Rwanda Coffee Tours

Rwanda, in central-east Africa, is an ideal country to enjoy coffee tours. There are plenty of corporate-owned and privately owned coffee farms in Rwanda. Most of the coffee farms are smallholder farms. Coffee is a major contributor to Rwanda’s economy, with Bourbon coffee being the most cultivated variety, followed by Catuai and Caturra. These are largely grown on steep terrain, and over 20,000 to 22,000 metric tonnes are produced annually.

Coffee plantations to tour in Rwanda

Although Rwanda has a large number of smallholder coffee farmers, some farms are operated on a large scale by investors. The following are some of the key coffee farms you may wish to explore in the ‘Land of a Thousand Hills.’

Kivubelt Coffee Farm

Kivubelt Coffee Farm is situated in the western province of Rwanda, specifically in the Kamajumba area, a peninsula on Lake Kivu. Kivubelt is privately owned and was started in 2011 to produce high-quality coffee while providing job opportunities for locals. The Kivubelt Coffee Farm has so far grown over 90,000 coffee shrubs. The farm has now acquired 2 coffee washing stations. Smallholder farmers also sell harvested and processed coffee to Kivubelt.

Nova Coffee

Nova Coffee was started in 2015 and is situated in Rwanda’s northern province. This is a women-led organization that works with over 2,800 smallholder farmers to cultivate coffee on over 155 acres of land. With over 380,000 coffee shrubs grown, Nova Coffee collaborates with the local smallholder coffee farmers to cultivate and harvest them. You can explore some of the farms they collaborate with to gain deeper insight into coffee farming on your coffee tour.

Sake Coffee Farm

Sake Coffee Farm is situated alongside Lake Sake in Rwanda’s Eastern Province. Sake Coffee Farm collaborates with at least 1,752 smallholder coffee farmers to manage 43,000 coffee shrubs. They cultivate coffee on steep slopes that also allow for efficient irrigation in case of a dry season. Besides growing coffee, Sake Farm has put in place methods for reusing water and supplying some for the local community.

There are still over 90 other registered coffee farms and companies in Rwanda. Some of them you may wish to explore include Coffee Villages Limited, Hillock Coffee Limited, Kabila Coffee Company, and Kivu Heritance Coffee Limited, among others.

What to do while on a Rwanda Coffee tour?

While on a Rwanda coffee tour, expect plenty of exciting things to see and do. While on a guided tour in the beautiful green plantations, you will be educated about the history of coffee in Rwanda. Coffee was introduced in Rwanda by the Germans in the early twentieth century. You will find farmers whom you may interact with if possible. You will enjoy watching how they cultivate coffee. Gain knowledge of how coffee farms are cleared before planting.

You will be given an opportunity to selectively pick ripe cherries right from the farm if it is harvesting season. Learn why picking green cherries may lead to losses when it comes to sales. They will demonstrate the various methods of pest control, management, and application of fertilizers. Participate in weeding or pruning following the guidance of experienced farmers. You will explore where and how coffee is stored to avoid damage/quality.

You will gain experience in the coffee value chain in Rwanda. How must the quality be maintained to attract high-end buyers and exporters? Learn more about value addition on harvested coffee. Coffee processing demonstrations involve the depulping of the coffee cherries to produce coffee beans. The coffee beans are then dried to produce parchment coffee. This is subsequently hulled to make green coffee. This coffee is suitable for exporting.

Learn about the challenges and threats the coffee farmers face in cultivating this precious cash crop. Some of the challenges include land fragmentation, increased use of inorganic fertilizers, soil erosion, and degradation etc. Threats include climate change, government policies, and many others. Then you will also get a cup of coffee, which is guaranteed to be the best you will ever have.

What makes Rwanda the best destination for coffee tours?

Rwanda has a variety of sites where coffee farms are found. Rwandan coffee thrives due to a number of reasons. Firstly, the tropical climate experienced in Rwanda is favorable for coffee farming. Temperatures are cool and relatively the same throughout the year. Rainfall is sufficient for coffee growing. Secondly, the fertile volcanic soils are ideal for coffee farming. Rwanda has many hilly areas, which are suitable for the establishment of coffee farms.

Best time to go to Rwanda for coffee tours

The best time to go for the Rwanda coffee tours is during the harvesting season. Rwanda’s coffee is generally harvested once each year. This is the main harvesting season from April to July. Meanwhile, there is also a minor harvesting season. This falls from September to November. This is normal for outstandingly fertile regions, like the northwest. June and July are the driest months of the year. So, coming during this time is much more favorable in case you prefer traveling at a time with relatively warm and dry weather.

