Top Things to do in Rwanda
What to do and see in Rwanda, Rwanda: The Best Bus Tours
Discover the best top things to do in Rwanda, Rwanda including Experience Traditional Construction, 1-day Rwanda Gorilla Tour, 3 Day Gorilla Trekking Budget Safari in Uganda, 2 Day Gorilla Trekking Safari in Uganda via Kigali, Tea and coffee tours, Scenic walk around volcanoes, Kigali City Private Tour (History, Culture, Art and Markets), Women-led Coffee Farm Trek, 1 Day Trip Akagera National Park , 1 day Trip to Lake kivu beach.
Restaurants in Rwanda
1. Experience Traditional Construction
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3 reviews
Learn about traditional building techniques, some of them used since the times of the King. Experience the traditional ways of construction in Rwanda with a local community for a day.
Inclusions: Gratuities, Local taxes, Bottled water, Lunch, All activities, Local guide, Transport from Muhanga (Gitarama) Town to the Village
Exclusions: Transportation to/from Kigali, however, this can be arranged for an additional charge
Reviewed By agabamama
My young girls and I spent a day at Azizi and it was so formative and memorable. The women were wonderful hostesses and gave us a true love and appreciation for Rwandan culture. We highly reccomend this experience!
2. 1-day Rwanda Gorilla Tour
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
Volcanoes National Park is situated about two hours from Kigali city, Rwanda’s capital. The drive to the park is scenic – viewing the beautiful mountains and green forests, which gave Rwanda its name as the “land of a thousand hills.” Gorilla trekking can take minutes or hours depending on where the gorillas decide to rest from the previous day. When you finally meet the mountain gorillas, you will have a magical chance to see them feeding and crushing through the underbrush, babies running around and full-grown gorillas inching toward observers loudly declaring their importance.
Inclusions: Professional guide, Hotel pickup and drop-off (if option selected), Transport by private vehicle, Lunch and Bottled Water
Exclusions: Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase), Gorilla Permits, Personal Insurance and International Flight
Reviewed By bdjshh
We planned our own itinerary , so what was Most important for us was the guide. We interviewed quite a few former customers of different guides, and finally settled on Augustine. He got glowing recommendations from people who had been with him, and even so, he managed to exceed our expectations. He is immensely knowledgeable- not a single question we came up with, that he didn't know how to answer. He is totally honest and punctual. Whatever you agree on - is carried out to the letter. He is a great and careful driver. He is extremely friendly polite and nice. But the really impressive part is his concern for his clients wellbeing and pleasure. He takes enormous pains, with great interpersonal sensitivity, to see that you get maximum pleasure and experiences from your trip. We have been to numerous out of the way places, where we needed local guides/drivers, and have had some really good ones, but Augustine is in a league of his own.
3. 3 Day Gorilla Trekking Budget Safari in Uganda
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4 reviews
We've got you covered if you want to see more in less time! The 3-day gorilla trekking safari offered by Bamboo Ecotours takes you to the most stunning tourist attractions in southwestern Uganda. The major highlight of the tour is gorilla trekking adventure at Bwindi National Park. If time allows, guests will have an option to do optional activities on Day 1 and Day 3. Optional activities include canoe trekking at Lake Mutanda, Batwa cultural experience, and golden monkey trekking at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Inclusions: Lunch, Breakfast, Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch, Dinner, Lunch, Gorilla permits, transfers, park entry fees
Exclusions: Travel insurance, flights, tips, porter fees
Reviewed By Quest402245
