{"id":55130,"date":"2025-08-05T15:18:41","date_gmt":"2025-08-05T15:18:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/discover-chez-drocella-eglantine-lodge-where-nyanza-s-beauty-comes-to-life\/"},"modified":"2025-08-05T15:19:16","modified_gmt":"2025-08-05T15:19:16","slug":"discover-chez-drocella-eglantine-lodge-where-nyanza-s-beauty-comes-to-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/discover-chez-drocella-eglantine-lodge-where-nyanza-s-beauty-comes-to-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Discover Chez Drocella Eglantine Lodge, where Nyanza\u2019s beauty comes to life"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Beyond remittances, some members of the diaspora have chosen to invest in impactful projects back home. One such individual is Mukarugwiza Drocelle, who lives in Rwanda and Germany.<\/p>\n<p>Mukarugwiza invested in the Nyanza District, specifically in Busasamana Sector, in an area known as Gihisi.<\/p>\n<p>Among her initiatives in Gihisi is Gira Impuhwe Primary School, as well as Chez Drocella Eglantine Lodge, which welcomes tourists and visitors exploring Nyanza.<\/p>\n<p>The guest house boasts a beautiful garden, comfortable guest rooms, conference facilities, and more.<\/p>\n<p>It is located approximately 100 kilometers from Kigali and 36 kilometers from Huye.<br \/>\nChez Drocella Eglantine Lodge blends comfort with cultural richness. <\/p>\n<p>Surrounded by lush gardens, the lodge offers cozy rooms, peaceful verandas, meeting spaces, and the soothing sounds of nature. Guests are welcomed with fresh air, the fragrance of blooming flowers, and the melodic chirping of birds in the morning.<\/p>\n<p>Meals are freshly prepared using ingredients sourced from local farms. For those curious about rural life, guests can tour nearby cattle farms, enjoy fresh milk, or engage with local traditions in Nyanza.<\/p>\n<p>In an interview with IGIHE, Mukarugwiza reflected on her journey. She and her husband began their work in Gihisi in 1990, long before it became a travel destination.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAt the time, we were caring for children living with HIV\/AIDS\u2014many had been abandoned and left without support,\u201d she recalled. \u201cAfter the Genocide against the Tutsi, our mission turned to helping survivors, especially widows, girls, and orphaned children.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She explained that the area has now been transformed into a guest house, but they continue to use the income to support genocide survivors and ensure children at the school have access to essential learning materials.<\/p>\n<p>Mukarugwiza invited Rwandans from Nyanza and friends in the diaspora, as well as visitors from across Rwanda, come and experience the breathtaking views of Mwima and Mushirarungu hills.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"670\" height=\"377\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/BGYVMv6BMfw\" title=\"Amacumbi meza: Dutemberane Chez Drocella Eglantine Lodge i Nyanza\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-92093\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/361d3d4b-a967-4cf0-9488-1fa095be527b-2958b-2.jpg\" alt=\"Chez Drocella Eglantine Lodge, founded by Mukarugwiza Drocelle, is located in Busasamana Sector, Nyanza District.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-92092\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/57be3ea5-738e-44ea-a14d-b01784b94f26-72730.jpg\" alt=\"Mukarugwiza Drocelle, who lives in both Germany and Rwanda, invested in the development of Nyanza District through projects like Chez Drocella Eglantine Lodge in Gihisi.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-92095\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/mukarugwiza_yereka_umunyamakuru_wa_igihe_ibikorwa_bye-d5a16.jpg\" alt=\"Mukarugwiza Drocelle showcases her work to IGIHE journalist during a recent site visit.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-92094\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/amashuri_y_abana_baturiye_aka_karere_ari_mu_bikorwa_bya_mukarugwiza_afasha_abana_bahiga_biturutse_mubyo_guest_house_chez_drocella_eglantine_yinjiza-e0079.jpg\" alt=\"Supporting children\u2019s education in Nyanza is part of Mukarugwiza Drocelle\u2019s mission, helping students access the resources they need.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-92096\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/uko_hagaragara_n_ijoro-183be.jpg\" alt=\"Chez Drocella Eglantine Lodge offers a peaceful and inviting atmosphere, even at night.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-92098\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/whatsapp_image_2025-08-04_at_3.06_39_pm-00965.jpg\" alt=\"Chez Drocella Eglantine Lodge is a charming guest house featuring well-furnished and comfortable rooms.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-92097\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/whatsapp_image_2025-08-04_at_3.25_47_pm-4cf00.jpg\" alt=\"The lodge also has cows on-site, and guests are warmly welcomed with fresh milk.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-92099\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/whatsapp_image_2025-08-04_at_3.04_53_pm-662a1.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-92100\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/mukarugwiza_aganira_ubwo_yakiraga_umunyamakuru_wa_igihe-fecf1.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-92101\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/whatsapp_image_2025-08-04_at_3.05_08_pm-8747c.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-92102\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/whatsapp_image_2025-08-04_at_3.05_40_pm-48394.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-92103\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/whatsapp_image_2025-08-04_at_3.06_46_pm-dc3ae.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-92104\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/whatsapp_image_2025-08-04_at_3.05_56_pm-d3456.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-92105\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/whatsapp_image_2025-08-04_at_3.06_52_pm-9409d.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-92106\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/whatsapp_image_2025-08-04_at_3.06_57_pm-15234.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-92107\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/whatsapp_image_2025-08-04_at_3.07_05_pm-eb10c.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-92108\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/whatsapp_image_2025-08-04_at_3.07_10_pm-84c58.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-92109\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/whatsapp_image_2025-08-04_at_3.07_19_pm-a1527.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-92110\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/whatsapp_image_2025-08-04_at_3.07_28_pm-b0e13.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-92111\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/whatsapp_image_2025-08-04_at_3.25_47_pm_1_-93078.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-92112\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/whatsapp_image_2025-08-04_at_3.25_58_pm-b87b9.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<p>karirima@igihe.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For over three decades, Rwandans living abroad have played a significant role in the country\u2019s development, contributing through remittances and, increasingly, through direct investments. In 2024 alone, remittances from the diaspora reached $502 million, up from $274 million in 2020.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":62,"featured_media":2000092091,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[75],"byline":[269],"hashtag":[],"class_list":["post-55130","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tourism","tag-homenews","byline-karirima-aimable-ngarambe"],"bylines":[{"id":269,"name":"Karirima Aimable Ngarambe","slug":"karirima-aimable-ngarambe","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":null}],"contributors":[{"id":269,"name":"Karirima Aimable Ngarambe","slug":"karirima-aimable-ngarambe","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":null}],"featured_image":{"id":2000092091,"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/361d3d4b-a967-4cf0-9488-1fa095be527b-2958b.jpg","alt":"","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","width":0,"height":0,"sizes":{"thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/361d3d4b-a967-4cf0-9488-1fa095be527b-2958b.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"medium":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/361d3d4b-a967-4cf0-9488-1fa095be527b-2958b.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"medium_large":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/361d3d4b-a967-4cf0-9488-1fa095be527b-2958b.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"large":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/361d3d4b-a967-4cf0-9488-1fa095be527b-2958b.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"full":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/361d3d4b-a967-4cf0-9488-1fa095be527b-2958b.jpg","width":0,"height":0}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55130","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/62"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=55130"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55130\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2000092091"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=55130"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=55130"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=55130"},{"taxonomy":"byline","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/byline?post=55130"},{"taxonomy":"hashtag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hashtag?post=55130"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}