Go beyond tourism. Connect as a global citizen. Forever change your perspective.  Watch this video

Rwanda is one of the safest and most beautiful countries in the world. It's a model for countries in Africa and globally. The best way to understand Rwanda and its future? Through its people. 

Join us for 7 days/6 nights to connect to a dynamic and trailblazing Rwanda. You hike in the land of a thousand hills, convene with entrepreneurial visionaries, visit Africa's leading education hubs, and enjoy the food, beauty, art, and history of Kigali before heading to the beautiful Virunga Mountains, home of Rwanda's famed mountain gorillas. Scroll below to view the itinerary.

Jodi Morris leads Venture Travel to connect us to the economic and cultural beat of Rwanda. Entrepreneurs illustrate their country’s economic and social trajectory. Insider experiences help us better understand art, culture and history. We explore all this as a small, curious-minded community. 

Rwanda. It's known for coffee, gorillas and a genocide past told through movies like Hotel Rwanda.

Kigali isn't what most expect from a major African capital. When Jodi first visited in 2015, she wondered Where Am I? The world has discovered this small, landlocked, country of nearly 13 million people executing its big vision. Kigali is called The Most Inviting City in Africa. Whether it's animal conservation or technology, healthcare, hospitality, entrepreneurship or gender equality, the citizens of Rwanda are proud to share their vision—for life, family, and country.

Through this unique venture, you participate in the Rwanda success story. Your stories will be the most practical and memorable souvenirs. But don't leave too soon. We encourage you to take advantage of only-in-Rwanda excursions, including Rwanda's famed gorilla trekking.

To reserve your spot, make a $1000 USD non-refundable trip deposit. You'll receive a confirmation upon receipt of payment. Full payment is due 60 days prior to the start of the trip.

CANCELLATION POLICY

We understand that unforeseen circumstances can occur. For cancellations made more than 60 days prior to the trip, we will gladly reimburse you, less your non-refundable initial trip deposit.  Any cancellations made less than 60 days prior to the trip will incur the full 100% cancellation fee.  We always recommend the purchase of travel insurance, which typically covers trip cancellation fees. For more information, see Terms & Conditions. 

Visas

To enter Rwanda, you need a valid passport with at least two blank pages and six months of validity remaining at the time of entry. It is easiest to purchase a tourist visa on arrival at Kigali International Airport. Alternatively, use the government portal Irembo to apply in advance. A tourist visa is $50 USD for one month, single entry (Entry Visa V-1). The East African Tourist Visa, which is $100 USD, grants you 90-day multiple-entry access to Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda. Pay by cash or credit card.

Medical Recommendations and Immunization Information

All trip participants should visit their doctor at least 4-6 weeks in advance of their departure date for recommendations for travel medications and immunizations. For more information on immunizations either recommended or needed for Rwanda, please visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website. 

Please be aware that if traveling from certain countries prior to Rwanda, travelers will need to show proof of Yellow Fever immunization upon entry.

Travel Insurance

We recommend that participants purchase travel insurance, or ensure their regular health insurance plans cover travel-related illnesses and injuries. Insurance must cover personal injury, medical expenses, repatriation expenses, and evacuation expenses. A reminder that Medicare does not cover international medical expenses. All participants to note health insurance information as part of trip registration. 

Even if you have health insurance that covers international travel, we strongly recommend you also obtain coverage for trip cancellation, interruption, curtailment, and personal property. Two options are Travelex and World Nomads. Consider which plan is best for you.  

Rwanda Travel Basics

• Money In Kigali, major credit cards are accepted and ATMs are widely available. It is helpful to have local currency on hand in rural areas. 
• Currency  Rwandan Franc (RWF); $1 US = 1100 RWF (xe.com)
• Tipping For tour guides is greatly appreciated. In restaurants, up to 10% of the bill is common.
• Weather & Climate  Rwanda's weather is remarkably consistent year-round. Days hover around 70 degrees Fahrenheit (20 Celsius) and nighttime is slightly colder. Rainy season is generally March through May. Expect slightly cooler temperatures and possible precipitation in the mountains. 
• Elevation  Kigali is about 5,000 ft (1,500 m) above sea level; Musanze is over 7,000 ft
• Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type  230 V / 50 Hz / plug type(s): C, J (two pins)
• Phone. Your international cellular plan may not transfer to Rwanda, but it's easy to purchase a Rwanda SIM card. Internet access is widely available. 
• Time Difference  Central African Time GMT +2 (+9 hours from Pacific during Daylight Savings)
• Water Avoid drinking tap water. Boiled or bottled water is recommended for drinking (even teeth brushing). Please bring a personal water bottle for refilling throughout.
• Population 13 million (1.25 million in Kigali)
• Major Languages The national language is Kinyarwanda. However, many people speak English (younger generations) or French
• Religion Over 90% of the population is Christian (Catholic, Protestant) with less than 5% Muslim (mostly in Kigali)
• Government  Rwanda's president is His Excellency President Paul Kagame
• Safety Rwanda is a very safe county, but always be aware of your belongings, especially when on public transportation, in markets or in crowds in larger cities
• Transportation  Uber is NOT available in Rwanda. YEGO Rwanda is preferred ride-hailing app
• Clothing Conservative dress is recommended (knee-length shorts & skirts). 

