Consider us for a truly Safaris Boutique Company
Hermosa Life Tours and Travel
- Office In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2012)
- Member Of:
- ASTA & RTTA & TripAdvisor
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $150 to $330 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
for a custom tour
Your request will be sent directly to the operator
If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews
US
Email Ellen | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful trip with amazing guide!
Highly recommended tour operator with wonderful private guide! I originally contacted Hermosa Life Tours & Travel back in summer 20023, when I was first planning a January 2024 trip for two. Yvonne was very helpful and easy to communicate with (despite the time difference), providing multiple options with different activities and price points. Payment was easy and smooth (half up front via wire transfer and half either before you get there or once you land)--all laid out clearly.
We ended up choosing an 8-day option that took us to Akagera National Park, Volcanoes National Park (gorillas!), Lake Kivu, and Kigali--the parks/lake were spectacular, the drives between provided beautiful scenery and glimpses in people's lives (as much as you can see driving by), and the visit to the Genocide Museum in Kigali was moving and necessary. Because we wanted to see so much in such a short timespan, there was not much time to do stuff on our own--but that was a choice we made when we booked the trip and all of the activities we did were worth it (even when I was a little skeptical at first about one or two). There were a couple of changes made during the tour itself--one of the activities planned (a night boat ride) was cancelled due to external factors and replaced with a coffee farm tour and one hotel was replaced with another--but all that was communicated beforehand and smoothly handled. I did wonder about the hotel switch--I wasn't entirely clear what actually happened/caused the switch and the replacement hotel was adequate (very nice, helpful staff; so-so facilities), but not up to the standards of the others; this was the only hiccup in the entire trip.
Our guide, Patrick, was amazing and made the trip so much better! During the entire time we were with him--it was just my husband, Patrick, and I for long stretches of time--he was nothing but warm, knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and fun to talk with. He provided insights into what we were seeing, helped us spot/identify animals on the Akagera game drives, took care of all the logistical details (and was always exactly where and when he said he would be), and was a excellent driver (including during torrential rains on winding mountain roads). I can't say enough good things about him--if you read this, Patrick, thank you so much!
I have already recommended Hermosa to friends who are interested in visiting Rwanda. It was a once-in-a-lifetime trip for us--one we had saved for over years--and the team at Hermosa made everything easy, allowing us just to enjoy being in this beautiful country.
Nice safari, tour guide was not the best
You get what you pay: amazing safari with beautiful landscapes! Saw so many beautiful animals, dream come true! I attended alone as a woman and I felt safe the whole time. It was very easy to communicate with them in advance via email.
However, I would maybe choose another tour operator since my guide was not the best. Our car broke down during safari and the guide was not that informative about the situation. He didn't listen my hopes (only thing I asked was that could we be back at the hotel 5 pm, didn't work....). I think for over 400 euros you are supposed to get what you ask. Btw, I asked these beforehand via emai and then they said that 5pm is just fine, just communicate with the guide but that's not how it went...
All in all, there are many tour operators and all of them offer the beautiful scenery and animals so you are gonna get better guide somewhere else. :/
DE
Email Paul Heinzmann | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Perfect
We booked Akagera trip in short time and this company was very responsive in every way and the team works hands in hands , from office to tour guides, they are amazing we can’t wait to have more adventures with this safaris company in Ruanda- Kudos to our phenomenal Tour Guide Patrick
DE
Email Harry Gottfried | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great Safari company in Kigali
We have booked this company after being recommended by our friends who did Akagera trip and Nyungwe Canopy adventure, we really enjoyed our trip with our Guide Gordon Monday, he knows Rwandan History, animals and he cares a lot , we shall use soon for our planned Gorilla Trekking soon with our parents. Cheers
DE
Email Elitza | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Perfect organization of an extraordinary experience in Rwanda
Our initial plan was to do a round trip of Rwanda on our own, i.e. without using the service of an agency. In theory, this is be possible but after being there, I'm glad that we decided to go with a local agency.