We are fanatically independent travellers who refuse to go for all-in packages but prefer to vet hotels ourselves and arrange independent transport. This may not be right for everyone but that's the way we roll. We made up our own itinerary for a Kenyan/Ugandan trip but the reality of real journey distances, gorilla permits and other unknowns drove us to choose a company that would respect our wishes while offering on-the-ground advice. The Ugandan leg was Bamboo Eco Tours. My first contact with Edison and his calm knowledgeable Whattsups assured us that we had chosen the right company. At one point I accidentally transferred our entire hotel pre-payments to the Eco Tours account. No problem. Edison transferred the money himself out of his account and to the correct parties. Integrity, professionalism and honesty are the fundamentals of this company. After the Kenyan shutdown we were forced (thankfully in retrospect!!) to cancel our 2 weeks there and add it onto our Ugandan itinerary. No problem!! Edison was on it and we arranged for an extended 26 day epic trip. We stayed a leisurely 5 nights in the Kampala Serena and met up with Fred. From the get go he was polite, friendly and extremely concerned that we would get everything we dreamed off out of this holiday. My first bizarre request was to visit the old Entebbe terminal where the famous July 3/4, 1976 raid was carried out by Israel to free hostages. Hotel: Sorry...it is a UN area and is off limits to tourists. Fred: Let me see what I can do. I have a friend.... The long and the short of it is Fred made it happen. We got a tour of the bullet-riddled tower and environs. Without Fred and Ecotours...forget it!! What a thrill and we hadn't even left Kampala yet!! We had a wonderful city tour with Fred who saw quickly that some midday RnR at the Serena was in order. Bless him!!! Next day it was the road!!! First stop was Mahingo Lodge near Lake Mburo. Fred quietly let us settle in before materialising like Jeeves to ask when we wanted to start next day. That was typical of his understated but efficient manner. We viewed lots of game in Fred's 4 wheel drive aka "The Beast"!! There was no place it could not go and Fred is a fantastically safe driver. Main roads in Uganda are excellent but the side roads are brutal!! No problem for The Beast!! Then on to Kyumbura Gorge where we were the only guests for 3 days!! We even had our own butler!! But that's another review!! Next to Mt Mgahinga Lodge sitting under 2 volcanoes; part of a string of volcanoes stretching into DRC Congo. This was Fred's home town so he was invaluable in getting us to the Silver back and Golden Monkey trekking sites on time and relaxed. Words cannot describe the experience of the Silverback encounter. A family of 9 gorillas in even terrain moving around you. We were alone but for the rangers, porters and trackers...no other tourists!!! I actually wept after the experience. One of the greatest moments spent travelling....ever!! The walk up to the jumping off point was surprisingly tough. Fred told me of a US lady who wanted to give up even at this point. He said to me that HE wanted to cry for her vanished dreams so he convinced her to go on and she did! What a guy!! On the journey home a small poor child stood by our car. I felt obliged to give him some money. As we drove away Fred spoke to him in Ugandan. I asked him what he had said. "Go give it to your mother to spend on books and clothes not on candy!!" Later I found out Fred had gone away and found out the mother to check he had given the money to her. That tells you everything you need to know about this wonderful person!! Then we drove to Bwindi as we had actually gotten TWO gorilla permits in case the trackers couldn't locate the families!! Trust me they ALWAYS get their man...or primate!! That was a heck of a drive but Fred enriched it by conversing on the terrain, the vegetables, fruit and local villages. What a trip!! The man literally eats and drinks like a bird and runs on power like a Terminator!! Bwindi was totally different and a little bit more touristy although way down on pre-covid days. We again did the gorillas and the trek was even worse than the other two due to the dense forest and steep terrain. It also rained!! Viewing of the gorillas was again different and magical although we enjoyed the Mgahinga experience more. Sliding and slipping down the mountain in the rain was brutal but Fred was there to meet us in The Beast!! We drove back to Kampala stopping off at our favourite Mahingo Lodge again on the way. I also added Jinja and the site of the Speke identification of the source of the Nile. Fred was totally up for it!! This turned into an epic day with beautiful clouds piled up over Lake Victoria. Highly recommended. Finally back at the Serena it was time to say goodbye. We hugged and shed a tear and said goodbye to the guy who had shared one of the greatest trips of our lives. Go with Bamboo Eco Tours. They have the key to unlock the treasures within Uganda's preposterously beautiful land and magical people. You can thank me later!!!
4. 2 Day Gorilla Trekking Safari in Uganda via Kigali
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 8 reviews
Bamboo Ecotours organizes low cost and eco-conscious trips that benefit the guests and local communities. We invest up to 15% of our revenues into community projects such as rehabilitating health centres, building water catchment systems and providing education scholarships to students.
