How to Plan a Tailor-Made Rwanda Adventure

by Janeen Christoff
Last updated: 6:00 AM ET, Sun December 3, 2023

Now is the time to visit Rwanda.

The compact, landlocked country may be small, but it has a wealth of experiences to offer travelers and it is growing by leaps and bounds.

After experiencing one of the world’s worst genocides, Rwanda has transformed to become one of the best places to do business on the African continent and has distinguished itself as both a meetings mecca and a tech incubator.

The country is now a driving force in business and tourism and travelers will want to visit now to be on the precipice of monumental growth.

Rich with biodiversity and teeming with wildlife, Rwanda is ideal for adventure travelers. Because of its compact size, the country is easy to navigate and in a relatively short amount of time.

When planning a trip, working with an experienced tour operator is a must to make the most of a trip, and during a recent journey to Rwanda, I had the chance to take a custom tour—an opportunity I highly recommend.

Francois Gasore, founder and owner of Jambo Travel & Tours Agency (JTTA)

Jambo Travel & Tours Agency (JTTA) is a leading safari specialist and destination management company in Rwanda. The well-established, Kigali-based tour operator can be a one-stop shop for a tailor-made African vacation.

JTTA’s founder, Francois Gasore, started the business as a travel agency in the mid-2000s but shifted focus to custom tours around 2015. After thriving before COVID-19, the company was forced to downsize, but now, nearly four years later, JTTA is back and growing faster than ever.

“The business is recovering and we are almost at 80 percent of what we were doing in 2019,” said Gasore.

Next year, Gasore will have a fleet of six vehicles and he is continuing to grow JTTA’s clientele. In the last year, he has attended tourism events around the U.S., including the Tour & Travel Exchange over the summer in Arizona, and he is currently at USTOA, which is taking place in Los Angeles.

On a recent journey with JTTA, I had the pleasure of experiencing all that the company can offer its clients.

On a six-day journey, there was time to extensively travel the country. I visited Volcanoes National Park, extensively toured Rwanda’s capital, Kigali, enjoyed a two-day safari in Akagera National Park and visited the King’s Palace in Nyanza.

JTTA paired me with a guide and a safari vehicle. Sibo, my extremely friendly and exceedingly knowledgeable guide, met me at my hotel to kick off the journey.

The first stop was a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial. This is a must for visitors to Rwanda to fully comprehend and grasp the enormity of what took place during the genocide in 1994.

Sibo recommended pairing this visit with a visit to the Campaign Against Genocide Museum. This museum is another must, and provides a more historical and military perspective, explaining exactly how the genocide was stopped.

Gorilla in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

Gorilla Trekking

Because Rwanda is a relatively compact country, visitors can pack a lot into each day without feeling overwhelmed. However, it is known as the land of a thousand hills for a reason, and traveling its mountainous terrain does take time.

To travel from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park, my next stop, for gorilla trekking is a pleasant two-and-a-half-hour drive.

During my stay, I spent the night at Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel. The exclusive luxury lodge is ideally located in Musanze, just a short drive from the entrance to the park and the gorilla experience. This is ideal since it's an early start for morning trekking.

Jambo Travel & Tours works with several properties in the area in addition to Five Volcanoes so travelers can choose the exact experience they would like to have but I do recommend this lodge for its spacious, comfortable rooms, delicious food and beautiful garden setting.

On a visit to Rwanda, gorilla trekking is a must. It is a one-of-a-kind experience to visit with these peaceful, playful creatures, engaging with them in their natural habitat. It comes at a price: a gorilla-trekking permit in Rwanda is $1,500, but that money goes to support conservation efforts for the gorillas, and visitors can see in person just how sacred the national park is and how important maintaining this experience is for future generations, making it easier to absorb the high price tag.

JTTA arranged everything I needed to ensure that my gorilla trekking adventure was a success. Sibo was there to meet me and take me to the meeting point, just a few minutes away. He arranged the permit, coordinated the group arrangements and drove me to the group meeting point where we began our trek.

