Kigali: King's Palace Museum & Coffee Plantation Tour

Explore Rwanda's royal history and coffee tradition on a day trip from Kigali. Visit the King's Palace Museum, meet the Inyambo cows, and tour a coffee plantation in Huye.
Begin your day early with a comfortable drive to Nyanza where the King’s Palace Museum awaits. Explore the traditional thatched royal palace, a faithful reconstruction of King Musinga's 19th-century residence.

Stroll through the palace compound, visit the airy thatched huts like the milk house (reserved for virgin attendants) and the beer hut used in royal ceremonies. Meet the Inyambo cows, an iconic breed of long-horned royal cattle. Observe as they’re serenaded with traditional songs and cattle poems, an age-old performance symbolizing majesty and tradition.

Step inside the Art Deco modern palace, once home to King Mutara III Rudahigwa (1932–1959), with period furnishings and exhibits tracing Rwanda’s monarchic history. Photography isn’t allowed here. Optionally visit the nearby Mwima Mausoleum, resting place of King Rudahigwa and Queen Rosalie Gicanda.

Depart Nyanza and head to Huye, a key cultural and coffee hub. Enjoy lunch (often included in packages) along the way, sampling local flavors.

Visit a coffee plantation, often in Huye mountains, and learn about coffee at every stage from cultivation and harvesting to processing and roasting. Engage in hands-on experiences: sort cherries, learn washing and drying techniques, and maybe even roast your own beans.

Enjoy a tasting session (cupping) of freshly brewed Rwandan coffee, and purchase premium beans or local crafts as souvenirs. Wind down with a scenic ride back to Kigali, filled with memories—and perhaps the aroma of your souvenir Rwandan coffee.

To guarantee availability book as soon as possible. Early booking is worth consideration especially if you planning the trip during high season like public holidays or weekends.

This excursion you can cancel with no cost up to 24 hours before the start of the trip. If you cancel it after 24 hours or not show up on the excursion you will still be charged the full price of the activity. Being late on pick-up or departure will be considered as not showing up.