8-Day Rwanda Cultural Tour

Safari Overview

Our 8-day Rwanda Cultural Tour is a tribute to Rwanda’s Cultural Heritage which brings you the best of Rwanda. Explore authentic Rwanda and learn more about the traditions and historical sites. Get to interact with the local communities.

Safari Highlights

• Visit the Genocide Memorial in Kigali, Kimoronko Market
• Red Rock Initiative in the Ruhengeri area
• Foof preparation, Banana Beer Brewing, Basket Weaving
• Bamboo Conservation Project and Twin Lakes Visit
• Gorilla Guardian Village and Nyange Community Walk
• Village Walk – Bee-keeping +Local village market
• Lake Kivu Coffee Plantation
• Boat cruise on Lake Kivu Islands

Tour Itinerary – 8-day Rwanda Cultural Tour

Day 1: Arrive at Kigali International Airport

On arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be met by the guide and be transferred to your hotel in Kigali arriving for an overnight stay.   Accommodation at Lemigo Hotel

Day 2: Depart for Ruhengeri + Red Rock Initiative

After breakfast, you will depart for a 2-hour drive to Ruhengeri area the second largest town in Rwanda, with its stunning backdrop of five volcanic mountains – The Virungas.

Today you will visit the Red Rocks Initiative set up to enhance sustainable development in the Virunga Mountains region in East Africa. You will have a food preparation session using local fresh produce from the farms that later you will enjoy as your lunch for the day.

You get to tour the farmland where the food is grown and try your hand at the traditional making a fire to cook food using firewood. Enjoy the meal outside while interacting with the local community and learning about their way of life and Rwanda’s culture

Later in the afternoon indulge in local banana beer production from banana fruits. You join the women in squeezing the juice out of the bananas and drinking a glass of juice. Learn how long it takes to make alcohol out of bananas adding in sorghum floor. You taste the local brew and banana juice as well.

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.

Accommodation and Meals at Red Rock Local Home Stay

Day 3:   Bamboo Conservation Project and Twin Lakes Visit

After breakfast, head out for the Bamboo Conservation Project, dedicated to growing Bamboo, as a part of environmental protection and income-generating projects for primates and people.

Bamboo cultivation creates an opportunity for income generation activities for local people and serves as job creation for those who engage in its activities as well as employment.

After lunch, depart for the twin lakes of Bulera & Ruhondo– These are beautiful lakes located at the base of volcano Muhabura and close to the border with Uganda. They are surrounded by steep hills with a backdrop of the Virunga volcanic mountains.

The lakes have deep blue waters ringed by steep hills and tall waterfalls with the outlines of the nearby Virunga Volcanoes providing a spectacular backdrop. Later head back to the lodge for relaxation.

Accommodation and Meals at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge

Day 4:  Gorilla Guardian Village and Nyange Community Walk

Today, you will visit the Gorilla Guardian Village formerly called Iby’Iwacu village for cultural/traditional dance performances and also visit the king’s palace.  Try your hand at exercising the king’s powers as the elders give them up to you through a village ceremony.

You will also have the opportunity to encounter the eight distinct dances including the popular Intore dance, learn how to drum in Rwandan style, visit a traditional healer’s place, or visit the Batwa in Rwanda.

After lunch, head for the Nyange Community Walk to explore and learn more about Rwandan village life. You will be accompanied by socola guide through the Nyange community for an insight into community activities like local ironsmith, banana beer brewing, mat weaving, and carpenter work which are done in various homes.

A visit to this community allows you to explore the traditions of Rwandese, especially food preparation, and also taste their traditional dish. Along the way, you will encounter various tree nursery beds, a health clinic, a socola village, and twa villages which will welcome you with sound songs and dances.

Accommodation and Meals at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge

Day 5: Village Walk – Bee-keeping and Local village market

After breakfast and with your packed lunch we depart for a village walk. This is a walk through one of the villages in Musanze. The walks go through the villages residing the volcanoes and you will have views of the volcanoes – enjoy the mountainous vegetation in its natural state.

You will visit the local community of beekeepers, and learn more about the bee hives in swamps or forest areas rich in certain types of plants like banana trees or certain flowers. Honey has medicinal properties and is added to local medicines by traditional doctors.

The remaining honey is sold to local people and the benefits are shared with the other association. Take a tour to a local village market pharmacy and learn of the healing abilities of traditional medicine which has been used for ages by the Rwandan people.

Accommodation and Meals at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge

Day 6:  Transfer to Lake Kivu.

This morning will be spent relaxed and at leisure. Transfer to Lake Kivu by 11:00 am arriving in time for lunch. After lunch, take a boat ride to one of the islands in Lake Kivu OR explore the town, enjoying the hustle and bustle of the local market, or wander through the old colonial buildings.

Accommodation and Meals at Kivu Lodge.

Day 7: Lake Kivu – Kigali

This morning, spend some time at the private peninsular of Kivu Lodge, you may explore the private coffee plantation that surrounds the lodge and taste some coffee. Alternatively, you may visit the tea estates close to the lodge. Thereafter head back to Kigali arriving in time for relaxation and lunch.

Visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial Memorial which includes three permanent exhibitions, the largest of which documents the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. There is also a children’s memorial and an exhibition on the history of genocidal violence around the world.

The Education Centre, Gardens, and Genocide Archive of Rwanda form part of a meaningful tribute to those who perished and provide a powerful educational tool for visitors.

Alternatively visit the Kimironko Market Africa, the largest farmer’s market in Kigali covering an area of about 5 kilometers. Kimironko market is a hub for local fresh food and fruits such as mangoes, passion fruits, pawpaw, jackfruits, and pineapples, among others.

The stalls at the market’s extreme are occupied majorly by meat sellers, chicken, and fresh fish. There’s also a wide stock of fabric for those interested in African and Western ultra-modern clothing.

This market stocks local Kinyarwanda drums, beads, craft handbags, craft earrings, traditional fabric, pots, mats, baskets, and hats, among many other traditional arts and crafts.

Accommodation and Meals at Lemigo Hotel

Day 8:  Departure back home

On this day, depending on the time of your flight departure, head to Kigali International Airport heading back home.

Included in the 8-day Rwanda Cultural Tour

Ground transportation in a safari customized 4WD Toyota Land cruiser with gasoline/fuel, Mineral water in the vehicle, services of an English-speaking Driver/guide, Accommodation,  Meals,  All historical and cultural activities, Boat rides, and Statutory Taxes.

Excluded in the 8-day Rwanda Cultural Tour

International Airfares; Excess baggage charges; Rwanda Entry Visa Fees USD 50 per person; Room service, Beverages, Tips, and Gratuities for your Driver/guide and hotel staff, Shopping charges for Curios and Crafts, International Airport Departure Taxes, Optional activities unless specified as included, Any other services not expressly shown in the itinerary or indicated as included.