We had one “magical hour” with the gorillas in perfect weather—a few clouds and a light sprinkle at the end. We were so close to these majestic creatures that one actually reached out from above me and touched my hair. To say it was incredible is an understatement.

Arranging the gorilla trekking can take many forms. I was in a group with other travelers, one of whom was staying at my same lodge, and two other couples who were traveling independently. JTTA can arrange for groups or families to have their own, private guide, do multi-day treks, see other sites in the area and more for guests. Although I didn’t arrange to see the golden monkeys, many travelers stay and add this to their itineraries as well.

One stop that we did add was a visit to the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. This can be a quick stop after seeing the gorillas and offers more in-depth insight into Fossey’s research, the gorilla families currently in the park, how their habitat is being preserved and more. It’s also the perfect place to stop in for a coffee or a snack and to warm up after the gorilla experience.

We returned to Five Volcanoes by midday and, rather than having guests quickly checkout before they depart in the morning, guests can return to their rooms. I showered, warmed up and packed after my trek while the helpful staff cleaned the mud from my boots so that I didn’t track mud all over my things.

As Kigali is centrally located in the country, we stopped back in the city for the night before heading the following day to Akagera National Park for a safari.

Travelers have many wonderful options for hotels in Kigali, from the modern, full-service Ubumwe Grande Hotel to the historic Milles Collines Hotel, all of which JTTA can arrange. However, I can highly recommend opting for the beautiful Governor’s Residence which truly is a home away from home for guests.

This is not a resort or hotel experience. It is akin to visiting someone’s private residence. Spacious, comfortable guestrooms offer a more personal touch in comparison to the atmosphere of a large hotel. The general manager, Jane, personally welcomes guests to the property. Guests can enjoy a drink in the sitting area before dinner, a dip in the pool or relax with a massage to unwind from a day of trekking or sightseeing. Dinner is included as is breakfast and served in the residence’s second-story restaurant that offers stunning views of the city.

Akagera National Park

Travelers who want to see the Big Five will not be disappointed by a visit to Akagera National Park. Approximately 2.5 hours by car from Kigali, the park is just about a world away. The steep hills of Kigali give way to a more rolling landscape that is home to Akagera. This park has made a comeback over the last 10-15 years and is now home to a diverse population of wildlife.

In just two game drives, we saw the Big Five but many other mammals as well, including giraffes, zebra, antelope, hippos, crocodiles and more. Not to be missed is the sunset boat ride on Lake Ihema, which JTTA had arranged for me. As the sun made its descent, the animals came down to the water to drink and play.

I spent one night in Akagera, and while that is enough to see the Big Five, travelers could easily arrange to stay and enjoy the park for more time.

King’s Palace

As my time in Rwanda came to a close, I returned to Kigali for another wonderful, relaxing night at the Governor’s Residence.

The property is ideal for couples but also for groups. For those traveling in a multigenerational group or as several couples together, there are facilities for private dining, a variety of rooms as well as accessible accommodations.

My final day in Rwanda was spent at the King’s Palace in Nyanza. This was another highlight that offered an even more historical perspective. It is a reconstruction of the traditional royal residence and is a beautifully crafted thatched dwelling. Visitors can walk inside and see how the king lived as well as see the other traditional huts.

Inyambo at the King's Palace, Nyanza, Rwanda

In the back, Inyambo cattle, descended from the king’s herd, reside and are cared for by keepers who sing to them, keeping alive an ancient tradition. The cows played many roles in ceremonies and were often adorned with jewelry.

For visitors who have the time, I would recommend adding this palace to an itinerary.

Another option that can be included is Nyungwe Forest National Park, which is a mountainous rainforest, home to chimpanzees, owl-faced and colobus monkeys.

It would be easy to turn my six-day itinerary into 10 or even 12 days in Rwanda, and it is easy to combine Rwanda with a visit to Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and more.

For more information or to book your own Rwanda adventure, contact Jambo Travel & Tours Agency.

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