signature dishes specially created by Karim to titillate and give the food lover a delightfully distinctive experience.

The typical meal will tend to merge staple Burundian or other African staples with a European delicacy and a touch of Indian spice and send your taste buds to gourmet heaven.

The staff were friendly enough when I went there and were generally quite willing to recommend some offerings on the menu that I found tasty.

Prices are on the upper side of the medium range by Buja standards but are well worth it considering the benefits.

Moreover, talking to Karim and Lysbeth, it was clear that they still have a number of plans in store to make l’Hacienda even more awesome than it already is; so whether you stay in Buja or are just passing briefly through, drop by sometime and spoil your taste buds to a rare treat!

Blog, Experiences

The Memory Maker

September 14, 2014by Astone Miya0 comments

WOW! Welcome effect.

Our ‘queen’ seemed visibly delighted by the warm reception she had just been accorded and appeared to be in a hurry to ‘hop’ into the next phase of her visit. The bar had been set and every effort had to be made by every member of my team to keep dazzling Mrs. Sinclair.

A great guest or customer experience begins with a great first impression. Make sure to design an experience that delivers nothing short of that. The first impression of a person, product, or place always sets the bar for any relationship; therefore when you raise the bar and manage to keep it there, odds are you can build an enduring relationship with a customer. In a world that’s always on the go, it may not always be easy to keep traditional friendships intact. Thus customers crave, more and more, real relationships with service providers or the people that contribute directly to making their experiences golden and memorable.

Make it personal

What followed was a hearty chat with the guest as we slowly paced towards the main entrance leading to the hotel’s reception.

“Great to have you here Madam Sinclair,” I said, truly meaning it. And as I ushered her into the hotel I said with a flourish, “Welcome to paradise!” and flashed her a heavenly smile.

“It feels really great to be here!” she responded with an equally heavenly smile.

I knew exactly which buttons to press, having done this many times before. When I addressed her by name, I noticed the “OMG!” look in her eyes- she seemed actually surprised that I had taken the trouble to remember it. I loved the whole experience because I knew this was going to go very well!

It is very critical for every Customer Service Provider to fully appreciate and master how to use Emotional Touchpoints during service delivery to produce powerful effects that leave ‘ happy bumps’ on customers. Emotional TouchPoints are aspects of a person’s life or experiences that are important or dear to them. A person’s name is probably the sweetest melody they can ever want to hear in a place they have never been to before or in a place where they are not known. Within five minutes of arrival all the check-in formalities had been completed and David, our Front Desk representative was ready behind the wheel of his golf cart waiting to dutifully chauffeur Mrs. Sinclair to her room.

Delighting Unexpectedly!

What Mrs. Sinclair did not know was that “she had seen nothin’ yet” as the mother of all delights was patiently waiting to pounce on her as soon as she stepped into her room.

Behind the scenes, my team had gathered information from her passport that it was two days after her birthday. The assumption was that whatever the case, her plan must have been to celebrate her birthday during her trip to The Land of a Thousand Hills. So we had a nicely worded card with the words, “Happy Belated Birthday” and a small gift of finely ground Rwanda tea packed in a little ‘agaseke’ basket. This was our version of a flower bouquet since our lodge is located within a tea plantation. Her bed also had extra pillows.

The moment she walked into her room, she stopped, took a long pause…… and slowly the tears of joy started flowing down her wrinkled cheeks as the team, until then hidden strategically behind the curtains, emerged singing “Happy birthday to you…” for her.

Find out in our next issue how this memorable customer experience was simply the grand beginning of a relationship that changed our business like never before.

Healthy, sports

Fit in Kigali

September 14, 2014by Astone Miya0 comments

Struggling With Your Weight? 3 Easy Local solutions to Cut Body Fat Once and For All.

Weight loss. Whether it’s 5, 10, or 40 pounds or whether it’s from unhealthy eating habits or pregnancy, shedding that extra weight is a struggle for everyone. Fortunately, there are great solutions to permanent weight loss right here in Kigali. Let’s forget those quick fixes or occasional diets and focus on the three main reasons why most people struggle to achieve permanent and sustainable weight loss. Then I will give you three easy solutions that can be found locally in Kigali to help you achieve your goals.

Unhealthy Eating
Kigali, the city of 1000 Buffets. As tasty as they may be, they are usually unhealthy unless you choose consciously from the many different options. Matoke, ugali, rice, and potatoes are all carbohydrates that shouldn’t all be on the same plate. They have a high-calorie count and it’s much easier for your body to burn any excess calories from carbohydrates into fat than it is to turn protein and vegetables into fat. In general, you should aim for a healthy nutritional balance between proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.

