Best Of Rwanda Hikes and Trekking Destinations

Boasting of its breathtaking landscapes, conducive climatic conditions and abundant wildlife, Rwanda is indeed a must-visit destination. There are many hiking opportunities to explore on Rwanda safari in various national parks that include Nyungwe Forest National Park, Volcanoes National Park and along the edges of Lake Kivu. Rwanda is also strategically positioned in the Virunga Region, featuring five of the eight Chain Mountains –Gahinga, Muhabura, Sabyinyo, Karisimbi and Bisoke. The highest peak or Virunga volcano in Rwanda rises up to 4507 meters.

The best of Rwanda hikes and treks destinations

Volcanoes National Park for treks & hikes

Volcanoes National Park is most popular not only for tracking mountain gorillas but also for exhilarating hiking experiences. This park was founded in 1925, spanning on the land area only 160 sq.km, & features the most breathtaking sceneries.

Mount Bisoke

If you are looking for the shortest hikes/treks on Volcanoes National Park safari, then consider hiking Bisoke Volcano a must-do on Rwanda tour. The Bisoke hiking trail ushers hikers to Lake Ngezi, a scenic Crater Lake lying on Mount Bisoke’s depression. This is typical of scenic trek, taking about 3 hours to get to 3700 meters.

Mt. Karisimbi

Mt. Karisimbi rises at 4507 meters and it is the tallest of the 8 Virunga Massifs. The snow-capped cloud Karisimbi requires 2 days to hike to & back from the summits of Karisimbi Volcano.

Mt. Kabuye

Rising at 2700 meters, Mt. Kabuye is one of the single-standing mountains in the Land of a Thousand Hills. Trekking to the summits of this mountain doesn’t require you to have a permit. The treks can be done at free cost and even those with fitness challenges can hike it. It is located near Volcanoes National Park in Ruhengeri, Northwestern Rwanda.

Mount Muhabura

Mt. Muhabura offers remarkable hikes for whole day to get to 4127 meters. This volcano rewards trekkers with incredibly scenic treks with opportunity for you to overview the Twin Lakes – Lake Burera and Ruhondo.

Buhanga Sacred Forest

The Buhanga Sacred Forest is a rich forest with unique Rwandan cultures and traditions. Much respect is accorded to Buhanga recognizing it as a place for creation, it being the location where all the Kings of Rwanda were crowned in the past. The existing hiking trails in Buhanga lead you through the volcanic rock-paved paths, massive trunks, ancient ficus trees and more.

Hike the Congo Nile trail

The most popular trekking or hiking trails in Rwanda is the Congo Nile trail. This is superb extensive trail stretching for 227 km and takes hikers at least ten days to have a complete trek. The trail leads hikers via the rural setting, as you explore the remotest communities while they conduct their daily activities.

Karisoke Research Center

The Karisoke Research Center is set between Mt. Bisoke & Karisimbi Volcano. This is the main location where Dian Fossey pioneered her journey to conserve gorillas. It was established in 1967 mainly to assist with her research activities.

Nyungwe Forest National Park trekking trails

Igishigishigi trail

This is where visitors can begin their journey to explore the canopy walkway. The trail is 2.1 km and canopy walkway can last hikers 2-3 hours. Other trails include Umoyove trails, Karamba trail, Kamiranzovu trail, Isumo trail, Rukuzi trail, and Rukuzi trail.

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Top Places to Visit in Kigali on Self Drive

Wondering about the Things to do in Kigali? Read on. Rwanda is known as a charming country of countless hills and natural beauty. The capital Kigali is no exception. Kigali has a population of over one million people and is built right at the centre of the country making it easy to access by road from all of Rwanda’s neighboring countries. Get the best car rental in Kigali that has become known as one of the quietest, safest, cleanest and most organized cities in Africa. It is the centre of arts, transportation and culture in Rwanda. Things to do in Kigali include the following;

Mount Kigali

For those who love adventure, climbing Mount Kigali could be just the thing you need. It is not a mountain as such but the highest hill in Kigali reaching 6,000 feet. The starting point is in Nyamirambo near the Sun City Hotel. Overall, hiking to the top of the mountain is easy because of its gentle slopes. The top of Mount Kigali offers amazing views of the city and with opportunities to take beautiful photos. While on top of Mount Kigali, you can stop for food and beer at the Mera Neza bar or visit the Fazenda Sengha horse ranch for horseback riding. There is a platform in the ranch overlooking the beautiful city where barbecue is served for visitors.

Take a Motorcycle Taxi

This is perhaps the most effective and cheap means of touring the city and its suburbs. The motorbikes are perfect for navigating through the traffic and provide flexibility to stop at literarily any place of interest. The bikes can be rented by anyone but it is important to move with a trustworthy Guide if you are not sure how to use them. Be careful using them during the rainy season and always put on the helmet provided by the Guide.

