20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very responsive and detailed oriented, great customer service.
I was in Rwanda for work and had 1 Saturday free, as a solo female traveler, I was a little nervous to sign up for a safari by myself, but I'm glad I did. I'm grateful for all of Golden Rwanda Safari's support in the process and had a really great experience the day of the safari. My guide worked very hard to find all the animals in the park that were on my top list and was very informational about their habitats and behaviors. The breakfast and lunch were excellent as well.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A Deep Dive into Rwanda
I initially came in skeptical of Golden Rwanda Safaris' all 5 star reviews - after all, it is very rare for anything to have all 5 star reviews these days. However, I can say that Golden Rwanda Safaris has met, if not exceeded, my expectations. Through a custom tour package (I selected their Chimpanzee and Golden Monkeys tour and tacked on a gorilla trek), I was able to see Rwanda's unique wildlife. I felt blessed when I saw a chimp family eating their day away in a fig tree, and I nearly broke down in tears as I witnessed gorillas in Volcanos National Park, and how they were just like us.
But perhaps the best part of the experience was making friends with my safari driver, Sufiani, with whom we talked about many things, from science and technology, to the cultures and histories of both Rwanda and the United States. It is one of those moments where you - both of us really - truly get to know how people live and think on opposite sides of the world.
I did notice some flaws however that relate to the hotels: for example, the Top View Hotel room wifi did not work properly, and the Five Volcanos Boutique Hotel had trouble with hot water. I don't hold them against Golden Rwanda Safaris since they are outside the scope of the tour company. Besides, they are still obscenely luxurious places to stay compared to my budget safari experience in Kenya the previous week where we slept in tents (let alone compared to how the locals live).
In addition, given recent events it is prudent to be mindful of the security situation in Rwanda. Sufiani had to rebook my hotel in Gisenyi due to the M23 rebel takeover of Goma the day before, and the Rwanda-DRC border remains dangerous at the time of this writing. While Rwanda remains relatively safe, and Golden Rwanda Safaris will do everything in their power to ensure your safety (e.g. the rebooking), it is a reminder that this remains a volatile part of the world.
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Spectacular safari to Rwanda to visit the mountain gorillas and their national parks
In planning my trip to Rwanda I communicated frequently with Frank Benoit KANYAMUTARA, the Founder/Owner of Golden Rwanda Safaris, who answered my questions thoughtfully and promptly. He put together a 12 day safari that included my priorities of seeing the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees and added so many beautiful sites that I could not have imagined, such as the Nyanza King Palace. With the longer safari, I had time to see so much of Rwanda including a gorilla family in Volcanoes National Park, lions and many other animals in Akagera National Park, the crafts market in Kigali and a local village. My guide Taufique was very knowledgeable about Rwanda and offered me the option of by-passing or adding destinations to the safari, as well as time to relax. He was pleasant, patient, reliable and thoughtful of my interests, especially in selecting a gorilla family that could be reached by a pleasantly challenging trek for me as a 69 year old. The lodging at every stop was outstanding and far exceeded my expectations, including the Hotel Five Volcanoes, the Governor's Residence and the Akagera Lodge. I was very satisfied with my safari to Rwanda and feel that the price was well worth the memories of this extraordinary experience!
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing experience and Thank You Golden Rwanda Safaris for making it all happen.
From the onset of our initial inquiry 8 months previous and thru to the end of our safari, it was a very nice experience working with Golden Rwanda Safaris. Frank ( found / owner) and our driver Taufique were excellent!! Taufique was very flexible, personable and accommodating to all of your needs.
I was especially impressed with the extra support efforts that Taufique and Frank provided when one of our colleagues got sick the evening before our gorilla trek and had to miss his scheduled gorilla trek. Frank and Taufique did a lot of scrambling to managed to secure a gorilla trek for the next day. It would have been a shame if he had to miss that amazing experience of seeing the gorillas!!
Regards,
Joe D.
ES
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Nice experience
We have just finished a 10-day trip organised by Golden Rwanda Safaris. The experience has been very positive, from the first contacts with Frank, the owner, to the last day of the trip.
Before talking about the trip, I want to say that the communication with Frank before arriving in Rwanda has been very easy, reactive and fluid. Depending on new ideas for activities, we were discussing with Frank and adapting the trip planning. The payment in two installments was also an easy step. Later, during the trip, when we came up with new activities, such as visiting a coffee plantation, it was also possible to adapt it so that it could be done.
The trip, at all times with its guide Mico, took us to Kigali, Nyungwe, Lake Kivu, Volcanoes National Park and Akagera National Park. Mico was always very attentive to the development of the trip. Punctual and efficient. Adapting to what we were discussing during the trip. Having an experienced guide makes the choice of activities and recommendations (such as the gorilla group to see) positive. All the activities have been very good, but I recommend one that is less known: the hike to the Bisoke volcano. A wonderful landscape and a good workout.
The choice of accommodations throughout the trip is very successful. Quality, from accommodation in tents in Akagera to very premium hotels like in Lake Kivu.
In short, if you decide to organize your trip with Frank and his team, you will have a very good experience. Rwanda has been our eighth country in Africa.
Thank you Frank. Thank you Mico.
(automatic translation from Spanish)
GR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good experience
Good authentic experience. The guide was very nice and made sure we had a good time
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Mountain Gorillas and Golden Monkeys
Booking to visiting these beautiful creatures was all very seamless. The meeting point before going trekking was very well organized. We had the best guide, Jean Claude! He was attentive, on time and answered all our questions. He went above and beyond. The 5 Volcanoes Hotel was very well situated. Food was delicious. The staff was very kind.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Knowledgeable and a delight to be with!
Totally saw every animal we wanted to. Dady worked really hard to make sure we saw what we wanted to see. Super nice guy. I couldn’t recommend him enough!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great responsive tour company
We booked two nights through Golden Rwanda to visit the gorillas and golden monkeys. I highly recommend booking through them. Sufiane, our driver/guide was prompt to pick us up at the Kigali airport and was very friendly and a safe driver. He helped things run smoothly and made for a memorable experience. The itinerary worked well. We loved the gorillas and monkeys. The Genocide Memorial was good and powerful. Other stops that Sufiane fit in were also enjoyable. Frank booked us at Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel for our stay and it was a very nice hotel with a comfortable room, good food and friendly employees. Don't hesitate to book!
AE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The most incredible and special time in Rwanda!
We had an absolutely incredible experience with Golden Rwanda Safaris during our 4-day adventure in Rwanda, with the highlight being the unforgettable gorilla tracking! From the moment we started planning the trip, everything was seamless and perfectly executed.
Frank, who coordinated with us from the very beginning, was incredibly helpful, responsive, and went above and beyond to make our trip truly special. Since we were celebrating my wife's birthday, Frank helped plan a surprise, adding thoughtful touches throughout our stay. His flexibility with the itinerary ensured we got the most out of every moment, and it made the whole experience feel tailored just for us.
Our guide, Taufeeq, made the journey even more enjoyable. His deep knowledge of the region, wildlife, and culture, combined with his friendly and professional attitude, ensured we had an amazing time. He took care of every detail, making sure we were comfortable and well-prepared, especially for the gorilla tracking—an experience we’ll never forget!
Golden Rwanda Safaris continuously impressed us with their exceptional service and personal touch at every step. If you're planning a trip to Rwanda, we can’t recommend them enough. Thank you, Frank, Taufeeq, and the entire team for making this trip and birthday celebration so memorable!