The Royal King’s Palace in Huye District, Rwanda, is a beautifully crafted thatched building shaped like a beehive. It is a replica of the original royal residence.
Nyanza, where the palace is located, was once the heart of Rwanda. According to oral history, it was a site of conflicts and power struggles.
For a long time, the king moved the court between various locations, but Nyanza eventually became the kingdom’s permanent capital.
At its peak, the capital had 2,000 inhabitants, with cottages built using the same traditional techniques showcased today.
The Inyambo cattle (long-horned cattle) are descendants of the king’s royal herd. Their caretakers carefully look after them and sing to them, preserving this unique tradition.
These elegant cows, originally from the larger Ankole breed, played an important role in royal ceremonies. They were beautifully decorated and trained to respond to songs from their handlers, moving gracefully as a symbol of royal pride.
After Rwanda gained independence in 1962, the monarchy was abolished. However, the Rwanda Agriculture Board continues to manage the grooming and breeding of Inyambo cattle, keeping this cultural heritage alive.
The nearby Huye Ethnographic Museum complements the King’s Palace and holds one of Africa’s best ethnographic collections.
The museum contains relics from Rwanda’s last known kings, as well as some of the oldest traditional tools and artifacts.
Huye, once Rwanda’s capital, was a popular tourist destination and remains a significant cultural hub today.
Huye’s Attractions and Features
- Hotel Fáucon: This hotel, with its architecture resembling ancient Greek towns, remains a charming gateway to Butare’s city center (Huye’s former name).
- Heritage and Culture: Huye is considered Rwanda’s cultural and historical center. The town is exceptionally clean during the dry season, though it becomes very wet during the rainy season.
- Education: Huye is home to Rwanda’s oldest higher learning institution, the National University of Rwanda, which merged with other universities in 2013 to form the University of Rwanda.
- Queen Rosalie Gicanda’s Residence: Huye also houses the ruins of Queen Rosalie Gicanda’s former home. Queen Gicanda was tragically killed during the 1994 Genocide, and efforts are ongoing to develop her palace as a tourist site.
Geography & Climate
Huye District is bordered by Nyanza to the north, Gisagara to the south and east, Nyamagabe to the north, and Nyaruguru to the west.
The district’s terrain is hilly, stretching from the west to the east. As you approach the northwest, the landscape becomes more mountainous, with steep hills and tall peaks. The western side of Huye is dominated by prominent mountains, including the famous Huye Peak.
Huye receives about 1,200 millimeters of rainfall annually, with an average temperature of around 19°C.
This mix of cultural richness, historical significance, and natural beauty makes Huye an essential destination for anyone visiting Rwanda.