Volunteering

If you have a strong believe in the spirit of volunteerism, then you need to know that Kigali will provide you with opportunities to get involved in important causes. You can request to help patients in the hospitals, teach English in a school, teach a new sport and design a website for one of the numerous Non-governmental organizations looking for the services of committed and skilled international volunteers. Expect to work in difficult conditions with minimal comfort. The only reward to expect from your volunteering spirit is the feeling of knowing that you have done something for the good and betterment of others.

Visit a bowling alley

Mamba club was the first place to bring a boiling alley in Kigali. The club is found in Kimihurura and has helped raise the popularity of the sport among people in Rwanda. The club has quality imported bowling gear and puts together other indoor sporting activities that are enjoyed in an atmosphere of fun with good international and local cuisines on offer.

Visit Art Centers, Crafts Shops and art galleries

A visit to African cities is incomplete without visiting one of the art/craft shops – Kigali is no exception. The people of Rwanda love art and if you are looking for evidence, then visit their homes and sitting rooms. The Inema Art Center is the best art Centre in Kigali. This center was opened in the year 2012 by the two Innocent Nkurunziza and Emmnuel Nkuranga. The Centre now houses about 13 of the country’s best artists as well as international guest artists. Places to visit in KigaliIt is the place to go to if you are interested in beautiful African sculptures and paintings. It is possible to witness the artists at work or learn dancing and drumming skills. The centre also arranges yoga classes for visitors and has a bar that opens on Thursday allowing visitors to listen to music as they marvel at the art collections. For the best Jewelry collection, check out the popular Abraham Konga Collections. Konga uses discarded materials to create high quality earrings and necklaces. GoKigali Boutique within the Marriot Hotel has got high quality jewelry, shoes and books. You can also find baskets, clothes and a nice map of Kigali at GoKigali Boutique. For a cheaper jewelry and other household items, why not visit the Sarah Day Design located a few meters away from the boutique at the Nyamirambo Women’s Centre.

Go for Sauna and Massage

While in Kigali, you will have no shortage of places to go to that offer pedicure, facials or manicure. Massage and Sauna isn’t reserved for only the high end hotels but also specialized outlets scattered around the city centre.

Visit one of the large shopping Malls

Nakumatt is located within the Union Trade Centre and is arguably the largest super market in the town centre at the moment. You can find almost everything there.

Skydiving

This activity has become so popular in Kigali after being introduced only recently. Jumping from a small plane to the ground will raise your adrenaline to phenomenal levels. The activity can be done by anybody but needs great mental preparation. The instructors give an orientation about all aspects of safety including how to organize the parachute. The instructor will fly close to or with you all the way to the ground. I recommend that you read about the top activities in Nairobi if you plan to visit Kenya in the near future.

Ride a Horse

Kigali offers the opportunity to go horseback riding through the beautiful countryside and around Mount Kigali with amazing views of the city. Horseback riding is arranged at the Fazenda Sengha in Mount Kigali and at the Rugende Park. Anyone can take part in horseback riding. Before starting the long ride, participants are taken for practice riding around a pen or tree as they learn the basics of handling a horse

Skating

This is one of the recently introduced outdoor activities in Kigali. The park used for skating is at the SOS School in What to do in KigaliKacyiru. The SOS School offers opportunities to learn the fundamentals of skating for beginners while also teaching new skills for the advanced skaters.

Golfing

The Kigali Golf Club in Nyarutarama allows non-members to play for a small fee while also providing golfing equipment and bags. The club has a well maintained and beautiful 18-hole course.

Play Tennis

The best tennis courts in Kigali are found at Cercle Sportif, Hotel Des Places to see in KigaliMilles Collines, Nyarutarama Sports Club, Umubano hotel and the Amahoro stadium. Many of the other courts are still made of clay and may stress your feet as you play for a long time.

Go Fishing

Lake Muhazi is the best place to go for fishing in Kigali.  It takes about one hour driving by road to reach the lake from Kigali. The lake stretches about 32kms across and has several fishing holes where you can throw your line from a speedboat or a canoe. The area surrounding the lake has amazing scenery which adds value to the activity.

The Kigali Convention Center

The Center is built next to the famous Radisson Blu Hotel. The Kigali Convention Centre is one of the prominent places in Kigali. It was built in the shape of a beehive with beautiful lights that look amazing in the night. It is said that the architect was inspired by the King’s palace in Nyanza, which has a similar design.