Solution: Choose a lunch buffet that has a wide variety of vegetables and lean proteins. We recommend the buffets at Shokola Lite, Brachetto, or Sol e Luna which usually features several healthy entrees. Make sure your plate consists of 30% protein, 50 % veggies, and only 20% grains and carbohydrates.

For more detailed advice WAKA Fitness has experienced dieticians who are available for individual consultations for just RWF 7500.

Gym Illiteracy
Working out at a gym will not automatically give you the results you’re looking for. In addition, there are many myths when it comes to getting stronger, leaner, and healthier. Spending your time wisely in the gym by following the right workout program, developed by experienced and educated personal trainers will not only give you better results but also save you time.

Solution: There are many different fitness facilities in Kigali and most, including WAKA, feature personal trainers who can assist with building individualized programs to help you achieve your goals. Here’s a hint for choosing the right personal trainer: if he or she suggests that you do cardiovascular exercises, instead of strength training exercises, to lose weight you may want to find another trainer. Strength training for both men and women has been proven to burn body fat faster and create a stronger and leaner physique.

Commitment
Permanent weight loss and lifestyle change take time and commitment. Not seeing any results is demotivating. Exercising with others, and most importantly, finding the form of exercise that you enjoy will help you stay committed.

Solution: Find others with similar goals and push each other to achieve them. Ask your colleagues or use online social media tools, such as Living in Kigali or Kigali Life, to connect with other people with weight loss goals. Try out different fitness classes or activities available across the city. At WAKA we offer special group exercise classes such as Yoga, Zumba, and Pilates and personal training packages for groups so you can train with a spouse or friend at the same time.

Lifestyle

Born In Rwanda

September 14, 2014by Astone Miya0 comments

CityBlue Hotels: Africa’s fastest-growing hotel chain
It is amazing to think that CityBlue Hotels has only been around since the start of 2013, given the impact the chain has had in the past 18 months across East Africa. Three hotels in Rwanda and one in Uganda have opened in barely a year and a half, and there are plans to set up many more across the entire African continent. The brand is so well recognized now that in Kigali, just ask anyone about CityBlue and they will reply by saying: “Which one? There are three.”

And yet, the idea behind CityBlue Hotels was simply born out of the founder’s frustration at finding a decent hotel to stay, anywhere in East Africa, at a fair price. After doing planning and preparation work for several years, the style-conscious CityBlue Hotels were born, with a focus on providing comfortable, technology-driven bedrooms at reasonable prices- or as their motto says, “5-star locations, 3-star prices”.

CityBlue Hotels represents the new age of hospitality, suited for the modern-day traveler whose key comforts are free WI-FI (and CityBlue plans to be the first regional hotel group to upgrade its already world-class internet to 4G), flat-screen TVs, brilliant beds, excellent food and drink offerings and wonderfully hospitable staff.

While most of CityBlue’s clients tend to be business people, there is an eclectic mix of holiday-makers, gorilla-trekkers, corporates, NGO staff, and traders also. The sign of CityBlue’s successful formula can be seen in its excellent rankings of hotels on TripAdvisor as well as its website, created with the tech-savvy traveler in mind. Bookings can be made directly onwww.citybluehotels.com, even using smartphones! No wonder the group has a full-time Chief Technology Officer!

CityBlue Hotels has three genres of hotel: Urban by CityBlue, the premium quality hotel; Express by CityBlue, the limited-service hotel with great comfort; and the generic CityBlue Hotel. All three are represented in Rwanda.

Urban by CityBlue, Kigali – located on Rue des Parcs, Kiyovu
Urban by CityBlue in Kigali has become well known for its marvelous restaurant, The Bistro, on the rooftop with the most outstanding view of Kigali, sumptuous food, and a distinctly high-end ambiance. This boutique hotel also has a selection of executive and standard bedrooms on par with any 5-star offering in the region, a 30-person conference room, and a new bar called SKY LOUNGE which has recently taken Kigali by storm. Visit the hotel at any time and you will enjoy its soothing feeling on entry, its buzzing atmosphere on the roof, and its incredible view. Enjoy a glass of champagne while the sun sets and know that you are also at Rwanda’s only hotel nominated for the World Luxury Hotel Awards 2014.

Express by CityBlue, Kigali – located next to the Residence of the Ambassador of Tanzania
Express by CityBlue in Kigali has become well known for its comfort, service, subtle beauty, and incredible mattresses that promise a perfect night’s sleep! This boutique hotel also has a wonderfully cute restaurant known as Café Bleu, which offers a selection of dishes from every continent. Every room has been meticulously designed to provide wardrobe space, ironing facilities, tea and coffee makers, and all the amenities. The key with Express is the price: at a fraction of the cost of a night at Urban, clients receive the same warm welcome and an equally comfortable bedroom. What more could one ask for?