Rwanda Background Info

• Practical Information from www.VisitRwanda.com
• Lonely Planet Travel Guide - Rwanda
• Living in Kigali
• State Department - U.S. Relations with Rwanda
• USAID Overview - Rwanda

Rwanda Book & Movie Recommendations

• Left to Tell by Immaculee Ilibagiza (2007). Personal tale of the Rwandan genocide (movie)
• We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow They Will Kill Our Families by Philip Gourevitch (1999) Chronicles what happened post-Rwandan genocide
• Land of a Thousand Hills: My Life in Rwanda by Rosamond Halsey Carr (2000). Memoir of memoir of a humanitarian and plantation owner in Rwanda over half a century.
• Rwanda, Inc.: How a Devastated Nation Became an Economic Model for the Developing World by Patricia Crisafulli (2012) Implications of Rwanda’s success for Africa & world
• Brick by Brick by Karen Sherman (2020) Memoir and stories of remarkable Rwandan women
• A Thousand Hills to Heaven: Love, Hope, and a Restaurant in Rwanda by Josh Ruxin (2013) One couple’s story of moving to Rwanda and building a restaurant named Heaven
• Hotel Rwanda (movie) (2004) Acclaimed (but controversial) Hollywood story of the Rwandan genocide
• Rwanda: The Royal Tour (movie) (2018) One-hour overview led by journalist Peter Greenberg and Rwanda President Paul Kagame. Also features artist and VMS friend Innocent Nkurunziza.
• Mountain Gorillas of Rwanda Making a Comeback (2022) 60 Minutes segment by Lesley Stahl
• Zipline Drones Delivering Blood by Drone (Time). Story of an inspiring U.S.-Rwanda partnership that is saving lives

- Group size is limited to 8 to create a community-building experience. 

- Per Person Trip Cost for 7 days/6 nights lodging, transportation, meals and beverages, excursions and tips: $4095 (double occupancy) / $4895 (single occupancy). 

- Health Considerations include heat, humidity and altitude. For their own safety and comfort, participants should be in good health. 

- Pre and Post-Trip Travel Planning Services can be provided by Go Further (hello@gofurther.tours). Additional excursions are optional, but highly encouraged.

- To Learn More, contact trip leader Jodi Morris.

Please note that details within the itinerary are subject to change.

Welcome to Rwanda! You are met by your driver at the Kigali International Airport. As you transfer to the ONOMO Hotel Kigali, you immediately see why Kigali is the cleanest and safest city in Africa. 

Check into a top-floor upgraded private suite room. If you have reserved rooms for earlier nights, please let me know and I will seek to link the reservations. The confirmation numbers for our group stay Sep 24-29 (5 nights) are #4673530134 (singles) and #4832072385 (doubles).

Enjoy the day at your leisure enjoying the comforts of ONOMO, a modern African hotel brand that proudly emphasizes "Africa's Finest" in their materials, decor, and food and drinks. Be lured by the main level indoor/outdoor space with an infinity pool and mountain views. Take a walk or arrange for taxi transport to explore Kigali.

We meet on ONOMO's outdoor deck at 5:00pm for a welcome drink. 

Together we depart for our opening dinner at Heaven, a gorgeous restaurant and hotel founded by Americans Josh & Alissa Ruxin. As shared in the book A Thousand Hills to Heaven, Heaven plays a major role in Rwanda's high national standards for hospitality excellence. 

To give us a high-level insights on growth, government, family and women's leadership in Rwanda, are joined by Patricie Uwase, the former Minister of Infrastructure in Rwanda in the cabinet of President Paul Kagame. She stepped aside from this role in June. Patricie is a married mother of three, and gave the commencement speech when she graduated with her Masters in Engineering from UC Berkeley in 2015. 

Enjoy complimentary breakfast at the hotel. We meet at 9:30am in the lobby to meet our private shuttle and Desiree "Des" Izzere. Born and raised in Kigali, Des shows us her favorite parts of her city. Highlights include:

-- Visiting Mt. Kigali for views of the city and the countryside

-- Tasting some of the world's best coffee and visiting a local milk bar

-- Enjoying the bustle of a traditional neighborhood market

-- Exploring the city's outdoor murals on a neighborhood walk

We also visit The Kigali Genocide Memorial. This incredibly moving Memorial is the final resting place for more than 250,000 victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda in 1994. It honors the memory of the one million+ Rwandans killed through education and peace-building. Understanding Rwanda's genocide past is important to understanding its present and future. Audio guides are available for rent if you choose.