Go to the local markets

The best way to learn about the culture of a country is to visit the local markets. From the market, you can know their favorite food and how they interact. Kimironko Market is arguably the largest local market in Kigali. It is built away from the city centre and has the best collection of fresh vegetable, fruits, species and flours. Places to visit in KigaliApart from food stalls, the market has several electronics, clothes and other craft shops. You can find local Rwandan fabrics with bright colors ready to be bought and sewed into a skirt, top or dress for small fee.  The other major market is the Nyamirambo market. This market is more spacious allowing you to mingle with the locals as you get to know about their products.  Most Rwandans speak Kinyarwanda and a bit of French. It is important to move with a guide whenever you visit these markets to help you with translation where necessary.

Watching Movies or visiting the Night Clubs

The night life in Kigali is filled with activity. Century Cinema located right at the city centre is Kigali’s main movie theater. They show the latest blockbusters (some before official release from the US) in 3-D and 5-D with great motion, special effects and surround sound. The Goethe-Institut and Korean Embassy show German and Korean movies (themed) respectively on certain days of the week.

For those who love dancing, partying and mingling with new people, visiting one of the night clubs would be just the thing. These night clubs are frequented by all classes of people looking for a good time and fun over the weekend.

Watch Soccer at the Amahoro Stadium

Amahoro Stadium in the Remera area is the largest soccer stadium in Rwanda with the ability to accommodate 30,000 people. Soccer is very popular among the people Rwanda and the stadium gets filled each time the top teams play. The top and most popular league teams in Rwanda are Rayon Sports FC, Police FC and Armée Patriotique Rwandaise FC. Tickets for the matches aren’t expensive. So go and support one of the teams and mingle with the locals as you have fun and make new friends.

Visit restaurants

While in Kigali, you can’t miss trying out delicacies like Akabenzi (cooked pork), brochettes (roasted meat with chips), Nyama Choma (roasted meat), Ibirayi (goat mixed with potatoes) and giant fried fish. These delicious meals are prepared in Hotels like Hotel des Mille Collines or in specialized restaurants around the city. The first place to check out is Brachetto. This high-end facility is managed by an Italian chief and is known for very tasty Italian dishes like pasta, grills, risotto, sandwich and gourmet.

The Nyamirambo Women’s Centre

Nyamirambo Women’s Centre is found in suburb in Kigali. This centre and workshop was opened in 2007 by a group of local Rwandan women who were victims of gender violence in the past. As a Non-governmental organization, the Nyamirambo Women’s Center helps fight gender-based violence while also organizing English language trainings and computer literacy classes for the victims. Top things to do in the city of Kigali The centre provides modern sewing machines that the women use to produce local clothes, bags and other accessories from local material. The final product is of high quality and some of the best colorful Kitenge (a local fabric) can be bought at their boutique to support the centre. Nyamirambo Women’s Centre organizes walking tours in Kigali with the purpose of exposing visitors to the rural life in Kigali. The two hour walking tours involves stops at the Natural History Museum, State House museum, local shops, local homes, hair salons and the local markets.

The Gaddafi Mosque

The Gaddafi mosque is an impressive structure in Nyamirambo. It wasn’t built by the former Libyan leader but is referred to him by name in recognition of a road that he built passing close to the mosque. The Islamic Cultural Center is the official name of the mosque but people in Rwanda don’t use that name. The mosque also has a community center, a school and clinic that serve the people of Nyamirambo.

Visiting the Kigali Genocide Memorial

Whereas Kigali and Rwanda now represents many of the good things about a new and fast changing Africa, the people had to watch as one of the worst genocides in history occurred in 1994. The Kigali Genocide Memorial is built to honor about 200,000 victims of the genocide but also to remind people about the atrocities committed so that it never occurs again. Best attractions in KigaliAs upsetting as it can be, visiting this memorial centre will give you an insight of what transpired while also helping you appreciate the current achievements of the. From the exhibitions, you will learn about the overall history of Rwanda, her colonization and other factors that set the stage for the horrific slaughter. At the site, you will see mages of young children slaughtered mercilessly by the Interahamwe. The Kigali Genocide Memorial goes beyond Rwanda to make you understand the other great atrocities committed by mankind around the world. The third exhibition shows the great atrocities by the Nazis during the Holocaust, the genocides in Armenia and Cambodia. Spare about 2 hours to see all the videos and listen to the audio recordings.

Hotel des Mille Collines

Hotel des Mille Collines is one of the best hotels in Kigali. This is the hotel that was featured in the 2004 movie “Hotel Rwanda”. Many people took refuge in the hotel during the genocide in 2004. The hotel managers saved over 1,000 people by hiding them in the hotel rooms. Hotel des Mille Collines is a large luxury hotel with 112 rooms. It has a fitness centre, swimming pool, and a restaurant serving intercontinental dishes.  Even though you are not a resident in the hotel, you can still pay a visit to the hotel. No tours are allowed and there are no visible displays to show the role it played during the genocide.