CityBlue Hotel, Embassy Row, Kigali – located on Boulevard de L’Umuganda
This CityBlue Hotel in Kigali is located on what’s arguably the city’s most important street, with all the major embassies starting with the American Embassy at one end and ending with the UK High Commission on the other. Everyone knows this CityBlue: it has a magnificent garden, a superb restaurant called Harry’s known for its famous weekday buffet, its selections of wines and beers and its flat-screen TVs showing all the sports channels. Again, this CityBlue Hotel appeals to all types: the business people, the diplomats, the NGO crowd, the travelers, the sports enthusiasts, and the beer garden junkies!

For reservations at any of CityBlue hotels, please call +250 78 78 11111 or +250 78 78 22222 or email reservations.rw@citybluehotels.com.

Culture

Must Sees’ In Gitega Rwanda

July 29, 2014by Astone Miya0 comments

GITEGA NATIONAL MUSEUM
The Gitega National Museum, located at the entry into Gitega city is one of the best places you could go to for archival information about the history of the country. Like the old woman of the clan who knows all the old stories but neglects her appearance, the general aesthetics of the structure leave a lot to be desired, but once you engage with her, the information you gain is well worth the effort.

On display are photographs explaining Burundi’s rich cultural past, ancient monarchies, and architecture. There is also information about the country’s more recent turbulent history, including tragic tales of ethnic conflict and genocide.

GISHORA DRUM SANCTUARY
A Gishora is one of Burundi’s most famous drum sites. It is about 5km from Gitega town and 200m off the Gitega-Ngozi route. It was founded by King Mwezi Gisabo and placed under the care of a local community called ‘Abatimbo’, descendants of the ancient lineage of ‘Abanyigisaka’. The site of Gishora also houses two ritual drums that were never beaten: Ruciteme and Murimirwa. A guide stationed at the site will share their fascinating story. The site also recreates an architectural complex of a Royal palace, rarely found elsewhere in the country.

KARERA FALLS
A visit to these fascinating falls is generally considered a rite of passage for all visitors to Burundi. Karera waterfalls are situated about 45 km East of Gitega town, within an intimate enclave of towering trees. You can take different routes around the falls to see the six branches of the falls in all their glory. In total, the falls are spreads over three levels of dramatic beauty.

The area around Karera falls is also a great place to do some birding as there are a number of rare birds in the area.

THE GERMANS’ FAULT (RIFT)
The Germans’ Rift is also known as the Nyakazu Rift. This site is located 50km due East of Gitega on Nkoma Mountain in Kayove District. The legend goes that the first King of Burundi appeared on this mountain in the 15th century, before progressing to the heights of Muramvya. Nyakazu was a German military Station (BOMA) built for controlling the eastern part of the country up to Tanzania in 1914, the beginning of the First World War. A few stones from this historic building remain visible from the south of the Rift. The name “Germans’ Rift” is inspired by a tale that the plateau of Nkoma on which BOMA was built, “was split by the boots of German soldiers fleeing the Belgian forces”.

Other places you may want to visit include: Gishuha hot water springs (about 10 km north of Gitega city center) and (for Catholics especially) Mugera pilgrimage site (20 km from the center of Gitega) where the first missionaries are said to have arrived in Gitega in the late 19th century.

Tips, Travel

Hotel Faucon: Where Racists Met A King’s Fury

July 29, 2014by Astone Miya0 comments

It was the very first hotel in Rwanda. It was also the scene of one of the most transformative events in Rwanda and Burundi’s history and a major spur for the then-fledgling independence movement.

Located right in the center of Rwanda’s Huye district, Hotel Faucon is one place that has such an interesting history that no one who is truly interested in the story of Rwanda should leave without visiting it.

History of a Whites-only Hotel
At the very spot where the hotel stands was a building in which the Belgian Royal couple stayed during the colonial era. After it was destroyed by fire, a hotel was rebuilt in its place by the building’s owner, Mr. Faucon, in 1943.

In its day, Hotel Faucon was the very definition of luxury. It was also a whites-only establishment and was a favorite entertainment destination for the (then white) administrators of colonial Ruanda-Urundi. Here they could come and relax after the rigors of the week’s work.

As was common in apartheid South Africa, just outside the hotel was a signpost that read, “ENTRY FORBIDDEN TO BLACKS AND TO DOGS”.

Thus the officialdom of colonialism could kick back and chill without being disturbed by any of the people they were trying to ‘civilize’.

A King’s Fury
This little racist club was to receive a rude kick in the rear when it encountered the wrath of a King. The story goes that once, in 1955(?) King Rudahigwa of Rwanda was returning from a visit to neighboring Burundi when he came to the classy Hotel Faucon. Pleased to find a hotel that he had not been to, the tired King ordered his retinue to stop so that they could rest at the hotel awhile.

