As Musanze continues to live up to its reputation as Rwanda’s tourism hub, new hospitality ventures are also coming up to accommodate the ever-increasing number of visitors that come to see its fabled attractions.
One of the newest facilities located in the heart of Musanze town is Filon d’OR Guest House, which also doubles as a campsite catering to budget travellers.
I Rwanda’s Joseph talked to its proprietor, Edward Byanone Rusizana.
Can you briefly tell us about yourself?
I was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1962. My parents fled the ethnic conflict that was raging in Rwanda at that time and it is in DRC where I also received my primary, secondary and college education and started my first job as a primary school teacher in the country before coming to Rwanda after the country was liberated in 1994.
When you came to Rwanda, did you continue with your teaching profession?
By the time I came back, Rwanda had just emerged from the devastating 1994 genocide. However, this was the period of the beginning of its reconstruction and I found out that there were many opportunities, particularly for those of us who were educated.
I joined the local government and worked in different capacities in several districts, including Gakenke, Musanze, and Burera.
Having satisfied myself that I had served my country, and seen how fast the country was reconstructing itself, I left the local government and founded my own consultancy firm.
It was my experience dealing with different people that made me think about what I further needed to do with my life, and used my savings to purchase a piece of land in the middle of Musanze town. The construction work of the guest house started five years ago.
Did you have any prior experience in this kind of business?
Venturing into the hospitality industry came to me seeing that Musanze town attracts visitors from all corners of the world to see its attractions, particularly in and around the Volcanoes National Park.
Though I didn’t have this kind of experience before, I saw an opportunity to put up a place where visitors could come and enjoy what they want to see and experience in Rwanda, particularly in Musanze.
This is also the first campsite that is located right in the middle of the town that also offers guests easy access to attractions found in Musanze district. The location of the plot naturally made me to put up a world class accommodation.
Is the guesthouse providing something unique that others don’t offer?
I am proud to say that the location of the guesthouse itself is quite unique. Found in an elevated middle of Musanze town, it offers a picturesque view of the downtown and the hills. Guests have easy access to major attractions in Musanze.
What vision for the guesthouse?
This is the first of its kind that is opened in Musanze. I would like to open up other branches in other towns so that we have a chain of accommodations under the same name.