In conclusion, Kigali itself is a colorful and chaotic city, it does not suffer from many of the problems of other African cities and is welcoming and clean (Rwanda has banned plastic bags and runs a number of buses on bio-fuel). Kigali also offers a good place from which to start or end your journey given its central location with a number of surprisingly great restaurants and cafes and a number of colorful markets keeping you busy.

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Top Birding Place In Rwanda

When you think of an African safari to Rwanda, expect to see more than just mountain gorillas but also numerous exciting and inspiring birds. About 750 rare bird species are widely distributed in various parts of this stunning country making it one of the most ideal destinations for bird watching. With an area coverage of about 26338 square kilometers, this country features intense bird concentration per square kilometers in Africa. Each of the sites is composed of rare birds and they include among others;

Kigali city

For any plans to go on a birding tour in Rwanda, start your exploration in Kigali capital city which lies just at the entry point to this country via Kigali airport. While birding in this magical country, you will be left amazed by incredible birds. Around Lake Nyarutarama just at the border to the Kigali golf course, you will find distinct birds for you to sight at. You can also visit Nyabarongo wetland which equally offers walking trails and excellent birding encounters. While on a birding tour in Kigali expect to spot birds like brown-throated wattle eye, cardinal woodpecker, African grey hornbill a mention but a few.

Albertine eco-region

This region comprises mountain ranges that formed as a result of uplift and volcanic eruption. It expands to cover parts of western Rwanda and covers 5 countries. The Albertine region is a famous hub for the afro-montane inhabitants comprising of incredible fauna and flora with 40 bird species as well as a variety of wildlife species.

Volcanoes National Park

Suitably located in northwestern Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park is remarkably one of the most ideal tourist sites for birding. This park features five of the Virunga Mountain ranges that make up the eight chained mountains especially Karisimbi, Bisoke, Gahinga, Sabyinyo, and Muhabura. It offers refuge to about 200 bird species 17 of which are endemic to this area. The popular birds for you to sight at this park include red-billed fir finch, cinnamon chested bee-eater, Chubb’s Cisticola, dusky flycatcher a mention but a few.

Nyungwe Forest National Park

This forested protected area stands among a few tropical rainforest protected areas in Africa and boasts of about 310 avifaunal species. While on a birding tour in this park, you will sight at birds such as the Grauer’s swamp warbler, blue-headed sunbird, Albertine owlets, red collared babbler, yellow-eyed black flycatcher, archer’s robin chat, masked mountain Apalis, blue-headed and regal sunbirds, purple throated, Rockefeller’s sunbirds, Rwenzori hill babbler, stripe breasted tit, strange weaver, handsome francolin, Rwenzori Turaco a mention but a few. Besides, there is also an ideal forest track for bird watching in the Gisakura guesthouse and Rwanda Development Board Tourism and Conservation Campsite at Uwinka where you can spot out birds such as the red-throated alethe, collared Apalis, archer’s robin chat, Kivu ground thrush, Shelley’s and dusky crimson wing, white-bellied robin chat, Doherty’s and Lagden’s bush shrikes, white-tailed blue flycatcher, Great blue Turaco, white-bellied crested flycatcher, barred long-tailed cuckoo a mention but a few.

Akagera National Park

In the northeast, you will find Akagera National Park Rwanda’s only savanna grassland protected area which allows you to catch a glimpse at not only the big game but also numerous bird species. While on a birding tour in this park, you get a chance to spot out birds such as papyrus gonolek, papyrus canary, shoebill stork, white-headed black and familiar chats, Bennett’s woodpecker, red-faced barbet, white-winged and broad-tailed warblers, miombo wren warblers, Caruthers’s cisticola and many more. About 530 birds call this park their home and can be spotted while you are even on a game drive or boat cruise. The other best place for you to encounter incredible bird species in Rwanda includes the wetlands and marshes that make up ten percent of the country. They include Rugezi, Nyabarongo and Akanyaru.

Rugezi Swamp

Tucked away in a flooded valley near Gicumbi and the Ugandan border, the 100 sqkm Rugezi Swamp is, despite being recognized as both a Ramsar Wetland and Important Bird Area, very rarely visited by tourists, and the reed-and-papyrus marshes here are home to some 43 different bird species, including several endemic to the Albertine rift mountains, such as the endangered Grauer’s Swamp-warbler. Other threatened or vulnerable species resident here and endemic to the area include the Papyrus Gonolek and Papyrus Yellow Warbler. Most of the swamp is covered in vegetation, but there’s an unexpected and stunningly pretty area of open water at the south end of the marsh called Lake Nyagafunzo, which attracts a compelling variety of herons, pelicans, egrets, and cranes.

