Our Story
The Story of the Place
Rutété is a word from the Kinyarwanda language. It means a small, light basket of modest size.
Traditionally, this basket is used to carry, share, and transport. It remains open. It hides nothing. It passes from hand to hand.
In the Akagera region, and more specifically in Rwinkwavu, the basket is closely linked to fertile land, harvests, and simple abundance.
It evokes an open territory shaped by agriculture, water, and exchange. Rutété embodies this idea: an open, welcoming, and generous place—one that receives and one that transmits.
The Story of the Lodge
The story of Rutété begins with Julienne Toch. Julienne is of mixed heritage, born to a Rwandan mother and a Belgian father. Her father settled in Rwanda to make use of the richness of the region’s soil, developing a mining activity in Rwinkwavu. Just a few steps from the mine, a colonial house was built around 1930. This is where he lived.
In Rwinkwavu, he met Julienne’s mother, who worked as a midwife at the Rwinkwavu hospital. Julienne spent her childhood in this house, surrounded by her parents and siblings. Then came departure—studies in Belgium, followed by a life shared between Europe and the United States.
Over time, a deeper need emerged: to reconnect, to rediscover her roots, and to honor her father’s story and family legacy. Julienne began the process of reclaiming the family land. The house was then in poor condition, abandoned for years. The place seemed asleep. After long administrative procedures, she finally recovered the home of her childhood. One thing became clear: this place would become the project of her life.
The Birth of the Eco Lodge
The idea was simple: to make use of the vast land. To cultivate. To plant. To bring the soil back to life—with vegetables, fruits, flowers, and native species. A farm gradually took shape: pigs, ponies, ducks, turkeys, chickens, rabbits, a fish pond, two dogs, and a cat. Biodiversity became central. So did open space and fresh air.
Rutété Eco Lodge was conceived as a living ecosystem. Over the years, the site transformed. Vegetation grew dense and lush.
The outdoors became a nourishing jungle. The food served at the guest table comes from the property itself or from nearby producers, fishers, and farmers.
Agricultural surpluses are redistributed through local markets or shared with other initiatives in the region.
Craftsmanship at the Heart of the Project
Rutété is founded on a fundamental principle: creating with the people of this land. The lodge is deeply engaged with the communities of Rwinkwavu and its surroundings. It employs, trains, and supports local workers, ensuring the transmission of skills and the recognition of local expertise.
Building restoration, furniture making, decoration, and daily improvements are all carried out on site. The lodge’s workshops are alive: basket weaving, woodworking, metalwork, pottery, gardening, animal care, and laundry. Everything is done by hand, using traditional methods. Nothing is automated. Nothing is motorized.
Rutété is a place of slowness—of thoughtful gestures, respect for craftsmanship, and knowledge passed from one generation to the next.