Midday, we stop to enjoy a delicious Rwandan lunch. We end our afternoon enjoying a sundowner overlooking our new favorite African city before returning to the hotel.

We gather for a casual dinner on the outdoor balcony of ONOMO's Ijuru restaurant.

Enjoy complimentary breakfast at the hotel. We depart at 8:30am for a day of exploring inspiring entrepreneurship in Kigali.

By 2035, Africa will have the largest and youngest workforce in the world. Founded by Fred Swaniker, the African Leadership Group seeks to capture this massive talent pool with the potential to become a source of untold global innovation and entrepreneurship for Africa and the world. 

Part of that ecosystem is African Leadership University (ALU), an out-of-the-box university focused on identifying, developing and connecting Africa's young leaders. ALU students declare "missions, not majors." We are hosted on ALU's Kigali campus by Zulfawu "Zu" Tahiru and Beke Chakavanda. We meet Stephen Khan who leads ALU's Student Venture Program, and are paired with students from various African countries like Chisom Chimezie who each share their mission with us.

Afterward, we visit one of Rwanda's top fashion brands--Haute Baso. Founders Candy Basomingera and Linda Mukangoga are committed to collaboration with Rwandan artisans--read more about them. We enjoy lunch at their adjacent cafe.

After returning to ONOMO for a short afternoon break, we head to Inema Arts. Founded by brothers Emmanuel Nkuranga and Innocent Nkurunziza, Inema is the lynchpin to the buildout of Rwanda's artistic community. Innocent and his brothers share their stories and art with us. We stay for the beginning of Inema's weekly community Happy Hour. Afterward, we enjoy dinner with live jazz music at local favorite Repub Lounge.

Enjoy complimentary breakfast at the hotel. Today is about tech entrepreneurship. It's a strategic national focus--Rwanda's Vision 2050 is President Paul Kagame's roadmap for transforming Rwanda's economy and modernizing the lives of all Rwandans. 

We begin at Norrsken House Kigali, a newly renovated space by MASS Design, Africa's largest hub for entrepreneurship. Norrsken is a global ecosystem connecting founders with capital, knowledge and networks. Kigali is their East Africa hub. Pacific Tuyishime is our host.

Among Norrsken members is Africa impact investing leader RENEW Capital. Renew started in Ethiopia over 10 years ago and now invests in 14 African countries. Renew's Nicolas Malonga and Andrew Larsen are our hosts, helping us contrast the ecosystem in Rwanda and East Africa relative to the U.S.

We visit a variety of companies that bring Rwanda's vision alive. Examples Sawa Energy, which builds solar systems for East African businesses, and Kabisa, Rwanda's largest EV charging network. Both companies serve Norrsken itself.

We visit a beauty bar and meet Gisèla Van Houcke, founder and CEO of Zuri, which empowers Black women through its beauty tech platform. Renew invested in Zuri earlier in 2024. 

We stop for a healthy lunch (and coffee!) at Kivu Noir . Afterward, we stop at a charging station of Ampersand, charging station, which builds affordable e-motos and charging systems for the three million motorcycle taxi drivers in East Africa. By making it cheaper to buy and operate an electric motorcycle, Ampersand helps drivers double their income and Africa leapfrog to a zero-carbon future (more about Ampersand).

Our last stop for the day is Kweza Craft Brewery. We meet CEO Jessi Flynn, who shares more about this women-owned and led craft brewery—the first in Rwanda! (Forbes article)

We enjoy an afternoon break at ONOMO. With a lot to take in and talk about, we reconvene for a casual dinner at 7:00pm at nearby Indian favorite Khana Khazana.

Today we grab a quick early breakfast for a 6:15am departure and spend the day as guests of a local community. Dress comfortably and casually.

Every month, Rwandan citizens come together with a common purpose. Umuganda is Rwanda's nationwide mandatory community work day, created to promote peace, unity, and prosperity across the country. On The Last Saturday of every month from 8-11:00 am, businesses close and traffic halts as citizens across the country take to their neighborhoods. Listen to Desiree Izzere talk about the importance of Umuganda.

You will be the rare visitor to participate in this monthly Rwandan tradition.

We travel (about 1.5 hours) to the Kayonza District and will be hosted by friend Doreen Kalimba. Doreen is the mother of Jodi's former SHE-CAN mentee Maureen who attended Tufts (B.A.) and Harvard (M.A.). The community decides the plan for the day, so we learn more that week.

Afterward, we enjoy lunch at the Urugo Opportunity Women Center. Don't miss the adjoining gift shop with crafts from the local women.

