Face The Locals! (8 days / 7 nights)
DAY 1: ARRIVE KIGALI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
On arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be met by Amahoro driver/guide and be transferred to your hotel in Kigali arriving for overnight on bed and breakfast.
Driving distance: 15 Minutes
Activity: 0
Overnight: Overnight: Great Seasons Hotel | Lemigo Hotel | Kigali Serena Hotel
Meal Plan: Bed & breakfast
DAY 2: VISIT NTARAMA & NYAMATA MEMORIAL VISIT + UBURANGA STUDIO
After breakfast depart for a visit to the Ntarama church where mass killings occurred during the 1994 genocide; more than 5000people were killed in the church. The Ntarama Genocide Memorial is located about 30 kilometers south of the capital city of Kigali. Located in the Bugasera region, this church and its contents are a reminder of the horrifying violence that took place at this site during Rwanda’s 1994 genocide. Learn more about the unity and reconciliation commission. Proceed to Nyamata memorial site- a church where around 2,500 people were killed and it has become emblematic of the barbaric treatment of women during the genocide. Continue to Nyamata a church where around 2,500 people were killed and it has become emblematic of the barbaric treatment of women during the genocide. In the church at Nyamata, there will be graphic and audio-visual displays that will focus particularly on the mass rape, brutalization of women and the use of HIV as a deliberate weapon of genocide. Return to the city for lunch(Own account) then visit the Uburanga studio-Uburanga is a Kinyarwanda word that means ‘beautiful’ and it’s a perfect name to describe both the work that this art studio produces and the setting they do it in. It’s a beautiful setting with a large garden decorated with murals and sculptures. It’s a creative space that’s home to artists who are producing some of Rwanda’s finest contemporary art. The artists are friendly and welcoming and are happy for you to hang out in their garden and chat or watch them at work. Later stay for overnight at your hotel in Kigali.
Driving distance:
Activity: 0
Overnight: Overnight: Great Seasons Hotel | Lemigo Hotel | Kigali Serena Hotel
Meal Plan: Bed & breakfast
DAY 3: DEPART FOR RUHENGERI + INTERCUTURAL EXCHANGE
After breakfast you will depart for a 2 hours’ drive to Ruhengeri area the second largest town in Rwanda, with its stunning backdrop of five volcanic mountains – The Virungas- Arriving at the Red rocks intercultural exchange center for a lunch that you will help prepare. Our cooking lessons involve mainly Rwandese dishes in an African cuisine and in an African Kitchen – With a range of fresh crops, the ingredients for African cuisine are diverse even though certain foods are common to many regions. Ground maize or corn (called ‘sweet corn’ in the UK) is used as the basis for many meals. Maize flour is cooked with boiling water to form a stiff porridge (called ugali in Swahili or Kaunga in Kinyarwanda). Sometimes it’s made into dough. This starchy staple is served with sauces or stews as well as different fresh vegetables like Cabbage, carrots, spinach and other traditional greens. You get to join our staff in the kitchen as you explore the varieties of food grown from our farm behind the main building. Get your hands dirty; it’s fun!! If you haven’t cried in a long time the smoke from the kitchen will give you a chance to if you are not swift in keeping the wood together to keep the flames burning. Enjoy the meal outside in the sun or at the dining area as you chat with the locals and you will be introduced to the Rwandese way of telling evening stories of our past and present. This kind of tour will give you an inside way of the Rwandan culture and way of life that leaves you with a picture of our history. Later in the afternoon indulge in banana beer production to understand the chemistry about the process of brewing a local beer from bananas fruits. If you find the activity interesting enough you can join the women in squeezing the juice out of the bananas and drink a glass of juice (Optional). Understand how long juice takes to turn into alcohol after adding in sorghum floor. Enjoy the big glass of our local brew. Among other activities they also do basket weaving and with your visit this local community will be proud of this activity and families supported financially. Continue for your local home stay arriving for dinner and overnight.
Driving distance: 2 Hours
Activity: Intercultural Exchange
Overnight: Local Home stay | Local Home Stay | Local home stay
Meal Plan: Half board: Lunch, Bed & breakfast
“Red rocks” is a cultural exchange project, which is willing to spread all aspects of Rwandese Culture, life style, traditions & history. We involve and benefit local people in cultural tourism. We offer basic types of accommodation (back packers) and community related activities. The rooms have clean but shared bathrooms and hot shower.
DAY 4: GOLDEN MONKEY TRACKING + IBY’IWACU VILLAGE VISIT
This day is set out for Golden Monkey tracking in the Volcanoes National Park. Entering dense stands of bamboo interspersed with open glades; you will make your way deep into golden monkey territory. Guides lead visitors to the habitat of groups of ‘habituated’ golden monkeys – monkeys that have become accustomed to human presence. Though viewing is kept to a maximum of one hour, travellers can get an up-close look at the golden monkey in its natural habitat. Adult monkeys frolic in plain view, feeding on bamboo leaves and leaping from perch to perch. Females carry their young, completely comfortable among onlookers. Later visit Iby’iwacu Cultural Village a Non-Profit umbrella organization that aims at improving the lives of reformed poachers and communities around Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park through provision of conservation incentives, supporting community enterprise development and livelihood based projects. Return to your hotel to freshen up and have lunch then later dinner and overnight.
