Butare

The small and peaceful town of Butare is a two hour drive from Kigali. Butare is commonly referred to as Rwanda's intellectual centre as the national university is stationed here. The town is busy and has a mixed population of roughly 77 000. The atmosphere is relatively laid-back, most likely due to the high concentration of students. The tree lined streets of the residential areas provide a quiet contrast from the main centre, and are pleasant for wandering around in. In town you can stroll through the vibrant market (there are also a number of small hotels in this area) or watch some traditional dancing.

The National museum of Rwanda, opened in 1988, consists of seven large rooms illustrating the history and culture of Rwanda. This collection of cultural and historic exhibits is beautifully presented and the museum should be visited if you're nearby.

Everything in town is within walking distance, and the museum and university are only 5km apart. If you do get tired, there are a few, albeit dented, taxis on the main street.

A few kilometres out of town, visit the Viaki Crafts village. The 'village', created by a number of wood carvers, is made up of a workshop, a store and snack-bar. Often, visitors watch as the woodcarvers work their timber into works of art.

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