Sándor Jakubinyi

14:31 22 Feb 24

2019 megigazulás

12:45 21 Feb 24

We went on a two-week trip with my family, organised by Coleb from Standard Safaris.

I had my concerns about organised trips, but this one didn’t justify any of those. Everything went very smoothly, even when some problems arose with one of the cars it got fixed by next morning, the accomodations were clean and comfortable, the programs were exciting and well-balanced - everything was done to a truly high standard.

If you plan to visit Uganda and are looking for a guide, I warmly recommend Coleb and his team. In case you have a choice of drivers, go for Godwin, his presence made this trip even more enjoyable - cheerful, helpful, good sense of humour, generally a great person. Just look for the guy with a big smile and big heart:)

Bert Simoens

09:38 08 Jan 24

We recently embarked on a safari adventure with Standard Safaris in Uganda, which was truly exceptional. Our guide, Yonah, was outstanding - his kindness, knowledge, and discretion significantly enhanced our experience. He was the heart of our trip.

The local company's planning was offering a tailor-made journey that matched our interests. We saw an array of wildlife in Murchison, enjoyed rafting at Jinja, and experienced mountain biking at Sipi. A visit to Kidepo National Park was a highlight and comes highly recommended.

The vehicle provided was comfortable and reliable. We highly recommend Standard Safaris for anyone seeking an unforgettable safari in Uganda. Their professionalism and the exceptional guidance of staff like Yonah make them an great choice.

Michał Kostrzewa

00:41 15 Nov 23

We are all extremely grateful Standard Safaris for an incredible East Africa experience. I recently booked a custom trip for group of 8 people, including an 8-year-old boy, from Kampala through Queen Elizabeth National Park and on to Rwanda and Burundi. Coleb delivered on everything that was discussed and agreed upon beforehand.

The car provided was in great condition and our driver Meddy went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable, informed, and had the best possible time. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. All local services were inlcuded in (reasonable) price that we agreed, so there was no need to worry about payments during the 6 day trip. Also Standard Safaris agreed took care about safety and security by helping us organize armed ranger while in the park.

The whole trip was hassle-free and smooth. We saw amazing wildlife in Queen Elizabeth NP, took in the sights of Rwanda and Burundi, and made lifelong memories.

I would happily book with Standard Safaris again in a heartbeat and recommend them wholeheartedly to anyone looking for the best East Africa trip. They provide top-notch service while ensuring you have an incredible, customized experience. If you want a hassle-free, flawlessly organized African adventure, Standard Safaris is the tour operator to book with.

Ivan Nammanda

18:31 27 Oct 23

Very organized travel operator who chose awesome guide to make our trip wonderful.

We booked a nine days trip with Standard Safaris and all was perfect from start to finish. Coleb was very prompt at replying and easy to liaise with ahead of the trip. We had done a lot of research and had an itinerary in mind and Coleb helped us to put everything together to make this happen for a very reasonable price.  On the trip we had a private vehicle for the whole tour which was exactly what we wanted. Bryan was our driver and an amazing guide - really friendly and knowledgable, working hard to find the things that we wanted to see and quickly understanding what was of interest to us/how much information to give.

Would highly recommend a trip to Uganda with Standard Safaris. We are definitely coming back soon!

MUGAIGA KENNETH

18:01 27 Oct 23

The company has very courteous tour guides with wide knowledge of fauna and frola in the whole of East Africa.
The choice of safari Lodges is good with first class treatment.
Game drive security is assured.
Almost The whole of September I was traversing through DRC, Uganda,and Rwanda on a gorilla tour and wildlife expedition.
Everything was arranged and booked perfectly by Standard Safaris.
The owner, Coleb was always helpful whenever we needed to ask questions about this gorilla safari in Uganda and beyond.
It was a complex expedition but Standard safaris and Coleb made it look amazingly easy.
I’ll recommend Standard safaris 200%, for all gorilla safaris in Uganda, Rwanda and wildlife tours in east africa.

travel uganda

16:35 27 Oct 23

This is so far the best gorilla trekking company in Uganda, and africa, by far. I had a wonderful time with Standard Safaris as a solo traveler.
My guide was excellent and our safari planner, Coleb was quick with responses and the prices were very friendly.
I’ll definitely book with Standard safaris on my next gorilla tour in Rwanda and Uganda.