Inclusions: Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch, Gorilla trekking permits, transfers
Exclusions: Visas, travel insurance, and items of personal nature, Flights (domestic and international)
Reviewed By Quest402245
We are fanatically independent travellers who refuse to go for all-in packages but prefer to vet hotels ourselves and arrange independent transport. This may not be right for everyone but that's the way we roll. We made up our own itinerary for a Kenyan/Ugandan trip but the reality of real journey distances, gorilla permits and other unknowns drove us to choose a company that would respect our wishes while offering on-the-ground advice. The Ugandan leg was Bamboo Eco Tours. My first contact with Edison and his calm knowledgeable Whattsups assured us that we had chosen the right company. At one point I accidentally transferred our entire hotel pre-payments to the Eco Tours account. No problem. Edison transferred the money himself out of his account and to the correct parties. Integrity, professionalism and honesty are the fundamentals of this company. After the Kenyan shutdown we were forced (thankfully in retrospect!!) to cancel our 2 weeks there and add it onto our Ugandan itinerary. No problem!! Edison was on it and we arranged for an extended 26 day epic trip. We stayed a leisurely 5 nights in the Kampala Serena and met up with Fred. From the get go he was polite, friendly and extremely concerned that we would get everything we dreamed off out of this holiday. My first bizarre request was to visit the old Entebbe terminal where the famous July 3/4, 1976 raid was carried out by Israel to free hostages. Hotel: Sorry...it is a UN area and is off limits to tourists. Fred: Let me see what I can do. I have a friend.... The long and the short of it is Fred made it happen. We got a tour of the bullet-riddled tower and environs. Without Fred and Ecotours...forget it!! What a thrill and we hadn't even left Kampala yet!! We had a wonderful city tour with Fred who saw quickly that some midday RnR at the Serena was in order. Bless him!!! Next day it was the road!!! First stop was Mahingo Lodge near Lake Mburo. Fred quietly let us settle in before materialising like Jeeves to ask when we wanted to start next day. That was typical of his understated but efficient manner. We viewed lots of game in Fred's 4 wheel drive aka "The Beast"!! There was no place it could not go and Fred is a fantastically safe driver. Main roads in Uganda are excellent but the side roads are brutal!! No problem for The Beast!! Then on to Kyumbura Gorge where we were the only guests for 3 days!! We even had our own butler!! But that's another review!! Next to Mt Mgahinga Lodge sitting under 2 volcanoes; part of a string of volcanoes stretching into DRC Congo. This was Fred's home town so he was invaluable in getting us to the Silver back and Golden Monkey trekking sites on time and relaxed. Words cannot describe the experience of the Silverback encounter. A family of 9 gorillas in even terrain moving around you. We were alone but for the rangers, porters and trackers...no other tourists!!! I actually wept after the experience. One of the greatest moments spent travelling....ever!! The walk up to the jumping off point was surprisingly tough. Fred told me of a US lady who wanted to give up even at this point. He said to me that HE wanted to cry for her vanished dreams so he convinced her to go on and she did! What a guy!! On the journey home a small poor child stood by our car. I felt obliged to give him some money. As we drove away Fred spoke to him in Ugandan. I asked him what he had said. "Go give it to your mother to spend on books and clothes not on candy!!" Later I found out Fred had gone away and found out the mother to check he had given the money to her. That tells you everything you need to know about this wonderful person!! Then we drove to Bwindi as we had actually gotten TWO gorilla permits in case the trackers couldn't locate the families!! Trust me they ALWAYS get their man...or primate!! That was a heck of a drive but Fred enriched it by conversing on the terrain, the vegetables, fruit and local villages. What a trip!! The man literally eats and drinks like a bird and runs on power like a Terminator!! Bwindi was totally different and a little bit more touristy although way down on pre-covid days. We again did the gorillas and the trek was even worse than the other two due to the dense forest and steep terrain. It also rained!! Viewing of the gorillas was again different and magical although we enjoyed the Mgahinga experience more. Sliding and slipping down the mountain in the rain was brutal but Fred was there to meet us in The Beast!! We drove back to Kampala stopping off at our favourite Mahingo Lodge again on the way. I also added Jinja and the site of the Speke identification of the source of the Nile. Fred was totally up for it!! This turned into an epic day with beautiful clouds piled up over Lake Victoria. Highly recommended. Finally back at the Serena it was time to say goodbye. We hugged and shed a tear and said goodbye to the guy who had shared one of the greatest trips of our lives. Go with Bamboo Eco Tours. They have the key to unlock the treasures within Uganda's preposterously beautiful land and magical people. You can thank me later!!!
5. Tea and coffee tours
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world. Adding a tour of a Rwandan coffee farm with Beyond the Gorillas to your Rwanda itinerary is worth it and great experience as you see how our local farms operate.
Inclusions: Bottled water, Lunch
Exclusions: Private transportation
Reviewed By esiu2021
Mount Kabuye hike. The team BGE organise it very well. stunning view and incredible story they tell who we reach the summit. And the customer care including food are excellent. Do not hesitate to Hike with BGE
6. Scenic walk around volcanoes
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
It is an amazing and very adventurous experience, as you will see how the Rwandese live in their villages and homes and see the magnificent view of five beautiful volcanoes. This short walk on foot takes roughly 3 hours and the longer one takes around 5 hours or more depending on guests’ preference or their physical fitness and it ends at the foot of Bisoke volcano and have a lunch there after a short massage by the staff of volcanoes Resto-Bar.
