Best and Unique Rwanda Souvenirs – Gorilla trekking souvenir shopping – buy from the local store – directly from the craftsmen.
Best and unique Rwanda souvenirs – It’s not like Kigali has a lot of shopping malls, But there are a few really nice items you can take home with you and which will always remind you of your trip to Kigali and Rwanda. One of them is the traditional woven baskets that come with a high cover. They are called agaseke in the local language and they have a historically long tradition in Rwanda.
Agaseke baskets have been used for decades and are some of the most pervasive household items in Rwanda. At home, they are used to keep anything, from money to food, and on special occasions, they would be used to present someone with a gift in the most honorable manner.
There are a few places to buy the baskets and other souvenirs in Kigali. The first one we already talked about, for affordable and colorful handicrafts, nothing beats the Kimironko market which has it all and is also one of the things to do in Kigali. You can buy the beautiful handwoven baskets that come in bright colors or perhaps a piece of fabric to make a table set or a sarong.
Best and unique Rwanda souvenirs – If you’re looking for something more upscale and pretty, Heaven restaurant has a nice shop called Azizi life boutique where you can buy local handicrafts or honey made in the area around Kigali. The Marriott Hotel’s souvenir shop run by the Go Kigali team also stores a lot of the best souvenirs in Kigali.
Become part of a weaving cooperative for the day. The Azizi Life Experience morning begins with a drive to a nearby village, where you and your Azizi Life interpreter will be welcomed by the ladies of the weaving cooperative.
After introductions from your hostess, a morning of family chores begins. You might help out in the kitchen, collect water from the valley spring, cut grass for the farm animals and get out in the fields for a seasonal agricultural activity.
At noontime, you’ll share a simple local meal with your host family, with plenty of time to chat and learn about each other’s lives. After lunch, you will join with the artisan cooperative for an afternoon of weaving. You will learn how to harvest and prepare the natural fibers, and then the artisans will teach you how to create your own piece of sisal jewelry. You will love sitting with the ladies as you weave and laugh together.
The day finishes back at the Azizi Life office, with a cold Fanta and a chance to think back over the highlights of the day. There you can browse through some of the beautiful crafts made by the Azizi Life artisans and do a little fair trade shopping.