On approaching the off-white hotel building, the king and his men were stopped in their tracks by the bold words, printed in French, on the signpost right at the hotel’s entrance:

“ENTRY FORBIDDEN TO BLACKS AND TO DOGS”.
The King was furious! In a rage, he stormed into the hotel, leaving the startled gateman paralyzed with fear. In the shade at the hotel’s entrance, the few patrons who sat sipping their refreshments for the day looked up from their drinks and cigars to find themselves face to face with the royal rage.

For, it is said, King Rudahigwa ordered his men to beat up all the white people at the hotel who had dared to compare his people to dogs in their own country.

He then demanded that the hotel opened its doors to any black people who wanted and could afford to use its services, thus effectively removing the race barrier that management had erected at the hotel.

From 1962, when Rwanda got its independence, to this day, Hotel Faucon has been owned and run by Rwandan nationals.

The King’s Chamber

To put a symbolic, royal stamp on the historic upheaval that he had caused in this colonial outpost of privilege, King Rudahigwa moved to ensure a permanent black presence at the hotel. The King commandeered what we would now call “the Presidential Suite” of the hotel for his own use whenever he was in the area.

The King’s chambers stand separate from the rest of the hotel. On entering, one is welcomed by a preserved setting of the living room as it used to be when it was in use by the king. In the center of the room is a set of two chairs with a small table (said to be the original used by the King) in the middle. The Suite also contains a sizeable bathroom, and two bedrooms, a smaller one for one of the King’s guests, and a larger room where the monarch slept. The royal bed is still intact.

Sleep like Royalty
Today, it is possible not only to visit The King’s Chambers at Hotel Faucon but also to rent the actual King’s suite for the night and live, if only briefly, in the same space that was transformed by this revolutionary King.

Sadly, this historic hotel, although quite well preserved, is not in the best shape and may not meet basic international hotel standards. However, it remains a place worth visiting if only for its historic significance.

sports

Bujumbura Golf Club Is Open To Visitors

July 29, 2014by Astone Miya0 comments

INTERVIEW
The Eye Magazine Rwanda & Burundi’s Ngabire Emmanuel recently sat down for a chat with Bujumbura Golf Club President, Mr. Ken Lukongodo. We asked him about the recently concluded and highly acclaimed Burundi Open, about his plans for the club, and what golf tourists can expect from Bujumbura Golf Club.

Q: You recently hosted a highly successful golf event-The Burundi Open. Congratulations!

A: Thank you. It was simply overwhelming!

Q. The Open managed to attract many pro golfers from all over East Africa; it was widely covered in most of the top media outlets in the region. Were you surprised by the event’s success?

I would say yes and no. In a way, the Open’s success was inevitable given that we had a really good team that worked so hard to make sure everything was on point. In a special way, I want to thank my Captain and the rest of the committee that helped with the organization, as well as the other members of the club. I also must mention our other partners: first, the government of Burundi, our main sponsors, Heineken and Interbank, Roca Golf Hotel, as well as our other co-sponsors, all of whom came together to make the event a success.

Q. Such high-profile events are sure to attract attention from Golfers and golf lovers around the world….

I hope so! Bujumbura Golf Club is open to all golfers from around the world. I invite them to drop in and play some golf on our excellent course.

Q. So, who is welcome?
First of all, I would like to encourage all golf lovers to join the club. You can pass by and get details on how to join. We also welcome any golfer who can prove that he/she is a member of another Golf Club anywhere in the world is welcome. Moreover, golfers from reciprocating clubs are treated as members. They don’t pay green fees. Also, anybody-even a non-golfer- who has been invited by a member of the Golf Club is welcome to the club as a guest.

Q. Where do most of your ‘golf tourists’ tend to come from?
They are mostly Rwandans, especially around their holidays which tend to coincide with those of Burundi. We also have partners like Roca Golf Hotel and Village Hotel who have an arrangement with the club that allows playing guests of theirs to access the course. For instance, Roca Golf Hotel pays full membership for three virtual members to the club, and so any playing guests of theirs can take advantage of that. In the case of Village hotel, a playing guest simply presents a chit from the hotel at the club, and they are allowed to play.

Most of the other playing visitors we have are from the region.

Q. You are now a few months into your tenure as President. What can we expect in the coming year?

A. We have a number of plans, some ongoing, others for the future. Already, we have an arrangement with Roca Golf Hotel that will ensure that we can play golf all year round. Roca did a matching grant with us to irrigate not just the greens but the fairways as well. Thus we shall not have to close the course in the dry season like we used to.

We also plan to partner with some sponsors to cover the part of the course that is marshland. Finally, we want to build a wall around the entire entente sportive. Then we can let the walls out for advertising billboards. That will bring in some extra revenue to the club.

Bujumbura Golf Club is going places!

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Author: Astone Miya