Akanyaru Wetlands

Covering 300 sqkm over a narrow, 80 km-long band along the course of the Akanyaru River, the Akanyaru Wetlands start off in the south straddling Rwanda – Burundi border and wind their way north to the village of Ntarama, where the sluggish Akanyaru joins the much larger Nyabarongo River. Though they’re probably less-visited than any other birding site in the country, the papyrus-dominated swamps here have been recognized as an Important Bird Area by Birdlife International and are home to more than 54 species, including the vulnerable Papyrus Yellow Warbler and Papyrus Gonolek, along with examples of Great snipe, Pallid harrier, and the Malagasy pond heron.

Lake Kivu

With more than 150 km of jagged, winding coastline on its Rwandan side alone, Lake Kivu is far and away from the largest body of water in the country, and its many dozens of coves, cliffs, islands, islets, and beaches provide ample habitat for a wide variety of waterbirds. To see many of them, you won’t even have to leave the grounds of your hotel. Bring a pair of binoculars to any of the numerous lakeside lodges, and you’re likely to see any number of fish eagles, cormorants, pelicans, or kingfishers on the hunt, along with lovely examples of Double-toothed Barbet, Pin-tailed whydah, Malachite kingfisher, and the iconic Crested crane, all without ever leaving the comfort of your balcony, though we still, of course, recommend that you do!

At the Nyarutarama Lake near the Golf Course in Kigali one can spot the African Reed Warbler and Great Sedge Warbler, the Winding Cisticola as well as the Common Waxbill, Grey-backed Fiscal, Tropical Boubou, Red-rumped, and Mosque Swallows, African Spoonbill, Yellow-billed Stork, Great White Pelican, Common Moorhens, Grosbeak Weaver, Grey Heron, Yellow-backed (Black-headed) Weavers, and the Pied Kingfisher.

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Go On Kigali City Tour While on Safari in Rwanda

Don’t miss out a city tour in Kigali in case you chose a Rwanda safari. Kigali is the largest and capital city of Rwanda with very many attractions; it’s the heart of Rwanda where all business centers, port entry and international airport (Kanombe international) are located. This beautiful ever green city become a capital city after independence in 1962 and it was founded by Dr.Richard Kandt the first German colonial resident of Rwanda in 1907.

The city is built on a hilly area since Rwanda is a mountainous country it is referred to as the land of a thousand hills. Its nearness makes it easy to drive from the capital to the most of the tourist attractions in Rwanda and it’s just about 7kms up to the Rwanda international airport. Currently Kigali is regarded as one of the cleanest, safest and friendliest city in Africa attracting gigantic visitors and investors whole over the world. Right from the airport you will be welcomed by hospital people even when in the forest you will be guided by friendliest guides who will handle you with a lot of care.

When in Kigali, You can’t even remember that ounce it suffered much during the 1994 Rwanda genocide where a very big number of people lost their lives including the Tutsis and Hutu and a few who survived from this horrific war took refuge to neighboring countries.

Although damaged during this tragedy war, the city’s structure has recovered. It hosts a very big number of tourist attraction which are very difficult to miss if in Kigali they include; Kigali genocide memorial site which houses a lot of information on how this war started and ounce you visit this genocide memorial site you will still see peoples bones, cloths, watch still laid on the ground, you will feel tears coming from throats, visit the Hero’s Cemetery at Amahoro National Stadium, visit also the pottery project of the Batwa, Coffee shops, bars and local and international restaurants ranging from Chinese,   Italian, North African, visit also the market places visit many other interesting places in Kigali.

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Dark Tourism – Visit Rwanda’s Genocide Memorials

Most Rwanda safaris start and end in Kigali a home to one of the most visited Rwanda genocide site –Kigali genocide memorial and tourists make it a point to stopover in memory of the Rwanda brothers and sisters who perished in just a period of 100 days either at the beginning of their Rwanda tours or at the end. It’s a great experience when one gets to the Rwanda early and is looking at starting a scheduled adventure the next morning, besides it’s a no time activity for both morning and afternoon without exceeding 4.00pm the closing time. Hundreds visit different Rwanda genocide sites but few visit Murambi because the remains of the victims still look fresh and scare a lot. The 1994 human slaughter incident claimed lives of thousands into more than the eight Rwanda genocide memorials found in different locations of the country.

