Rwanda is often known for being one of the safest countries in the world. This country is one of the cleanest, secured and easiest countries to visit in East Africa. Rwanda is also famous for being a mega exporter of coffee. People around the globe visit Rwanda for its coffee. A coffee plantation tour Rwanda is one of the best ways to know more about Rwandan Coffee.
History of Coffee and Coffee Beans In Rwanda
Coffee from Rwanda is reckoned to be one of the finest coffee in the world. More than 90% of the coffee produced in Rwanda is Arabica Varietal Bourbon. Depending on the soil on which the coffee beans are grown, they taste different. When chewed, they generally have a gentle flavour of orange or lemon or caramel and, they usually have a silky, creamy body.
In 1904, German missionaries were the first to bring coffee trees to Rwanda. The production of coffee began to increase in the 1930s; however, it was primarily low-grade coffee. High-grade coffee was still under the control of the government, making it one of the countryโs largest cash crops.
Rwanda is one of the largest Arabica coffee producers. This small country has over 450,000 small farms which, are approximately less than one hectare in size (roughly 165 coffee trees per coffee farmer), occupying around 28,000 hectares under coffee cultivation.
Rwandan coffee is now a part of the African culture, with rituals and socializing playing a significant role in any gathering. Hope (โIkizereโ), Vision (โIkerokozaโ), and Proud (โIshemaโ) are values connected with the industryโs crops that dictate how people co-operate.
Rwandan single-origin coffee beans are now part of Starbucks reserve Rwanda Hingkawa program.
Coffee Plantation Tour Rwanda
The coffee plantation tour in Rwanda is an excellent way of knowing the journey of a coffee bean from the farm to your coffee mug. Coffee plantation tour offers an alluring view of coffee fields with coffee making and an explanation of the process.
The coffee plantation tour in Rwanda attracts more tourists and visitors in the coffee harvesting season, which takes place between February and May. During the harvesting season, the green coffee cherries turn into deep cranberry red.
Visitors and tourists who are pretty much fascinated about the production process of coffee take the tour during the harvesting period. However, educational tours are offered all around the year in washing stations and Rwandan cooperatives.
It is highly recommended to visit the washing station and farm during the harvesting period when the Coffee beans are deep cranberry red so that you can actively participate in the picking process, which the farmers assist.
The highly skilled farmers will teach you to differentiate between fully grown and ready coffee beans, half-grown coffee beans and unripened coffee beans to pick and pluck from the coffee plants. This whole experience is amazingly exhilarating for visitors and tourists.
When you visit the coffee farms during the off-season, you wonโt experience any of the activities mentioned above. The coffee beans in every way will be green, so you wonโt be able to participate much. The guide will take you to the other stages of coffee processing, such as washing, pulping, grading, roasting coffee, and so much more.
Coffee Tours At Washing Stations
Kinunu Washing Stationย ย
Kinunu washing station, located in Gisenyi, is one of Rwandaโs most frequently visited washing stations. The Kinunu buys coffee cherries from local farmers who grow coffee near the washing station and the other local cooperatives partnered with the washing station.
You can visit the washing station by riding a bicycle or bike hike on Congo Nile Trail or by taking a boat from the shore of Lake Kivu.
Ingoboka Collective
Ingoboka Collective is located between Gisenyi and Karongi, near the Kayove village. The coffee produced here is certified as high-quality Arabica coffee in the world by coffee experts. Ingoboka collective operates various coffee plantations in the area and farms of Nyamirundi island and washing stations. Some of the coffee beans that are not delivered to Kigali are roasted and brewed in the collective.ย
When you plan your coffee tour, you will be given options to return to Kigali or visit the washing stations. If you wish to continue the time at the washing station, you will also need to book accommodation near Gisenyi because the tours at the washing station sometimes take more than 3 to 4 hours.ย ย
Coffee Plantation Tours In Rwanda
1. Coffee Plantation & Harvesting Experience
- Honorio Tours operates the tours.ย
- Duration โ 4 to 7 hours approximately.ย
- Language โ English and French.
- Departure Point โ You can either choose their address as a meet-up point (Paradis Malahide, 778F+C6Q, Kigufi, Rwanda) or select your pick-up point. You can also select a hotel, airport or select another location as a pick-up point.ย
- The tour is a private activity that means only your group will enjoy and participate in the activities.ย
- Only service animals are allowed.ย
- Not a wheelchair-accessible tour.
2. Women-led Coffee Farm Trek
- The tours are operated by Question Coffee โ Coffee Experiences.ย
- Duration โ 8 Hours.ย
- Language โ Englishย
- Departure Point โ Question Coffee Gishushu, KG 8 Ave, Kigali, Rwanda
- Departure Time โ 8 am.ย
- Only service animals are allowed.ย
- Not a wheelchair-accessible tour.
- The tours offered here at least have 15 visitors.ย
- At the end of the tour, you will get a lunch, a gift bag, and a certificate of appreciation.ย
3. Rwanda Coffee Plantation Experience
- Judith Safaris operate the tours.ย
- Duration โ Full-day Tours (8-10 hours).
- Language โ English and French
- The tour operator will contact you regarding the meet-up point.ย
- Departure time โ 8 am.ย
- The destination has a public transport facility nearby.ย
- Visitors with serious health conditions or back problems are recommended not to opt for this tour.ย
- Not a wheelchair-accessible tour.
- The tour is a private activity that means only your group will enjoy and participate in the activities.ย
- Additional โ Snacks and Launch.ย
- Private/personal vehicle is allowed.ย
4. Rwandan Coffee Experience
- Azizi Life Experiences operate the tours.ย
- Duration โ 5 to 8 hours.ย
- Language โ Englishย
- Departure point โ RN1, RN1, Gitarama, Rwanda.ย
- Departure Time โ 8 am.ย
- Wheelchair accessible tour.
- The route of the tour has uneven surfaces.ย
- Visitors must have a moderate level of Fitness.ย
- Booking of a minimum of 2 people is mandatory.
- Private Tour.ย
- Additional โ Gratuities, Bottled water, Lunch, Local guide, Tour host, Return transport from Muhanga (Gitarama) Town to Village, and Coffee and Tea
If you visit Rwanda, a coffee plantation tour in Rwanda is one of the highly recommended things. A coffee plantation tour in Rwanda offers more than just information about the coffee and its production process.
During the Coffee plantation tour in Rwanda, you will get to participate in the coffee production process. And at the end of the plantation tour, you will also get a gift of high-quality coffee from Rwanda.
Last Updated on by Himani Rawat
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