For those wishing to better understand Rwanda’s history and the country’s remarkable recovery from the 1994 Genocide, this ten-day tour offers a fascinating window into the country’s turbulent past and bright future.
You’ll not only visit genocide memorials such as Nyamata and the Kigali Genocide Memorial, but also engage in cultural tours with visits to a local orphanage, a local school, and local villages.
You’ll also have a day in Volcanoes National Park for various activities such as, hiking to Dian Fossey grave, and the opportunity to spend some times on the shores of beautiful Lake Kivu and you will visit Akagera National park to see the Big 5 and Big cats.
Day 1 Kigali – City tour
Located at Rwanda’s geographical heart, the rapidly growing city of Kigali is not
only the national capital, but also the country’s most important business hub
and entry point. Rwanda’s capital Kigali has gone through an amazing
development in recent years. In order to understand where the country comes
from, the tour starts at the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where you will spend
about 2 hours. After the Memorial, the drive through the city will give you a
perfect impression of its development status. Your guide will provide you with
background to the city’s master plan so that you understand past and future
developments.
After lunch at 2 pm you will depart to the Richard Kandt House near former
Gakinjiro to learn about Richard’s explorations and work in Rwanda.
Thereafter, your guide will take you to Mount Kigali – for a panoramic view of
the city – and to Kimironko market, which has it all. Experience the life of
Rwandan people and get knowledge about their agricultural harvest.
And then later you will be transferred to the hotel of your dinner and overnight.
Hotel: Five to Five Hotel
Day 2 Ntarama and Nyamata day tour
After breakfast, your tour will start with a visit to Ntarama Church, where mass killings occurred during the 1994 genocide. The church was the site of the deaths of more than 5,000 people and remains a powerful reminder of the horrifying violence that took place during Rwanda’s infamous genocide. While visiting the church, you’ll also learn more about the efforts to reunite Rwanda’s people following the genocide. We’ll then proceed to Nyamata Church, where a further 2,500 people were massacred during the genocide. The church is also closely associated with the barbaric treatment of women during the genocide, and you’ll learn more about the incidences of mass rape, brutalization, and even the horrific use of HIV as a weapon of genocide. You’ll then be taken to the village of Mayange, where a revolutionary project to reconcile the perpetrators and survivors of the 1994 Genocide by having them live side by side is underway. You’ll be taken on a guided tour of the Reconciliation Village, learning about how the healing process between victims and perpetrators is taking place. You’ll then have lunch with the locals before continuing your tour of the Reconciliation Village with visits to facilities such as the school and health Centre, the local plantations, and an art gallery.
Hotel: The Garden Place Hotel
Day 3 Musanze – Iby’iwacu Cultural Village
We depart after breakfast for the scenic drive to Musanze, Rwanda’s second largest city. Set against a backdrop of the twin lakes and five towering volcanoes, this beautiful city is your gateway to the Volcanoes National Park. We’ll stop at the Iby’iwacu Cultural Village for a day of activities. You’ll learn about Rwanda’s pre-colonial history through a series of demonstrations and activities – trying your hand at archery, food preparation, traditional medicine, and even acting as King or Queen for the day. Once your day of cultural exchange is done, you’ll drive to your hotel for dinner and a night’s rest.
Hotel: The Garden Place Hotel
Day 4 Launch cruise on the Twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo
Have breakfast, and then visit the beautiful region of the Twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo. You will be introduced to traditional sustainable farming methods with African vegetables and fruits, visit the local fishermen; and also see the fishing competition with children from the adjacent villages. You will then have a launch cruise in one of the traditional canoes and have a visit to the convent Foyer de Charity, visit the local witch doctors and the snake man, and return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Hotel: The Garden Place Hotel
Day 5 Dian Fossey Tomb Hike – Volcanoes National Park.
Back in time, Dian Fossey established this Karisoke scientific center in an area just between 2 volcanoes of Mt Visoke as well as Mount Karisimbi (from which its name Karisoke was derived). This camp site is found at an altitude of nearly 3000meters (more than 9000 feet) and was deserted during the wars of the early1990’s.
This trek includes a 30 minutes’ drive from the headquarters of the park to the trailhead from where you will have a 10 minutes stroll to the border of the park. From here, the climb through the green forest takes about 90 minutes to 3 hours, basing on your fitness as well as how often you will stop to enjoy the breathtaking scenery and then the descent takes one to two hours. Fossey’s former living quarters that she nicknamed ‘the mausoleum’ are currently in ruins, and many other landmarks can be seen here at the camp with clear signposts. The hike presents an amazing chance to views birds plus other small creatures that living in the Virungas along the way.
At this legendary site you will as well see the house in which Dian Fossey was strangely murdered back in 1985 however more calm is at the place where she was laid to rest just close to her most-loved gorilla – Digit and close to 20 other gorillas some of which were killed by the brutal poachers and others suffered death due to other reasons.
Her tomb stone reads: “No one loved gorillas more Rest in peace, dear friend eternally protected in this sacred ground for you are home Where you belong”
In Dian Fossey’s journal, some of her last words stated that when one discovers the importance of life, they will depend less on all that is past and focus more on preserving the future.
This walk is a wonderful experience not only intellectually by physically and emotionally as well. It is really an inspirational to learn about a person who was entirely dedicated and even left behind a legacy which still exists to date. In case you travel to Rwanda, this would be a nice place to visit before you leave the country.
Hotel: The Garden Place Hotel
Day 6 Transfer to Lake Kivu – Boat ride to Lake Kivu to see the Hot Springs
After breakfast, you will drive to the world-famous Imbabazi Orphanage, where Rosamond Halsey Car and her staff cared for more than 400 Rwandan orphanages. While the orphanage was closed down by the Rwandan government, you can still visit the homestead and roam its grounds as you learn more about the author of “Land of a Thousand Hills: My Life in Rwanda”.
You’ll have lunch, and in the afternoon, you can pay a visit to a local fishing village as well as go for a boat trip on Lake Kivu to see the hot springs. You’ll overnight in Gisenyi, Rwanda’s largest port city, which sits on the shores of Lake Kivu. You’ll have the opportunity to explore the quaint colonial town and (if time allows) even take a dip in the vast freshwater lake’s cool waters.
Hotel: Paradise Malahide
Day 7 Visit Pfunda Tea Estate and later relax at Lake Kivu
After an early breakfast, you will visit the Pfunda Tea Estate and later transfer to your Hotel for relaxation.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Hotel: Paradise Malahide
Day 8 Transfer to Akagera National park – Boat trip on Lake Ihema
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Akagera National Park through Kigali. On arrival, you will take a boat trip on Lake Ihema to watch Hippos and crocodiles in the water or by the shores.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Lodge: Akagera Game Lodge
Day 9 Full Day Game Drives in Akagera National Park
Enjoy early morning breakfast and start your game drives in an open-roofed vehicle. A full day game drive here offers you an opportunity to spot a variety of game including elephants, buffalos, hippos, lions, Masai giraffe, gazelles, impala, baboons, oribi, Butchel’s zebra, Topi, bush baby, leopard, and bushbuck, etc. Proceed for an evening game drive after lunch. Return to your lodge for dinner.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Lodge: Akagera Game Lodge
Day 10 Transfer from Akagera National Park to Kigali
Have breakfast and then enjoy a morning game drive, we shall return to Kigali and you will check in at the lodge or be dropped at the airport for your departure flight.
Meal plan: Breakfast & Lunch
