Nature & Adventure

Amahoro Tours can organise a variety of exciting activities for your visit to Rwanda.

Volcanoes National Park

All activities are offered in cooperation with the ORTPN park authorities, and tours will be accompanied and guided by park staff and guards).

1/2 day mountain gorilla trekking (including a guaranteed 1 hour with the great apes) [please note that children below 15 are not allowed to trek the gorillas]
1 day hiking and mountain climbing (Mt. Bisoke - 3,711m)
2 days hiking and mountain climbing (Mt. Karisimbi - 4,507m, overnight camping)
Golden Monkey trekking
Visit to the Karisoke Research Centre
Visit to the tomb of the legendary Dian Fossey
Nature walk (volcano flora and fauna)

Nyungwe National Park

All activities are offered in cooperation with ORTPN park authorities).

Chimpanzee trekking
Colobus monkey trekking and nature walk (13 species of primates, 300 species of birds, 250 species of trees, hundreds of different flowering plants including 100 species of orchids)
Camping

Lake Kivu

Lake cruises between popular resort towns such as Cyangugu, Kibuye and Gisenyi
Water sport facilities in Kibuye
Nature discovery tours around the many deserted islands with largely unexplored natural attractions
Napoleon's Hat Island: Climb to the top of Napoleon's hat and experience of thousands of bats darkening the sky
Island of Peace: Swimming, relaxing, beach volleyball, eating and drinking, watching the sunset

Hot Springs

Hot springs near Gisenyi (boiling of eggs while taking a swim in the heated waters of the adjacent Lake Kivu)
Hot springs of Bugarama (springs bubbling up into a large green pool)

Twin Lakes Burera and Ruhondo / Musanze Cave

Nature discovery tours in traditional canoes (breathtaking landscape, wetland habitat, water birds)
Exploration tour to the Musanze Cave (near Ruhengeri): The lava flow from an earlier volcanic eruption formed a natural bridge

Culture,, Life & People

Brick Making

Pure clay soil is mixed with water and covered with banana leaves or grass for 2 days. A piece of timber functions as frame for the bricks. After the frame has been filled with the soil-water-mixture, the newly formed brick is detached from the frame with another piece of timber and some water.

Amahoro regularly visits the clay fields of particular brick makers' associations near Ruhengeri where about 15 people earn a living. Their bricks are sold to private and public construction projects. During our visits a member of the association explains the art of brick making and answers questions about the life of the association members. After every visit a pre-arranged part of the benefits are handed over to the association leader so that every member of that community will benefit from the activity.

Bee Keeping

Members of various bee keeping associations produce bee hives that they place in swamps or forest areas rich in certain types of plants. Depending on what kind of honey is desired, these plants for example could be banana trees or certain flowers. Honey is an important means to cure a number of local diseases, so that it is shared with traditional doctors. The remaining honey is sold to local people and the benefits are shared with the other association members.

Traditional healing and the Medical garden

The Rwandan traditional healers use a total of 138 different types of local herbs. Among the 23 diseases that they regularly treat are ulcers, skin diseases like scabies, complications with the monthly period of females, breast pain after delivery, allergies, snake bites, sexual problems, and even heart attacks.

During a visit to the local traditional healers you can learn about the use of different herbs and certain treatments, or simply listen to the rich stories of these interesting people.

Fishermen at Lake Ruhondo

People living around Rwanda's many lakes try to make a living out of what these lakes have to offer. As an example, we co-operate with a group of local people who use traditional fishing methods at the twin lakes Burera and Ruhondo.

These people are eager to pass on their traditional knowledge and experience and to clue somebody in the secrets of Rwandan fishing methods. Highlights of every visit to these people are fishing competitions with children, and a trip on the lake in one of the shaky traditional canoes.

Handicraft production

The production of local handicrafts is one of the few sources of income generated through tourism at the moment. The formidable crafts are sold as souvenirs in shops or at stalls in Kigali or Butare. Among the various products are, among others, beautiful African wood carvings, baskets, pots, saucers, old masks and swords, as well as the famous Rwandan banana leaf cards.

Kagano community

With a lot of local and international help, various Batwa groups (native Rwandans) have started pottery projects around the country. The production of pots and other items is always accompanied by traditional singing, drumming and dancing, so that every work session also is a cultural event.

Amahoro offers to visit the workshop of one of these groups in order to witness the joy with which the Batwa sing, dance and produce pots and other items.

Sustainable farming

Over the centuries farmers in Rwanda have developed their own special methods of sustainable farming processes. Some selected plantations are regularly visited by our groups, and visitors are always impressed by the comprehensive thoughts given to the activities and the sophisticated traditional methods used. Farming products include fruits such as bananas, as well as vegetables such as manioc, sweet potatoes or millet.

Traditional dancing

The famous Rwandan dancing troups are known under the name Intore. Various local groups in different regions of the country have specialised in performing traditional dances. Two of these groups are, for example, the troups at Ruhengeri or Akagera National Park. Apart from regular shows for the local people, special presentations for visitor groups can be booked.

Tea Planting

Tea is one of the very few export commodities that Rwanda has to offer. Most of the plantations are situated in the western parts of the country near Lake Kivu. On our itinerary from Volcanoes National Park to Gisenyi at Lake Kivu, we offer the possibility to visit one of them and to learn about the planting, picking and processing methods. Members of a local association are happy to explain their activities, and interested visitors will have the chance to 'get their hands dirty', too.

Coffee planting on Gishamwana Island

Similar to the tea plantations, coffee is cultivated in some parts of Rwanda. The plantation that we suggest to visit is located on a beautiful little island in Lake Kivu. Gishamwana Island is easily accessible via a short boat ride from Gisenyi, and coffee is certainly not the only point of interest for this trip.

Town tours, village tours and visits to local markets

Our guides are familiar with all the major towns and villages in Rwanda. Special tours can be organised, for example, in Kigali, Butare or Ruhengeri. These tours usually include visits to the local markets - most often one of the highlights of every African experience.

If desired, short visits to the homes of local families can be organised. In the case of small groups, further experiences such as eating with a family are possible.

Genocide memorial sites, and accounts of this tragic part of Rwandan history

Many visitors to Rwanda are divided on whether to actually visit a genocide memorial site or not. Most people believe that such a visit is mandatory given the tragic history. Nevertheless, a lot of thought should be given to the desirability of seeing particular skull- and bone-filled sites. Your guide can give you more information on what you should expect from each site, so that you can make your own decision whether you want to participate in a certain visit or not.

Meaning of 'Amahoro'

The word Amahoro means "peace" in Kinyarwanda. We chose it as our company name because we share the desire to contribute to a long-term peaceful environment in Rwanda. In our view the local people at any tourist destination should be equal partners in the development of tourist activities. That way, it can be guaranteed that not only will the visitors have a more intimate and intense experience, but the trip will be mutually beneficial to both hosts and guests. When you choose to use our local guides, you can be assured that your African experience will be as personal as possible. You will be able to develop your own image about the real Rwanda: learning a lot about the culture and way of life (and probably about yourself as well). Thus contributing to the meaningful and sustainable development of the Rwandan people.