I can't be more happy for choosing Hermosa Life Tours & Travel (HLTT) for our trip. They created a customized trip for us which included a 2-day safari in Akagera NP, a chimps trek in Nyungwe NP and an epic gorilla trek. Yvonne was answering all my questions within very short time and accommodated all our special requests. Our guide Damascene was very knowledgable and keen to show us his beautiful country. Despite knowing that it's a common practice, I felt a bit uncomfortable to pay the full amount upfront ( a common practice for safaris) but HLTT delivered an exceptional service and went way beyond our expectations.
BE
Email Kurt | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Golden Monkey Trekking
A day trip to Volcanoes NP from Kigali is a day that starts bright and early. At 4:30 AM my driver was waiting for me at the hotel reception and after an enjoyable 2-hour drive we arrived at the Briefing Point of Volcanoes NP, where we were treated to some free coffee before we were divided into groups of 20-25. From there on we drove to the starting point of the hike. The hike itself wasn't too long and definitely isn't a difficult one. People who need some help can get a walking stick and also hire a porter to carry their backpack. After 25-30 minutes of walking through the countryside, where our guide paused from time to time to provide us some information, we arrived at the bamboo forest. Before we got to the golden monkeys we were told to wear a face mask, which makes sense since we share so much DNA with these monkeys and disease are easy transmittable. We then got 1 hour with the monkeys and that hour flew by. The monkeys are everywhere around you and the guides give you the opportunity to walk around to admire and enjoy the monkeys. They sure look cute. The only thing they ask you is that you don't stand under a branch with a monkey on it (to avoid getting peed on). I truly enjoyed my time with these monkeys, especially the plenty of young monkeys that play and climb everywhere. After more or less an hour with them we took off our masks and walked back to the starting point where my driver was waiting for me. Also important to know is that you are already back in Kigali in the early afternoon (2-3 PM). Thanks Hermosa Life Tours and Travel for providing me this opportunity to get in touch with these amazing animals I didn't know even existed a few months ago.
AE
Email Anthony | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Rwanda is fantastic, all made possible by the incredible Hermosa Life Tours and Travel company!
We had a fantastic trip to Rwanda expertly organised by Oreste and Yvonne at Hermosa Life Tours and Travel. I can't more highly recommend this company enough. From the booking process, the range of tours, the communication, the small details and the tour guide (ask for Patrick, he is one of the nicest invididuals you will meet, and ever so informative about Rwanda, the Gorillas and is great on Safari too)! Rwanda is a beautiful country. We did Gorilla trekking, volcano trekking, a Kigali tour and a 4 day Akagera safari, all of this was organised by Hermosa. Their accomodation choices are good and the vehicle you will be transported around in is modern and spacious. If you go to Rwanda, go with Hermosa. They didn't put a foot wrong with our trip. 5 Stars!
CZ
Email Sam Meyers | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Highly professional, inviting and truly able to elevate the experience
Our guide Augustin stood out like a shining star amongst the other guides to at we met along the way. He was connected, funny, intelligent and interested in sharing both his country and learning about ours.
Not a question went unanswered and we both fell in love with the country and its people with Hermosa Life Tours and Travel being right in the center of that trip for us. Oreste and the team helped us to put together a trip that was right for what we wanted to see, do and our budget and boy did it deliver. These guys are professionals and would hold their own anywhere in the world. How lucky they are to have a beautiful country like Rwanda as their backdrop
DE
Email Sebastian Wolf | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best Tour Company in Kigali
We did Gorilla 3 days Gorilla Trekking with this company and it was well organized by Yvonne from the office, our guide Damascene was knowledgeable in everything. We will travel with them again soon
Email Hannah | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Super friendly, professional, and committed to providing incredible and memorable experiences.
I went on the 2 day tour to Akagera National Park and had the most incredible time! My guide, Patrick R, was wonderful - he was so knowledgeable (he knew the name of every single bird I asked about, and taught me all about the different animals too), friendly, professional, and passionate about his work. The trip itself was fantastic - the landscape was magnificent and we saw everything from black rhino to leopard to zebras to elephants. Hermosa are a great company and provided me with a really memorable and special experience, I would highly recommend them :)