After returning to Kigali, enjoy the afternoon on your own. Take a nap, or it's a great time to do some final shopping (Des can provide recommendations). You can arrange transportation from the hotel.

We spend our last hours in Kigali exploring art and community over a very special dinner at Treasures of Ikoro. Opening in 2023, the restaurant is named after the single lava stone from the Volcanoes area which is the cornerstone of their architecture. Chef Eric Wanyonyi leads us on a multi-course culinary adventure fusing Africa, Caribbean and European flavors.

While it's our last evening in Kigali, there's still more Rwanda to explore!

Enjoy complimentary breakfast at the hotel and check-out. At 8:00am, we transport for 2+ hours via private vehicle to Musanze—recently named by Time as one of the world's greatest places. 

Mountain gorillas remain critically endangered—there are over 1000 left in the world. Rwanda is one of only three countries where you can visit them. 

We visit the newly-opened (2022) Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund nestled in the foothills of Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. Another MASS Design project that takes inspiration from Dian Fossey’s original tent camp in Rwanda 50+ years ago, the campus showcases environmentally conscious design, invests in local livelihoods and scientific capacity building, and supports Rwanda’s ecotourism sector (video). It's been named among the 10 most anticipated architecture projects in Africa.

Next, we go behind the scenes on one of Musanze's newest 2024 openings—Virunga Mountain Spirits (VMS)—a female-operated distillery whose flagship "Made in Rwanda" product is potato vodka. We're special guests to VMS' soft opening. For an enjoyable read about the journey thus far, don't miss this blog.

CEO Karen Sherman and her husband and co-founder Bill Wasserman tour us through the distillery. We are the first visitors ever to a private tasting and lunch at their BBQ restaurant. It's an insider's view of designing and operating a new business in Rwanda (VMS Overview). 

We check-in at Sambora Kinigi. Enjoy the afternoon taking in the mountain views or enjoy a massage. We reconvene for a private dinner at the lodge before a restful night in the mountains.

Enjoy an early complimentary breakfast at Sambora Kinigi. We depart at 8:00am to enjoy the Musanze countryside and observe day-to-day rural life. 

We visit the Sunzu Yacu Community Center in Musanze. On a hilltop overlooking Burera Lake, the compound includes a library, classrooms and a women's sewing cooperative. We have made a collective donation of funds and supplies as part of our visit. Enjoy interacting with the children who happily welcome you.

From the Sunzu Center, we enjoy the most inspiring views with a hike on the strip of land separating Lake Butera and Ruhondo, ending at Byiza Lodge ("Byiza" means "beautiful" in Kinyarwanda. 

We head back to Sambora Kinigi for a special last lunch. It's a fitting end to our Venture. We take time to share all that we've experienced during the week. 

From here, stay on for single or multi-day trip excursions (Rwanda gorilla trekking, Akagera National Park safari, Lake Kivu, adventures in Uganda) organized directly with Go Further. 

Alternatively, return via private safari vehicle to the Kigali International Airport (KGL) for outbound international flights departing in the evening. 

Book separately. Rwanda’s famous Mountain Gorillas are located 2.5 hours outside of Kigali. It's estimated there are less than 900 Mountain Gorillas left in the world. Rwanda is one of only three countries where you can visit these critically endangered animals.

Each hike to reach a gorilla family is different; some hikes are as short as 45 minutes others as long as several hours. The terrain varies, and altitudes may reach up to 4,000m (13,000 feet) with a starting altitude of 2,500m (8,200 feet). Guides arrange with the park service to assign you to a group based on your fitness level and preference. Groups are limited to only 8 visitors per gorilla family to minimize disturbance to the gorillas. Each group can be visited for one hour. Permits must be purchased from the park service well in advance. Permits are non-refundable.

Go Further (hello@gofurther.tours) offers gorilla trekking. Indicate your interest as part of trip registration. Cost per person declines with larger group size. 

If you have interest in multiple days, combining with a safari or other excursions in Rwanda or East Africa, the Go Further team can work with you to customize your perfect pre- or post-trip experience. 

Sample Itinerary: Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Day Trip 

Book Separately. Less than a 3-hour drive from Kigali along the border with Tanzania, Akagera National Park is home to the "Big Five." Animals to be seen include giraffe, zebra, elephant, lion, leopard, hippo, rhino, antelopes, buffalo and hundreds of bird species, including rare birds like the Shoebill.

Go Further (hello@gofurther.tours) offers safaris in Akagera. Indicate your when registering. Cost per person declines with larger group size. 

If you have interest in multiple days, combining with gorilla trekking or other excursions in Rwanda or East Africa, the Go Further team can work with you to customize your perfect pre- or post-trip experience. 

Sample Itinerary: Akagera Big Five Safari