Rwanda · TOUR REVIEWS
A week here is one permit, two parks and a lot of driving between hills. The 15 below are the days worth building that week around, priced and timed, with the full catalogue underneath when you want to go deeper.
Start at 9:30 am near Kigali Marriott Hotel for a six-hour guided circuit of markets, milk bars, street art, Mount Kigali, cafes, and the Genocide Memorial. Guides such as Desiree, Eric, and Colombe bring a personal touch, with lunch, drinks, entrance fees, and hotel drop-off included.
“Desiree was absolutely incredible. This is a must do if you are ever in Rawanda. Every stop was better than the last. We did not want the tour to end. Thank you!”
Join Gloria, an English-speaking local guide, for a 150-minute introduction to Kigali. Walk through Biryogo, visit Inema Arts Centre and the Belgian Peacekeepers Memorial, explore Downtown, and use a motorbike or taxi between some stops. The route can be adjusted to your interests.
“We had a great tour with Gloria! She is knowledgeable but also very friendly and happy to answer questions. She shares with you her love for Kigali & Rwanda.”
Spend 13 to 15 hours traveling from Kigali to Akagera National Park in a private safari vehicle. Guides such as Ben, Jean Paul, Anaclet, and Amour focus on finding lions, rhinos, elephants, giraffes, and more. Lunch, hotel transfers, drinking water, and optional Lake Ihema boat rides are part of the plan.
“The team is great! My friend and I didn't realize we'd booked solo trips and they let us go together. Jean Pierre was a great guide Olivier was fabulous at answering all my questions beforehand.”
Spend about eight hours with a private guide such as Christian, Jean Bosco, Serge, or Emmanuel, seeing Kigali from local markets to Mount Kigali. You get airport or hotel pickup, bottled water, lunch, private air-conditioned transport, and time at the Kigali Genocide Memorial.
“Great Kigali city tour, very varied, I particularly enjoyed the visit to the local market, the river and the genocide memorial (which was informative). The wifi in the vehicle is a very nice addition to the tour. My driver/guide Christian was very friendly and accommodating.”
Explore Kigali on foot with a local guide such as Gloria or Shark, stopping at Ivuka Arts, the Belgian Peacekeepers Memorial, Nyamirambo, Biryogo, and City Market. This 2.5-hour tour mixes culture, food, neighborhoods, and practical city advice.
“This was a big waste of time and money. I got nothing out of it. The guy leading the tour has nothing to offer. If this tour isn't removed from the tour offerings then something is very wrong.”
Spend three hours cycling Kigali with an English-speaking guide such as John, Shark, or Mohamed. Electric bikes handle the hills, while the route links Biryogo, Imbuga City Walk, Nyarutarama Golf Lake, local markets, city viewpoints, and a breakfast stop.
“The tour was brilliant. Such a nice way to see Kigali and our guide John was great.”
Leave Kigali at 5:30 am for a private 4x4 safari in Akagera National Park. With a professional driver-guide, lunch, park entry, and pickup included, you will search for lions, elephants, rhinos, buffaloes, leopards, hippos, giraffes, and crocodiles.
“My Driver Christian was amazing. He arrived at my hotel 20 minutes early, and was with me from 5:30am until 9:30pm. I am traveling for business by myself so I went on the tour solo. He was always polite and professional, and an expert driver on the very bumpy roads. We sRead more”
Meet guide Malik at Club Rafiki, transfer to the trailhead, and walk Mount Kigali through hillside farms and village paths. You’ll see wide Kigali views, meet local residents, and learn about daily life. Water and local fruit are included, with optional hotel transport for $10.
“This was an amazing tour. The views were absolutely stunning and Malik was so kind and a great guide who explained the history of the villages to me very well, and even took me to a local milk bar after as well as helped me find a taxi to a sunset roof spot, and gave some recs for cheaper spots with the same view! He went above and beyond to help me incuding rearranging my pickup to accommodate me. I highly reccomend this tour!!”
See Kigali’s key sights by private vehicle with a guide such as Darius, Djabil, or Alex. The tour includes hotel pickup, bottled water, admission, Mt. Kigali views, two memorial sites, the Campaign Against Genocide Museum, and market time.
“Darius was very flexible, but still got to all the key sites during our 4 hour tour. It was enjoyable and vehicle was impeccable!”
Meet at Umurishyo Arts Gallery for a 150-minute to 3-hour coffee workshop led in English, French, or Swahili. You will process beans, try traditional and modern roasting, pound coffee, and taste local blends with guides such as Gilbert, John, Deborah, and Chaplan.
“This is a must do activity on your trip to Kigali!! We had so much fun, it is not to be missed. We were welcome by some drums and then we got to execute all steps of a traditional coffee experience from opening the fruit to roasting the beans and pounding the coffee. Afterwards we drank coffee (both black and prepared with ginger) and chatted with the owner. She and her husband opened the center to fund their NGO. They also use the money they make to get kids off the streets and back in school. The artisan crafts they are selling are made by those kids. Spread the word…”
Spend 7 to 8 hours seeing Kigali by car and on foot, from Gahanga Market and Nyamirambo to Rebero’s views and the Kigali Genocide Memorial. A local driver-guide such as Bosco leads the day, with hotel pickup, WiFi, lunch on morning tours, and a rooftop drink included.
“Great trip great tour guide. He catered to my needs 100%. We seen vervet monkeys and he drove back so that I can get a picture of them”
Explore Kigali by air-conditioned vehicle with a local guide such as Ange, Hurry, or Harry. Visit the Genocide Memorial, Mount Kigali, Biryogo, city art galleries, markets, and Nyandungu Eco-Park, with pickup, drinks, WiFi, and local food included.
“Fue una experiencia increíble aunque confieso que ir a genocide memorial center me hizo llorar y quien no con esa historia tan desgarradora que vivió Ruanda hace 30 años, no deja de doler, pero la gente allí han recuperado la tranquilidad, pues tienen una ciudad muy hermosa y su seguridad es increíble 🫂🙌🏾✊🏾”
Join guide Shark for a three-hour Kigali e-bike ride capped at seven people. Pedal past the Convention Centre and Nyarutarama, stop at Biryogo Food Street and Imbuga City Walk, visit Niyo Art Gallery, and enjoy breakfast along the way.
“Friendly guide who is kind and really welcoming. I'll definitely come again for the experience when I visit Kigali again”
Spend two relaxed hours in a Kigali garden learning traditional basket weaving from Rwandan artisans such as Sandrine. Materials, tools, cultural stories, and guidance are included. You may make a coaster, small bowl, or little basket to take home, with translation available when needed.
“It was a nice experience and the treatment of the woman was very smooth in my education Thank you from the heart”
Spend about six hours canoeing near Musanze with Kingfisher Journeys, mostly on the calm Mukungwa River and around the Twin Lakes area. Guides such as Eve, Yves, Sharon, and Eloi have led trips praised for safety, bird knowledge, and friendly instruction. Expect rural views, small rapids, and a wet ride.
“We had a lovely tour with a lot of bird watching and a perfect weather. Benjamin was great and the atmosphere was charming”
Choose the hill you want to end up on.