Despite the past Rwanda is the safest country in Africa with variety to explore and enjoy in the world of travel. Millions come from all over the globe to discover the countries attractions including mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, golden monkeys, forests, lakes, mountains, landscape etc. While in Rwanda tourists enjoy connecting to neighboring countries for other tour holidays. Tracking low land gorillas, the unique chimpanzees and also climbing the live volcanoes, Nyinamulagira and Nyiragongo are the most desired in Congo while gorilla tracking, wildlife viewing, viewing might falls, white water rafting , bungee jumping are the reasons as to why Uganda some explore Uganda as well. It’s not a wasting time to do same tour activity in two different countries because the experience can never be the same. If not contented try asking tourists who enjoy tracking mountain gorillas in Rwanda & Uganda or Rwanda and Congo or Uganda and Congo.

Travellers to Rwanda end or start and end with a visit to at least one of the genocide site as a way of respecting the culture of the country visited. it’s sad but the experience is worthy because looking at the traditionally preserved remains of victims shoe you the situation in which they were killed in for example the woman whose one arm is in the face and others off a true sign of defense and some have cracks on skulls a thing which portrays brutal murder with no mercy. Remains where collected in different rooms and as the survivors open for you different preserved remain sections for a glance. No camera or video is allowed inside any memorial and entrance is free.

Many hold grapes as they visit different sections of the memorials because the silence and remain displays break travellers and others end up seeing tear drops rolling out of their eyes due to mercy and sympathy of the victims. With the tight schedules and the many attractions you intend to visit while in Rwanda spare a minute for our brothers and sisters who perished for no reason. However who visits the one of the Rwanda genocide memorial learns to live in peace and also respect the life of fellow humans. Though no fee is required but a giving heart receives even more.

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Azizi Life Experiences

Azizi Life Experiences is a social enterprise that offers visitors to Rwanda the unique opportunity to really connect and gain insight into the life of rural Rwandans and their families. Through a range of different cultural experience days, you get to not only see something of the beauty and rigor of daily life, but also experience it. It’s a truly interactive way to learn about Rwandan culture! Azizi Life Experiences currently offers six distinctive Experience Days.

Azizi Life’s office is located in Muhanga town, about one hour by car or bus from Kigali on the main Kigali-Huye road. Azizi Life celebrates the beauty of connections that bring a fair wage to hard-working Rwandan artisans and give you a glimpse into someone else’s world. Would you like to do something different on your Rwanda tour? You should consider going on an ecotour and get to learn more about the real life of the Rwandan people!

Weaving Experience:

The Azizi Life Experience morning begins with a drive to a nearby village, where you and your Azizi Life interpreter are welcomed by the ladies of the weaving cooperative. After introductions , a morning of family chores begins. You might help out in the kitchen, collect water from the valley spring, cut grass for the farm animals and get out in the fields for a seasonal agricultural activity.

At noontime, you share a simple local meal with your host family, with plenty of time to chat and learn about each other’s lives. After lunch, you join with the artisan cooperative for an afternoon of weaving. You get to learn how to harvest and prepare the natural fibers, and then the artisans teach you how to create your own piece of sisal jewelry. It is great sitting with the ladies as you weave and laugh together.

The day finishes back at the Azizi Life office, with a cold Fanta and a chance to think back over the highlights of the day. There you can browse through some of the beautiful crafts made by the Azizi Life artisans and do a little fair trade shopping.

Traditional Construction:

You may have seen the high rise buildings in Kigali, but this Azizi Life Experience is your chance to learn something about the traditional building techniques, some of them used since the times of the King. In the morning you start with collecting water and soil then you are taught how to make mud bricks. After making your own bricks, you dig the foundations and learn how to lay the bricks in a certain way that ensures the building’s strength.

At this point, you will have built up a bit of an appetite and so everyone stops work and shares a simple home cooked lunch with the host family. In the afternoon, you go and collect banana leaves, then you are taught how to make them into a strong rope that can then be used to lash wood together to make a roof. You finish the day back at the Azizi Life office with a cold Fanta and all the knowledge you need to build your very own mud brick house.

Banana Juice making:

Traditionally shared during weddings and other celebrations, banana juice (and beer!) has long been a central part of Rwandan parties. Although nowadays banana juice can be easily bought from the local store, the traditional technique for making your own brew is a much greater labor of love.

In the morning, of your Azizi Life Experience, you work with your rural host to collect the green bananas and the leaves needed to begin the process. Next you dig a hole and bury the bananas to ripen over time.

After enjoying a simple meal with your host family, you head into the valley to collect water. The ripening process takes four days, but don’t worry, you won’t need to wait. Your hosts will have some already buried bananas for you to dig up. You then peel, mash, and strain the bananas using traditional techniques, and voila- you’ve made authentic banana juice. The day finishes back at the Azizi Life office where the juice is boiled so it is ready for you to taste and take away.

