Akilah Experience in Kigali, Rwanda
Kigali, Rwanda

Akilah Experience

Outty Ranking 60 4.6 · 5 traveler reviews1 hoursFrom $46
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Outty Ranking

60/100

Solid Choice. Our proprietary evaluation. How we score

Traveler rating

4.6/5

Based on 5 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

Quick answer

Is Akilah Experience worth booking?

Akilah Experience is a 1-hour experience in Kigali, Rwanda, from $46 per person. It scores 60 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice”, based on a 4.6/5 rating across 5 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.

Outty Ranking
60 / 100
Rating
4.6/5 (5)
Duration
1 hours
From
$46 per person

We offer a cultural walking tour led by our amazing Akilah student guides. This tour gives you insight into local life for young people through the eyes of Rwanda's future leaders. We meet at the Akilah Cafe for a refreshment and snack as well an introduction to Akilah's education and leadership model. We'll take a short tour of campus and then walk from Akilah to the Nyamirambo neighborhood. On our tour, we will learn about the history of Nyamirambo - one of Rwanda's oldest and culturally vibrant neighborhoods- from students who live here. We will visit local shops & explore the area where student's live. All proceed from this tour benefit our mission of educating future leaders to champion opportunity & sustainability in solving the world’s most pressing challenges.

What you get

    About this experience

    We offer a cultural walking tour led by our amazing Akilah student guides. This tour gives you insight into local life for young people through the eyes of Rwanda's future leaders. We meet at the Akilah Cafe for a refreshment and snack as well an introduction to Akilah's education and leadership model. We'll take a short tour of campus and then walk from Akilah to the Nyamirambo neighborhood. On our tour, we will learn about the history of Nyamirambo - one of Rwanda's oldest and culturally vibrant neighborhoods- from students who live here. We will visit local shops & explore the area where student's live. All proceed from this tour benefit our mission of educating future leaders to champion opportunity & sustainability in solving the world’s most pressing challenges.

    What's included

    Included

    • Bottled water
    • Snacks
    • Tea and coffee

    Not included

    • Lunch

    What you'll see and do

    1. We'll start at the Akilah Campus of Davis College - Rwanda's only all women's college. You'll be met by one of our Akilah Guides - current and former students who are Rwanda's next generation of leaders. After, you'll get an overview of our unique model of education, student life, and our plans for growth in Rwanda and the continent!

      30 minutes here

    2. After campus, you'll walk to the Nyamirambo neighborhood with an Akilah Guide. Nyamirambo is one of the most historic and culturally diverse neighborhoods in Kigali. It is also home to many Akilah students as they complete their studies. Your guide will give you a glimpse into what life is like for Akilah students as they go to school, work, and live in Rwanda's capital city.

      45 minutes here

    3. Before leaving Nyamirambo, we'll stop by the Nyamirambo Women's Center -- an Akilah partner, employer, and one of the best known all-women cooperatives in Kigali. They have excellent shopping for local handicrafts.

      15 minutes here

    Where it starts and ends

    Meeting point

    Kigali

    When you are on the main road with the Serena Hotel, continue past and take a right at Kigali Conference and Exhibition Village. You will see our big signpost. Continue to follow the main road as it curves and make a left on the dirt road, KN 79 Street. Follow to our parking entrance on the left.

    Hotel pickup

    No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.

    Ends at

    When you are on the main road with the Serena Hotel, continue past and take a right at Kigali Conference and Exhibition Village. You will see our big signpost. Continue to follow the main road as it curves and make a left on the dirt road, KN 79 Street. Follow to our parking entrance on the left.

    Before you book

    Cancellation
    For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
    Languages
    en
    Ticket
    Mobile Only
    Runs on
    Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat
    Group size
    Up to 15 travelers per booking
    Operated by
    Akilah Adventures

    Know before you go

    • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
    • Public transportation options are available nearby
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

    Photos

    The view on the walk, Akilah Experience in KigaliOn the walking tour, Akilah Experience in KigaliJane - Akilah alumnae - teaching visitors traditional Rwandan weaving., Akilah Experience in KigaliWalking through the streets of Nyamirambo, Akilah Experience in KigaliBelmont University's Study Abroad Group, Akilah Experience in KigaliPhilanthropy in Motion visiting an Akilah student's family., Akilah Experience in Kigali

    What travelers are saying

    Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 5 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.

    The guide

    3 mentions

    Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.

    Food and drink

    2 mentions

    The tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.

    Good for families

    1 mention

    Reviewers traveling with kids report it landed well with their group.

    Small groups

    1 mention

    The group size is repeatedly described as intimate rather than packed.

    Traveler reviews

    5 verified traveler reviews for Akilah Experience. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

    5 star
    4
    4 star
    0
    3 star
    1
    2 star
    0
    1 star
    0
    Sort
    Miriam S · November 2019

    Loved this! For those who want a deeper Kigali experience.

