I_HEART_TRAVELING

First off, thank you all for your advice and travel reports......invaluable...

I teach a genocide studies elective in addition to my normal classes. I also love animals, so after I'd planned a safari in Tanzania and a trek up Kilimanjaro I realized there was no way I could travel to that region of the world and not visit Rwanda.

I have read numerous recommendations already, so thank you. I realize that I could take the bus, and I'd like to, but I do not think my girlfriend or her family would be comfortable with us doing that. Should I use a tour operator? Could I just contact ITT and get a driver? Would I need one for all of these dates or be able to just walk to a few places, take a taxi?? As a teacher I dont have much money! This is my planned itinerary at the moment:

FLY FROM US TO AFRICA, Kigali
Day 1 Arrive Kigali, Recover from 2 days of traveling at the Intercontinental so we can enjoy the Gorillas!

Day 2 Visit Kigali Genocide Memorial, travel to either Kinigi Rest House or Gorilla's Nest
Driver needed this day?

Day 3 Gorilla Trek/Gorilla's Nest or Kinigi
No driver?

Day 4 Gorilla Trek/back to Intercontinental
No driver?

Day 5 Genocide Memorial-Murambi, Nyamata and Ntarama possible as well on this day???
Driver needed?

Day 6 Genocide Memorial, ), Nyamata and Ntarama then Friday Rwanda Air flight to Kilimanjaro flight time: 11.00AM

Any advice would be greatly appreciated since I don't know distances. If there is anything I shouldtn miss, but can do safely on the cheap, Id definitely be interested! Thanks.

waynehazle

I am glad anytime anyone goes to Rwanda. What a great place.

I had my wife with me and I certainly didn't think she would want to hope a bunch of buses. neither did I after doing 2 weeks in Kenya & Tanzania.

I had a driver via RN Xplorer. We started in Kigali, went to Murambi, Myungwe, Butare, ... eventually of course went to see the gorillas. The Gorilla's Nest is close to the launching place to see the gorillas, but I don't think you'd want to walk there.

Personally I just love having a driver in places like those.

I_HEART_TRAVELING

Wayne, thank you for your reply! Does our itinerary make sense then? How much did R & N charge for a driver per day? Many thanks already

I_HEART_TRAVELING

Wayne, just answered my question about cost, 180 fuel and everything, 140 with none....so I guess we'd have to have a driver for just the days where we went on the gorilla trek? Maybe the Fossey memorial as well then?

Rosenose

Nyamata and Ntarama are a misleadingly short distance outside of Kigali. I was there in August. Just on the outskirts of Kigali, the road is not paved, so the distance takes quite a long time. Plus a highway is being built in that direction, which can also cause delays. Assume that it will take you a morning or afternoon to visit both of them. I would not even try to describe what they are like and the feelings they evoke. The Memorial is Kigali is very well done. My daughter and I "did" the Memorial and Nyamata and Ntarama in one day. It was exhausting, however. Lastly, the IC is now a Serena. I have heard good things about it. We stayed there (it was still an IC), and enjoyed it very much-especially after 4 nights
at the Gorilla Nest.