Select from a simple variety of seasonal dishes for your custom traditional cooking experience with a rural mama! Your day begins not in the kitchen but in the fields as you learn seasonal planting or harvesting of fresh ingredients for your traditional meal. Once the ingredients and water have been collected, food preparation begins with washing, peeling, pounding, and grinding the ingredients using traditional methods and tools and this is done in the outdoor kitchen.

Throughout the process, your hostess and the ladies of the local cooperative teach and guide you, always allowing you to experience the day at your own pace. When your meal is ready, it is time to enjoy fruits of your labour with either a fork or with your finger. Sitting in the home of host family, there is plenty of time to chat and learn about each other’s lives.

Traditional Drumming:

Whether you have natural rhythm or not, with our expert instructors everyone can enjoy learning traditional drumming and dancing. Your Azizi Life Musical Experience begins with a mini performance  from a small troupe of traditional performers. Next, it’s your turn to put on a traditional costume and give it a try. You’ll have fun as the dancers teach you some basic dance steps and share a bit of the history of Rwandan dance. After some practice time, the expert dance instructors help you put everything together in a performance of your very own. Don’t worry; an Azizi Life team member will be on hand to catch the whole thing on film!

After a break to catch your breath, the drummers will teach you some traditional beats, or you can even do a bit of free styling of your own on the traditional drums. No experience or expertise is necessary; it is simply fun for anyone brave enough to give it a go.

Azizi life Pathways:

Thanks to Rwanda’s lush green hills, beautiful valleys and welcoming people, it may be one of the easiest and most exciting places in East Africa to explore by foot. All around the rural communities, there is already a vast network of paths ready and waiting for you to explore. Local

Guides Enjoy local knowledge and good company as you explore! The guides, who speak English or French, enrich your walk with information on the communities you pass and points of interest.

You can enjoy scenic rural excursion or choose an in town exploration, visiting the local markets and experiencing other aspects of urban life. You can choose the mapped routes or create your own adventure.

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Kayaking on the Shores of Lake Kivu

Lake Kivu is shared between Congo and Rwanda on the Rwandan side it’s in Gisenyi and on the Congolese side it’s found in Goma.

On the Rwandan side is where you will find Kingfisher Journeys for an experience like no other, right from the warm and chatty reception from Steve Venton the Director himself to the kayaking guide who are both very friendly and ready to answer any questions you may have.

We got to paradise hotel where the kayaks park I should say, we (I, Joanna and Madyie) were taken to the shores of lake Kivu where we met with our kayaks blue yellow and orange that look bigger than they seem on television and in pictures, instructions are given to us on how to get in and set our feet and legs in the right angles and I’m there thinking what if my leg slips while on the lake but because I was with ladies I brave it out n keep my cool. So we are tutored on how to row forward, backwards, turning right, and left which seemed easy till it was time to get onto the lake.

Suddenly I felt so small the little waves on lake kivu kept bouncing me around as I rowed away from the shores, the really friendly guide was right there with us which gave gave me confidence that in case of anything there’s an expert with us who will get us out incase of anything, he then points to a little island that looked really far away. With the first couple of rows u feel like u aren’t moving then the pace starts to pick up after six to eight rows adrenaline kicks in as the momentum of the kayak explodes, with enough power in your arms and consistency you create a wash behind you, which is similar to raising dust while driving at high speeds on a dusty road.

Soon as I was blasting feeling like a pro at kayaking on my first day reality checked in as my unfitness checked in and I had to rest my arms, this however allowed me to enjoy the scene with the waves rocking the kayak the little island had eventually grown without me realising, looking back the shore had been left a great distance behind with my friends not far off as well, just as they were catching up with me, fishermen joined us on three conjoined canoes with their main guy in the middle leading them in songs of encouragement while the rest whistle and sing as they row into the night for they will be fishing all night long and return in the morning with the fish from the nights catch,as they set out to work something else is happening in the background, different species of birds are heading back to their nests from their daily activities as well, being part of this felt incredible like something straight out of a movie or one of those shows from national geographic television.

After that incredible exhilarating experience we were ready to get back to land n put our feet down for it was even getting dark. That day’s activities were done and there was still more in store for us by kingfisher journeys so we planned for the next morning. At about 9am we were on the shores of lake kivu once more it looked so calm, collected and so serene.

We then are told about journey for the day and we are in awe even before we set off. We get into our kayaks and this time round it’s a smooth breeze with no instructions needed but the excitement was still high for out there on the water u can easily forget about the rest of the world and what reality emphasises to keep reminding you of, for the moment all you can think about is rowing the kayak enjoying the winds on the lake and having a good time.