    We were lucky enough to book our Akilah tour on Umuganda, the national cleaning day. Working side-by-side set the tone. We were immediately joking, talking about dreams (One of our hostesses, Devine, had just launched her own business, and two in our group have start-up ambitions), and when we set off to tour the bustling neighborhood of Nyamirambo, it felt like we were already old friends. Nyamirambo was full of color, sound, twisting alleys adorned with graffiti, and fabulous street food. My only regret is snacking so much before Devine invited us into her home to have lunch with her family. They were consummate hosts, and there is nothing like a home cooked meal after being on the road. We ended the afternoon with a tour of Akilah's campus, where we gabbed about entrepreneurship, innovation, tech trends and our hopes & fears regarding social impact work. Finding kindred spirits when traveling is a little bit like magic. Big thanks to Akilah, for bringing everyone together.

    via Tripadvisor

    Shannon F · November 2019

    Experiencing through local eyes

    I had a wonderful guided walk by Akilah students through Nyamirambo and would highly recommend this local experience with Akilah Tours!

    via Tripadvisor

    hlally009 · October 2019

    Amazing Tour of Kigali and Davis College - Akilah Campus!

    The Akilah Adventures tour was an amazing experience!! I participated in the half-day walking tour that is led by a current Akilah student who is pursuing a degree in Entrepreneurship -- I personally loved this aspect of the tour because you get to learn about the Akilah Campus and the local area of Kigali from a students perspective. Our tour started at Davis College - Akilah Campus, where we got to meet with current students and Akilah alumni, and have a private tour of the campus. Then we walked through the streets of the lively and historic neighborhood of Nyamirambo and stopped at an authentic Rwandan milk bar and the local women's center. We then ended the tour at the Camp Kigali memorial. I would definitely recommend this tour (or the full day tour if time allows)! It was a great way to learn about Rwanda, and more specifically Kigali and Akilah, through the perspective of a local Rwandan. Plus, the Akilah Adventure staff is awesome! They are very accommodating, reliable, and friendly!

    via Tripadvisor

    6493ripplej · September 2019

    Information Session was fantastic

    I had the privilege of participating in a tour and meetings with the faculty and students of the Akilah Institute. The Akilah Institute is an all-girls university in Kigali founded in 2010 by American Elizabeth Dearborn-Hughes that provides young women with the opportunity to study business/entrepreneurship, IT, or hospitality. My tour guide was Divine Uwase, a second-year student who had already started her own tour outfit, “Sharama Tours”, and secured funding from people who believed in her unique approach to tourism, openness to feedback and sheer intellectual horsepower/gumption. She introduced me to other fantastic faculty across all of the disciplines and I learned a ton about how they get their students job offers, pursue social impact, and foster entrepreneurial spirit. I could go on and on about how great the visit was. Thank you so much!

    via Tripadvisor

    Marcel C · September 2019

    Not on a Sunday

    I booked this tour on a Sunday which was worthless, because the whole camp was closed; therefore nothing to see. Therefore we had time to visit a blegium memorial and a small tour by car. In the confirmation was written "including" lunch, but that I had to pay by myself. At the end it was ok, because the young guide was very friendly, tried to do her best and the agency offered an other visit by e-mail later.

    via Viator

    Good to know

    Duration
    1 hours
    Free cancellation
    Up to 24h before
    Minimum age to book
    All ages
    Availability
    Bookable today
    Runs on
    Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat
    Hotel pickup
    No pickup, meet at start point
    Booked in 30 days
    2
    Verdict
    Solid Choice

    Why this scores 60

    The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.

    Traveler sentiment (30% weight)88
    Review evidence (18% weight)34
    Booking momentum (14% weight)26
    Value for money (12% weight)36
    Listing quality (10% weight)85
    Local standing (8% weight)43
    Booking flexibility (8% weight)100

    Akilah Experience: questions travelers ask

    Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Kigali.

    How much does Akilah Experience cost?

    +

    Prices start at $46 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Kigali usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.

    How long does Akilah Experience take?

    +

    Plan for about 1 hour from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Kigali is not rushed.

    Is Akilah Experience worth it?

    +

    It holds an Outty Ranking of 60 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.6/5 across 5 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Kigali, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.

    Can I cancel or reschedule Akilah Experience?

    +

    Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.

    Is Akilah Experience suitable for kids and families?

    +

    Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 1-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.

    How far in advance should I book Akilah Experience?

    +

    Around 2 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Kigali can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.

    What should I bring or wear?

    +

    Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Kigali and add a light layer if any part of the 1-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.

    Where does Akilah Experience start and how do I get there?

    +

    The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Kigali within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.

    What are the best things to do in Kigali?

    +

    On Outty we rank every Kigali experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include One-day Akagera National Park Game Drive with a Choice 4x4, One Day Akagera Wildlife Safari, Kigali City Tour. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.

    When is the best time to visit Kigali?

    +

    Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.

    How many days do you need in Kigali?

    +

    Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.

    Do I book through Outty or through the operator?

    +

    Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.

    What is included in Akilah Experience?

    +

    Included: Bottled water; Snacks; and Tea and coffee. Not included: Lunch. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.

    Where is the meeting point for Akilah Experience?

    +

    When you are on the main road with the Serena Hotel, continue past and take a right at Kigali Conference and Exhibition Village. You will see our big signpost. Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own transport and arrive 15 minutes early.

    What languages is Akilah Experience offered in?

    +

    It runs in English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.

    Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Akilah Experience?

    +

    Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.

    Is Akilah Experience wheelchair or stroller accessible?

    +

    The operator notes: Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.

    What happens to Akilah Experience if the weather is bad?

    +

    This experience depends on good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.

    What do travelers say about Akilah Experience?

    +

    Across 5 reviews averaging 4.6 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, food and drink, good for families. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.

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