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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 $1500 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 (use this official site, not a third-party one) to apply in advance. A tourist visa is $50 USD for one month, single entry (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 covering international travel, we strongly recommend also obtaining coverage for trip cancellation, interruption, curtailment, and personal property. 

We partner with Wanderwell, a Certified B Corp offering coverage and advising for travel insurance plans. Wanderwell makes it simple, offering just a few modern, comprehensive trip protection plans designed to cover the most common travel perils related to trip cancellation, trip interruption, trip delay, travel Medical Expenses, baggage & personal effects, Emergency Medical Evacuation, and more.

If you choose to purchase through Wanderwell, at least 1% of your insurance purchase price will be given to the 1% for the Planet Impact Fund.

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. USD (larger bills) also accepted.

• Currency  Rwandan Franc (RWF); $1 US = 1450 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. Volkswagen MOVE (table in Four Points lobby) and YEGO Rwanda are the preferred ride-hailing apps

• Clothing Modest dress generally recommended. Rwanda Packing Checklist.

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. 

- All-Inclusive Price Includes costs for 7 days/6 nights lodging, transportation, most meals (unless noted), non-alcoholic & alcoholic beverages, excursions and tips.

- 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.

Given the custom nature of this Venture, details within the itinerary are subject to change.

Welcome to Rwanda! Take time to relax and overcome your jet lag.

You are met by your driver at the Kigali International Airport. As you transfer to the Four Points Sheraton Kigali, you immediately see why Kigali is the cleanest and safest city in Africa. 

Enjoy the day at your leisure. Enjoy the outdoor pool or fitness room, schedule a spa treatment at the Marriott Kigali across the street (advanced reservation recommended) or take a walk to explore the land of a thousand hills. 

We meet in the lobby at 4:45pm to take a short walk to our opening gathering at Rooftop Rendezvous, one of the highest points in the center of Kigali City. It's the perfect place to begin our exploration of Rwanda's capital city. To give us a high-level insights on growth, government, family and women's leadership in Rwanda, we are joined by Patricie Uwase.

Patricie is the CEO of Rwanda Cooperation, leading initiatives to expand Rwanda’s global partnerships. Formerly Rwanda's Minister of State for Infrastructure and Board Chair of RwandAir Ltd, she has played a key role in advancing sustainable and resilient infrastructure projects both nationally and regionally. Formerly a SHE-CAN scholar (Kristin Nicholson was her mentor), Patricie holds a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of California Berkeley and delivered her class commencement address. She lives in Kigali and is a married mother of three children. Check out this 2022 SHE-CAN conversation between Kristin and Patricie (skip to 1:01:00 in video).

As we end dinner, there will be live music from the rooftop. Feel free to stay and enjoy, or return to the hotel for an early rest.

Enjoy complimentary breakfast at the hotel. At 9:00am, we meet our driver and host for the day, Desiree "Des" Izzere. Des shows us her favorite parts of Kigali. Highlights include:

-- Exploring the city's outdoor murals 

-- Visiting a local milk bar

-- Tasting some of the world's best coffee

-- Enjoying traditional neighborhood markets

-- Delicious Rwanda local lunch

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 to rent if you choose.

We end the day on Mount Kigali, enjoying a sundowner overlooking our new favorite African city.

We return to the hotel. It's a full day, so dinner is on your own this evening. Need ideas? Here are Let's Venture Restaurant Recommendations. 

Enjoy complimentary breakfast at the hotel. We depart at 8:30am for a day of exploring inspiring entrepreneurship in Kigali. David Mubita will join us—invited as both an ALU alum and young creative.

Our first visit is with acclaimed potter Winnie Kalisa at her stunning Laini Studio. Her unique and striking pieces blend traditional Rwandan pottery techniques with contemporary design aesthetics. We walk the grounds as Winnie shares her story. It's a great place for unique gifts.

