SAFARI EXPERIENCE
Coffee and Tea Tours In Rwanda
Coffee and tea tours in Rwanda are an excellent way to deeply explore farming activities. A visit to tea or coffee plantations, estates, or factories allows you to discover some of the best coffee or tea Rwanda offers. You can explore the different stages of processing, from harvesting in the garden to drying and processing until the final product is ready to be consumed. You might even have a taste of the coffee or tea, creating lasting memories. This is one of the best agricultural tour experiences you shouldn’t miss on Rwanda safaris. Coffee and tea are major export crops in Rwanda, thriving in fertile volcanic soils and favorable climatic conditions.
Go on Rwanda safaris with Tripple Legacy Tours and explore how coffee and tea are harvested and processed into final products for consumption to public. Your experience begins with a road trip from Muhanga or Gitarama Town to the nearest village. Upon arrival, you’ll receive a nice and warm welcome from the women working at the cooperative. You will then visit coffee plants and pick some cherries, which you may need to wash before removing the pulp. You will also have a meal with the host community and share many experiences. This is a great opportunity to roast, grind, and sieve the beans to prepare a traditional coffee.
WHERE TO GO FOR COFFEE AND TEA TOURS IN RWANDA
Coffee and tea tours in Rwanda are best conducted along the huge tea plantation. This will involve you taking a walk to the tea estate while enjoying the exceptional backdrop of the plantation. It is possible for you to incorporate your coffee and tea tours in Rwanda with chimpanzee tracking safaris, primate tours, bird watching tours in Nyungwe Forest National Park.Gisakura tea estate is one of the extensive tea plantations in Rwanda that is worth exploring on coffee and tea tours. This tea estate is 2kms from Nyungwe Forest National Park and it is reachable along the NR6 route to Rusizi. From Huye, it is about 97kms away and its history dates back to colonial era when it was planted. The Gisakura Tea Factory was established in 1975 and over 2000 farmers work are employed mostly women. The tea farm is also famous for its breathtaking view which visitors get on helicopter trip.
This is situated in Karenge district about 4 hours’ journey from Kigali. Tea growing in Gisovu estates also began during the colonial era although its factor was set up in 1977. Visitors on tea tours in this tea estates can spend a night at Gisovu Guesthouse.
Tea planting began here in 1966 and later the factory was established which started running in 1978. They are all run by the SORWATHE factory and the closest cooperative. An estimate of about 4000 people are employed in this plantation and there us a Sorwathe guesthouse for visitors to spend a night.
This is found in Rubavu about 9kms off Rubavu just along NR4 route. The Pfunda Tea Company was set up in 1965 thus making it the oldest tea plant in Rwanda. Over 2000 people work here and it is operated by McLeod Russel family, the renowned largest tea producer in the world.
A visit to the scenic shores of Lake Kivu lets you have an incredible coffee experience. This area is known for its unique landscape and favorable climatic conditions which support growing of high-quality coffee. A coffee tour in this area allows you enjoy remarkable view of the extensive farmland and surrounding areas including the Cyimbiri bay.
This coffee station lies along the shores of Lake Kivu, western Rwanda just at the border with the DR Congo. It is an ideal place to explore Bourbon coffee tree growing. Some activities are carried out manually with cherries keenly hand sorted.