We managed to catch the last group of the fishermen return from their night fishing, one could hear the fatigue in their voices as they tried to encourage and motivate each other to keep going through whistling and singing in the local language which is kinyarwanda. Since we had set off early we had time to rest a bit on an island that’s associated to kingfishers journeys where we caught our breath enjoyed the beach sand, if only we had planned a picnic we could have stayed longer “oh well maybe next time” we told ourselves.

Our guide then points towards our next destination which were the hot springs what were brought about be nature(it’s a beautiful thing) on reaching the hot springs I realise it’s not what I would have expected in a million years, water from beneath the earth was overflowing to the surface while boiling hot, this made it safe to drink but of course I didn’t try that though I saw local collect it carefully and wait for it to cool a bit before they indulged.

What was amazing was what the locals had done with this gift from Mother Earth, try created baths on the shallow waters of lake kivu making sand banks where they would trap the hot spring water and let it mix with the cold water from the lake, this kept the water warm enough for people to sit on the sand banks and deep their feet in the warm soothing water just as we were enjoying that the locals surprised us more with natural massages where they would use the sand from the banks to scrub your desired body parts, we didn’t go for the full body massage which is also an option if you are up for it but we had our hands and legs massaged, it helped ease the stress on the muscles from the rowing but just before we left I was treated to a local sauna, water was collected into a basin.

I was told to squat and tilt my head right above the basin, I was then covered with towels and cloth to keep the steam and said nutrients in and for me to keep inhaling them without losing out too much for about 10-15 minutes. This is said to heal colds, hangovers for those that take part in the consumption of alcoholic drinks and it’s also said to excrete toxins from the body leaving you feeling fresh and energised.

After all this 5 star treatment at the local spa we expected a fee but to our surprise there was none( I know right, you probably thinking does this kind of hospitality still exist? Well yes it does) out of appreciation we decided to give thanks for the care and experience we had gone through. Time to go back and none of us want to row back we had found a little bit of the garden of Eden on lake kivu for it really took you away from the noise of an urban setting fresh cool air, no noise pollution, no congestion, just looking at this world we live in in its truest and natural form.

The world there seemed to be a century back to the least. Leaving for the shores and to the end of our experience on lake kivu was a bitter sweet moment filled with mixed emotions in the air as we appreciated a wonderful time but were saddened by the reality check that we had come to the end of this short but unique and wonderful journey.

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Combining Cultural and Wildlife Experiences in Akagera

In 2014 Akagera initiated the Community Freelance Guides programme to recruit and train members of the local community to become tourism guides in Akagera. Almost two years later, the guides have accumulated extensive experience in the park, had training, both internal and external, in conservation in Akagera and field guiding techniques, some have completed first aid certificates and others have passed their driving tests. All are on their way to becoming skilled professionals and respected guides.

In addition to their work guiding tourists inside the park, the Community Freelance Guides Cooperative have been working on developing authentic cultural experiences to share with park visitors outside of the park. Their knowledge of the communities in which they live and participate in, as well as their experience guiding tourists and identifying their interests, make them well-placed to connect the two. The guides have put together some options for tourist looking for engagement with the local community and a greater understanding of Rwandan culture and tradition.

HERITAGE takes you to a cattle farm to try your hand at milking a cow and learn about the rituals around milk. You will visit the farmers home and see how milk was traditionally kept, preserved or treated, turning it into ghee. Special vessels are still sometimes used to store and drink milk from, and herbs smoked to flavour the amata. If you are interested in LOCAL PRODUCTION, another activity takes you to a honey cooperative to learn both traditional and modern methods of bee-keeping. In the same tour you visit a family producing urwagwa, or banana beer, and can sample the wares at a bar across the road.

The ARTS AND CRAFTS activity will show you how local artisans create their products; Imigongo is an iconic Rwandan art and native to the Eastern province, a family of blacksmiths demonstrate their creative talents and traditional dancers express Rwanda culture through music and movement.

In addition to these cultural activities, the guides have developed a 7-km moderate to difficult walk along a section of the boundary fence line. The entire fence line is walked daily by a team of fence attendants, walk in their shoes for a small section of the 120km boundary fence which plays an essential role in the conservation of Akagera; allowing for the recent re-introduction of lions, reducing human-wildlife conflicts on the park boundary and, in turn, creating community support for the park.

These activities provide opportunities to engage with people going about their daily lives and eager to share their stories. Since the income from these activities is shared with the participating community members it provides additional revenue, directly through tourism, to families living on the boundary of the park, demonstrating the benefits of tourism and creating long-term support for the conservation of Akagera National Park. It doesn’t get more authentic than that!

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