Banana Beer Brewery: Traditional Brew in the Local Village

Harvest green bananas and ferment them into beer using century-old Rwandan methods

A hands-on class in Volcanoes National Park where you learn to make traditional banana beer alongside a rural host family. You'll collect green bananas and leaves in the morning, dig up pre-buried fruit to peel and mash using traditional techniques, then finish the day tasting the fermented brew at a local pub. The experience includes bottled water and a simple meal with your host family. A live guide speaks English or French.

Step-by-step itinerary

Traditional banana beer brewing experience

• Collect green bananas and leaves
• Dig hole to bury bananas
• Enjoy simple meal with host family
• Collect water from tap
• Dig up already-buried bananas
• Peel, mash, and strain bananas
• Taste banana beer at local pub

The experience

Banana beer has anchored Rwandan celebrations for generations, and this class teaches you the full process from harvest to fermentation. In the morning you'll work with your host to gather green bananas and leaves from the land, then dig a hole to bury them for ripening. The actual fermentation takes four days, but your hosts will have bananas already in the ground waiting for you, so you'll dig those up instead and move straight into the hands-on work: peeling, mashing, and straining the fruit using the same methods families have relied on for decades.

After a simple meal with the host family, you'll head to collect water from the tap before heading to the local pub where the beer is boiled and sold to the community. This is where you'll taste what you've made and take a bottle home. The whole experience runs about five hours and includes bottled water throughout. A live guide in English or French leads the class, and pickup is included in the booking.

What’s included

• Bottled water.
• a simple meal with your host family.
• instruction in traditional banana beer fermentation.
• a taste of the finished brew at the local pub.
• live guide in English or French.
• pickup included.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (30 to 49 years) · Senior (50 to 75 years) · Youth (18 to 29 years) · Under 18: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 4 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Beyond the Gorillas Experience

Is this one for you?The five-hour commitment leaves room for other activities in Volcanoes National Park on the same day, though the hands-on work and travel to a rural location mean you'll spend the morning and early afternoon on the class itself.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (18 to 29 years). Under 18: they can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly do I learn to make during this class?

You learn to make banana beer using traditional Rwandan fermentation methods. You'll peel, mash, and strain already-ripened bananas by hand, then taste the finished brew at a local pub where it's prepared and sold to locals.

Do I really dig up bananas that have been buried for four days?

The fermentation process takes four days, but your host family will have bananas already buried and ready for you to dig up on the day of the class, so you won't wait around for the ripening to happen.

What's included in the price?

Bottled water, a simple meal with your host family, the guided instruction, pickup, and a taste of the finished banana beer at the local pub are all included.