Search
Live Chat
Go Back

Imbabazi Orphanage

After Rwanda's genocide in 1994, many children were orphaned and lost contact with their families. Rosamond (known to her friends as Roz) Carr traded her life as a fashion illustrator in New York for life on a plantation at the foothills of the Virunga Volcanoes in Rwanda. She later turned her plantation into an orphanage, to rescue the children who were lost and orphaned during the genocide. She named the orphanage Imbabazi which in Kinyarwanda, means "a place where one receives love and care that a mother would offer."

Since its foundation, the Orphanage has cared for over 400 children from both the Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups, who fought each other during the genocide. All children in the Orphanage, regardless of their ethnic background, received equal love and care without discrimination.

Children at Imbabazi Orphanage smiling for the camera
Children at Imbabazi Orphanage smiling for the camera

Today, the Orphanage does not accept residents because of the changing needs of the community. Most of the children have been reunited, some with their families while others have been able to live on their own. The reunification program is in support of the Rwandan government’s objective to reintroduce the orphans into the community. Through the reunification project, the orphanage identifies practical or secure families for the children to be placed with. Qualified staff visit the families before and after placing the children into their care, to make sure that the living conditions are safe, and that the children are adjusting well. Despite being placed into the care of a new family, the children continue to get financial support from the orphanage, so as to study and complete their education.

The Orphanage’s Gucutsa program assists children who are nearing adulthood to prepare them for living independently, outside of the orphanage. This program helps the secondary and vocational school graduates to secure jobs, internships, housing, mentor ship and financial guidance. Once completed, the “children” are considered independent and encouraged to live and work in the community without the supervision of the Orphanage. However, the staff do still follow-up with the “children”, to ensure that they are living in a secure environment, while developing good life skills.

Children at Imbabazi Orphanage smiling for the camera
Children at Imbabazi Orphanage smiling for the camera

Even after the death of the founder Rosamond, in 2006, the orphanage continues its good work and many of the Rwandan children are still benefiting from it. Check out their website to read more about the excellent work of the orphanage.

Booking Enquiry

To make a booking, please complete this form or click here to chat to one of our sales consultants via our live chat. Alternatively, send us an email on [email protected].
To protect gorillas from disease, no children under 15 years are allowed to go gorilla tracking. For guests booking a stay at Virunga Lodge, please note that the minimum age limit for children at Virunga Lodge is 12 years.
We use cookies to offer you a better browsing experience, analyse site traffic and personalise content. Read about how we use cookies and how you can control them by checking our privacy policy. If you continue to use this site, you consent to our use of cookies.

Safari Activities

Chimpanzee Tracking

Tracking chimpanzees in their natural habitat, as they swing from the branches in the canopy high above the forest floor is nothing short of exhilarating. The chimps effortlessly cross and scamper through the trees above the gorge, and visitors on the other hand must cross the river using natural bridges in order to keep up with the chimps. So although the walk usually lasts only 2–3 hours, descending the steep gorge and crossing the log bridges over the river requires some agility and fitness.

Chimpanzee tracking is also available in nearby Kalinzu, a forest reserve 30 minutes drive from Kyambura Gorge Lodge where there is a community of about 40 habituated chimpanzees.