Driving distance: 45 minutes
Activities: 1 Golden Monkey Trek
Overnight: Garden Place Hotel | Mountain Gorilla View Lodge | Virunga Lodge
Meal Plan: Full board – Lunch, Dinner, bed & breakfast
DAY 5: GORILLA TRACKING + KAGANO COMMUNITY VISIT
After an early breakfast, you will proceed to the National Park headquarters – Kinigi to meet your guides for the day. After completing our park formalities, we are embark on a once in a life time experience of tracking mountain gorillas. Once you spot them you are allowed to spend an hour watching your closest long lost cousin. This is perhaps one of the most breath-taking wildlife experiences on earth!!! You get so close to these awesome giant primates. You stare at each other blankly not knowing who to break the long silence first. Tracking the gorillas through the light mountain forest on the slopes of the Virunga is a magical experience. These massive primates are extremely rare, with less than 700 living today. You will get within meters of the family, and be privileged to spend an hour amongst them. The trekking may be fairly strenuous; up to six hours or longer at a relatively high altitude. We encourage for your own enjoyment to make sure that you are perfectly fit and healthy. (We’ve had people as old as 70 years old do gorilla tracking so this should not be a problem; all you need is to ask your driver guide to request a shorter group for you if cannot you trek far)It is important to bring good hiking boots, long trousers, gloves for protection against stinging nettles, some snacks & sweets (for you, not the gorillas) as well as sufficient water as the rain forest gets hot and humid during the day. You will spend one hour with the gorillas, but it is an hour you will never forget. Evening visit to the Kagano community village as you get to know why the community left the park and when was that. Return to your hotel for lunch and later dinner and overnight.
Driving distance: 45 minutes
Activities: 1 Gorilla Trek
Overnight: Garden Place Hotel | Mountain Gorilla View Lodge | Virunga Lodge
Meal Plan: Full board – Lunch, Dinner, bed & breakfast
DAY 6: LOCAL SCHOOL VISIT + DEPART FOR GISENYI
After breakfast; Look into the Rwanda’s education by visiting local schools and participate in either teaching or play games with the children, that way they appreciate tourism ( if schools are not closed for the routine break ) Get to interact with the primary school children in this remote locale and get an idea of how they lead their lives. Later have your lunch then depart for Gisenyi arriving for check in at your hotel. The afternoon is spent in this largest port on the Rwandan shore of Lake Kivu (You will be in the company of our guide to show you around). Enjoy a boat ride to one of the islands in Lake Kivu. Simply explore the town, enjoying the hustle and bustle of the local market or wander through the leafy streets admiring the old colonial buildings. Later stay for dinner and overnight at your hotel.
Driving distance: 2 Hours
Activities: Inter cultural exchange + 1 hour boat ride in Gisenyi
Overnight: Discover Rwanda Youth Hostel | Palm Garden Beach Hotel | Kivu Serena Hotel
Meal Plan: Full board – Lunch, Dinner, bed & breakfast
DAY 7: DEPART FOR KIGALI
After breakfast the early part of the day is spent on the Rwandan shore of Lake Kivu. Take a swim at this lake that covers an area of 2,700 km² (1,040 sq. mi) and sits at an altitude of 1,460 m² (4,790 ft.) above sea-level. The lake-bed is situated in a rift valley that is slowly being pulled apart, causing volcanic activity and making it especially deep. Its maximum depth of 480 m (1,575 ft.) is ranked the fifteenth in the world. The lake is surrounded by majestic mountains. This one of the African Great Lakes lies on the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda. Depart for a 3 hours’ drive to Kigali arriving for overnight at your hotel.
Driving distance: 3 ½ Hours
Activities: At Leisure
Overnight: Overnight: Great Seasons Hotel | Lemigo Hotel | Kigali Serena Hotel
Meal Plan: Bed & breakfast
DAY 8: DEPART
After breakfast you will bid your host good bye and be transferred to the Kigali International airport for your flight back home.
End of service
Driving distance: 3 Hours
Activity: 1 Hour boat ride
Overnight: 0
Meal Plan: Breakfast
Cost Includes
- Transport in a 4WD safari vehicle exclusive to you
- English speaking driver guide
- Accommodation and meals as stated in the program
- All guide fees
- One Gorilla tracking permit per person
- One golden monkey permit per person
Cost Excludes
- International flights & Visas
- Travel Insurances
- Driver guide or local escort tips
- Drinks and dining rooms tips, porter age, personal travel and baggage
- Telephone bill, laundry and any items of a personal nature
- Activities not mentioned in the program