Journey to the coffee growing communities of Rwanda and the Rwenzori Mountains of Uganda

Developed in collaboration with Glen Lyon Coffee Roasters. A unique journey linking international coffee lovers to the smallholder coffee farming communities of Rwanda and in the beautiful and lush foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains in Uganda. An exploration of coffee that provides a deep insight into the people, cultures, landscapes and wildlife in one of the most beautiful areas of Equatorial Africa.

Download Brochure here

Journey Essentials

14 days/13 nights starting in Kigali (Rwanda) and finishing in Entebbe (Uganda)
Internationally and locally led, accompanied by a Glen Lyon coffee expert.
Five nights in hotels - two nights in Kigali, one night lakeside lodge in Bunyonyi and two nights in Entebbe.
Four nights in lodges: two in a safari lodge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and two in a Nkuruba Conservation Area
Four nights camping and hosted by communities: Three nights in the Rwenzori area in Safari style tents with folding camp beds and one night on an island in Lake Bunyonyi.
Involves moderate walking around the Rwenzori area and during Chimpanzee trekking.
Price: 4840 US$ (approx. 3700 GBP) per prson based on two people sharing a room (a 350 US$ single suplement would be charged for single ocupancy rooms) Flights are not included.

Journey Dates:

2027 Journeys

28th February to 13th March 2027

2028 Journeys

February - March (dates to be confirmed)

Journey Highlights

Discover the coffee growing communities of Rwanda and the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains of Uganda

Start your journey in Kigali, Rwanda visiting coffee growers in the area for a first experience of African smallholder coffee production.
Cross the border to the SW Highlands of Uganda staying beside Lake Bunyonyi – explore this stunning lake and its many islands by boat and local dugout canoe.
Explore the local cultures and beliefs of the local Bakiga people and be hosted by a family of the last locally owned island on the lake.
Stay in Queen Elizabeth National Park, seeing Africa’s iconic wildlife (elephant, hippo, buffalo, crocodile and much more) and stunning bird life at close quarters while bird watching from a chartered boat.
Track and see chimpanzees in the forests of Queen Elizabeth.
Be hosted for three nights in a community camp (with safari style tents) in the foothills of the lush Rwenzori Mountains.
Visit the coffee buying and processing facilities and ‘cup’ different coffee processes and varietals at source.
Walk through the beautiful Rwenzori foothills visiting and being hosted by smallholder coffee farmers.
Gain a deeper understanding of the local Bakonjo people of the area and the importance of coffee growing to local livelihoods.
Stay in the community camp at the beautiful and forested Lake Nkuruba Conservation Area alive with numerous monkeys and unforgettable bird life.
Finish the journey in Entebbe on the shores of relaxing Lake Victoria.

Itinerary summary

See downloadable brochure for a detailed itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Kigali (Rwanda) and welcome dinner, Night in Kigali hotel
Day 2: Visit coffee farmers and buyers/processors near Kigali (second night in Kigali)
Day 3: Travel by vehicle across the border and up to beautiful Lake Bunyonyi. Stay in a lakeside lodge.
Day 4: Explore the Lake Bunyonyi area by foot and boat, and experience local Abakiga culture. Stay on the last locally owned island on the lake, hosted by a local family.
Day 5: Cross the lake by boat or dugout canoe and then travel by safari vehicles to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Stay in a safari lodge in the park.
Day 6: Half the group undertakes a chimpanzee trek and the other half a wildlife drive. The whole group then rejoins to board a wildlife boat to experience Africa's iconic large game and stunning bird and wildlife at close quarters. Second night in the safari lodge.
Day 7: The groups swap with the other half of the group undertaking the chimpanzee trek and the first half experiencing the wildlife drive. After lunch, we drive to the foothills of the Rwenzori to a camp set-up in the lush coffee growing areas. First night in a camp with safari style tents.
Day 8: An exploration of the coffee growing communities of the Rwenzori and visiting the collection and buying facilities of Agri Evolve. Second night in the community camp.
Day 9: A walk through the fields and homesteads in the Rwenzori foothills to the coffee washing station at Nyabirongo. Coffee cupping (tasting) at the facility. Return for our third night at the community camp.
Day 10: Travel to the lake Nkuruba conservation area stopping at local basket makers. Stay in huts beside a stunning crater lake populated by various species of monkey and stunning bird life.
Day 11: Explore the Lake Nkuruba area with local guides and stay a second night at the huts in the conservation area.
Day 12: Drive from Lake Nkuruba to Entebbe and stay in a hotel beside vast Lake Victoria.
Day 13: Optional boat trip to view Shoebill Storks and other bird life, relax and explore Entebbe with its botanical gardens. Final farewell dinner.
Day 14: Departure day

Background of this journey

Exclusive small group accompanied trips with Ugandan and coffee experts through one of the most stunning and diverse areas of Africa

This 14 day journey to the coffee communities of the Rwenzori mountains is a collaboration between Glen Lyon and Nomadic Skies. Bringing together the experience of Glen Lyon in sourcing high quality arabica beans from this area of Uganda, and Nomadic Skies’ extensive travel experience in Western Uganda in collaboration with local and indigenous guides and local communities.

Glen Lyon Coffee Roasters (www.glenlyoncoffee.co.uk) is a B Corp certified company supplying speciality coffee which sources traceable and ethically produced coffee, paying fair prices and building long term relationships with producers at origin.

Nomadic Skies Expeditions is a travel company founded on the principles of promoting travel that deepens links with remote communities and benefits those communities.

Journey to the communities that are the source of distinctive, single-sourced coffee

Uganda Kalingwe AA - a creamy natural coffee with notes of strawberries, passion fruit and milk chocolate grown by smallholder farmers in the foothills of the Rwenzori.

Rwanda Rwamatamu - a delicious, washed coffee which has notes of candied peel, red berries and mandarin grown by the 21 members of the women’s cooperative at Rwamatamu Coffee.