Inclusions: Bottled water
Exclusions: Private transportation
Reviewed By discovertheworld_13
Beyond the Gorillas Experience organized an exciting visit of the Kinunu Coffee Washing Station. We were picked up by boat well in time at our lodge in Kigufi/Gisenyi, had a pleasant trip to Kinunu and a very interesting guided tour. We got to know all steps from crop to cup, could try out harvesting the cherries, drying the beans, and finally we roasted and grinded our "own" coffee. Delicious lunch was offered in the nearby Rushel Lodge. It was not our first tour with Beyond the Gorillas Experience, and certainly not our last. Special thanks to the founder & MD Theodore who really understands his customers' wishes.
7. Kigali City Private Tour (History, Culture, Art and Markets)
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 5 reviews
Our city tour covers the cultural and historical insights of Rwanda in general and in Kigali in particular. We visit the memorial, local markets, cultural centres and many other interesting surprises. We start at 9am and finish at 5pm.
Inclusions: Private transportation, Bottled water, English speaking guide
Exclusions: Lunch, Snacks
Reviewed By Dirk W
I cannot rave enough about Patrick, the owner, and Benique, my guide, who accompanied me during most of my 10 day visit to Kigali in October. After the first tour I decided to add several other trips. It was an amazing experience and I had the wonderful opportunity to tour in the North, West, South and East. Both Patrick and Benique are extremely friendly, accommodating and easy to work with. They are a wealth of information and being with Benique on the road felt more like travelling with a friend than a guide. The tours are very profesionally organized and the hotels on the road a fantastic selection with amazing views. I cannot wait to come back! PS: Yambi Tours reinforced the great COVID 19 protocol in Rwanda and you feel very safe at all times.
8. Women-led Coffee Farm Trek
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4 reviews
Celebrated as a star in the specialty coffee world, Rwandan coffee boasts delicate flavours sought after by connoisseurs around the globe. Here in the heart of coffee country we invite you to learn how Rwanda’s world-class coffee is grown, harvested, evaluated, roasted, and served directly from the women farmers.
Inclusions: Lunch, Gift Bag, Certificate of Appreciation
Exclusions:
Reviewed By FlossieCronje
Visit Question Coffee for a lovely cappuccino, friendly people, a good variety and affordable prices
9. 1 Day Trip Akagera National Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
Do you want to see the big five, but you don't have much time? We pick you up from Kigali and drive you Akagera N.P. in Rwanda. We offer ground transfers and comfortable to make this an unforgettable and hassle-free experience. For those looking to save time and commune with wildlife, this is the perfect tour.
Inclusions: Private transportation, Bottled water, Coffee and/or Tea, Snacks, WiFi on board, Park Entry Fees
Exclusions: Gratuities
Reviewed By kelvinjules
Very Nice tour, amazing car with good price, thank you so much We are very happy with this company...
10. 1 day Trip to Lake kivu beach
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4 reviews
After breakfast, from your hotel in Kigali around 7Am in morning meet your driver guide and gives you short briefing about journey and takes 20 min, after 7h30 Am star drive to North-West province with 3 hours driving direct to get there, but on way we have one stop interesting spot for culture village ( Ibyiwacu cultural village is one of the key features that make Rwanda safaris exceptional experiences. its gives you a rare chance to meet local people, in their environment, with a taste of our culture and traditions. Be genuinely welcomed by the community as a special visitor while they proudly present to you aspects of their traditions and beliefs. The only way to get to know people, is getting close and interacting with local people, and taking part in their daily activities and most of all with them.) for 1.5h, thereafter we keep moving to lake kivu for relaxation,boat cruiser, hot spring water and massage takes 3 hours. Around 4 Pm we can plan back to Kigali with 3 hours driving.
Inclusions: All Fees and Taxes
Exclusions:
Reviewed By okolin
Where to begin, I must say I really had a great time at Rwanda I think Akagera National Park was the Highlight of my Trip all thanks to Peter, he's the Best!! and I highly recommend Silverbird Tours Agency...Okay! the day started very early, Peter was already at our guest house on time and ready to go, it took us about 2 hours to get to the park, when we got there, He had already arranged Breakfast and Lunch which was very good!. Then we got set for our Adventure into the park, the best part for me was he knew how to navigate the park and he knew how to find all the animals (Hippos, Antelopes, Zebras, Monkeys, Baboons, Elephant, Giraffe etc) even when we had a flat tire he was so down to earth, very Professional, made us laugh and he made sure we had a good time, he ensured we got back to our Guest House on time so much to say but in all i had a Great Experience hope to come back soon!....
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