We head to Kigali Innovation City, the home of African Leadership University (ALU). By 2050, African will be home to over 1 billion working-age people constituting 25% of the global workforce. Yet the continent faces a leadership gap fueling systemic challenges across politics, business, healthcare, education and the environment.

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), which identifies, develops and connects Africa's young leaders. ALU students declare "missions, not majors." Read the 2024 ALU Impact Report.

We are hosted by Audresse Girarike and Mitchell Barure who lead us on a campus tour. We get a sense for how students are prepared for the professional world from Mushrafat "Mush" Abdul-Rahman who manages ALU's Center for Entrepreneurship and Hellen Konyango who leads ALU's Student Professional Development program. We end our visit with a private lunch with students from across Africa.

After returning to our hotel for a short afternoon break, we head to Inema Arts. Founded by Innocent Nkurunziza and his brothers, Inema is the lynchpin to the buildout of Rwanda's artistic community. Innocent shares his story and art with us.

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 depart at 8:00am for Norrsken House Kigali, Africa's largest hub for entrepreneurship. It's a global ecosystem connecting founders with capital, knowledge and networks. Kigali is their East Africa hub. Elie Habimana is our host.

Among Norrsken members is Africa impact investing leader Renew Capital. Renew started in Ethiopia 10+ years ago and now invests in 13 African countries. Renew's Raisa Chowdhury, Emily Mahoney and Innocent Kananga host us, educating us on the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Rwanda and East Africa.

We visit a variety of companies that bring Rwanda's vision alive. At Norrsken, we meet Eder Munyampenda of Sawa Energy, which builds solar systems for East African businesses. With Pophia Muhoza, we visit Kabisa EV House, the new hub of Rwanda's electronic vehicle community. Over lunch at Zaria Court, we meet Awesomity Lab CEO Yannick Kabayiza and learn how their software is used in mobile applications.

We explore the new heart of Kigali—Zaria Court—which catalyses Africa's sports, entertainment, and cultural ecosystems. With a buzz-worthy opening in July (Giants of Africa), Kigali is the flagship location for a proud African brand with a vision for Africa. Zaria Court Brand & Campus Manager Che Rupari gives us a behind-the-scenes tour. We browse the retail shops for "Made In Rwanda" brands.

We return to the hotel and enjoy an afternoon break. With a lot to take in and talk about, we reconvene for a quiet dinner at 7:00pm at Treasures of Ikoro.

Today we grab a packed breakfast for a 6:30am 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) East to the Kayonza District and are 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 a casual buffet lunch at the Women's Opportunity Center before returning to Kigali.

Enjoy the afternoon on your own. Take a nap or do some final shopping (Des can provide recommendations). You can arrange private/Volkswagen MOVE/YEGO transport from the hotel.

We spend our last hours in Kigali over dinner at newly-opened Ruä. Tomorrow, 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 Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund nestled in the foothills of Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. Taking 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).

Next, we go behind the scenes on one of Musanze's newest openings. Virunga Mountain Spirits (VMS) is a female-operated distillery whose flagship "Made in Rwanda" Kari Vodka is made from local potatoes.

CEO Karen Sherman and husband/co-founder Bill Wasserman tour us through the distillery, lead us in a tasting, and share their story over lunch from Kinigi Table. To keep apprised, follow Bill's Greetings from Musanze blog and Substack.

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 8:00 and transport to the Sunzu Yacu Community Center. On a hilltop overlooking Burera Lake, the compound includes a library, classrooms and womens' sewing cooperative. Our host Alphonse Tuyambaze explains why Sunzu is so important to the community. Enjoy interacting with the children who happily welcome you. 

After taking some jaw-dropping photos, we enjoy a roughly 90-minute hike with the most inspiring views from the strip of land separating Lakes Burera and Ruhondo. Not up for hiking? You can take transport in the vehicle and meet at the end.

We head back to Sambora Kinigi for a very 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, some stay for gorilla trekking adventures with Go Further; others return via private safari vehicle to Kigali.

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