Red Rocks Rwanda - Campsite & Guesthouse

We had a great authentic community stay at Redrocks. There are so many activities to experience. From learning the locals traditions to bird watching and cycling tours. Emma was an amazing host. Thomas my birding guide was extremely passionate and knowledgeable. We saw 24 species of birds including 3 species he said were quite rare to see.

Friendly staff. Basic accommodation with separate bathroom. The walls are decorated. Many foreigners. Hostel atmosphere. Good to save money. Plugs are not so good and you should be careful not to get electrocuted. Mosquito nets are too damaged to prevent mosquitoes from coming into the room but there is a mosquito net on the bed. That one is alright, if you can sleep with mosquitoes buzzing around.

Just had a cooking class at Red Rocks, but it was a really special and a remarkable experience. You can´t imagine how nice the chef and the ladies where, one of the funniest nights on our trip. And of course the food was extremely delicious. If you really want to prepare a traditional African dish, this is the place. The entire looked also very nice, even tough we didn´t slept there. It´s definitly worth a visit. :)

A friend and I stayed at Red Rocks for two nights in March 2023, in the bamboo cabin with two single beds. We had the best time with the staff and activities. We went on the village walk with Thomas (also the bird guide there!) and felt so comfortable and welcome strolling through local people’s fields and village, learning about local agriculture, ways of life, education, and how all of these are developing. We went on a Sunday when school was out, and so we were followed by a troop of excited children, which was actually the highlight of my friend’s entire trip! We also got to see some lovely views! The next day we made banana beer and baskets, two activities that I wasn’t really that excited about, but it was FUN. The demonstrations were carried out by the women’s cooperative with whom Red Rocks cooperates and were translated by Emma, who comes from the area and speaks the best English of anyone I met in Rwanda. There was singing, dancing and drumming to accompany us digging in and mashing bananas and grinding sorghum. It felt very participatory and welcoming—not as though we were just some awkward white people standing around staring. There was lots of laughter on both sides. Red Rocks is in many ways a community project. While the women’s cooperative works on baskets or sewing projects, their kids can come after school and get English tutoring from a volunteer: usually a hostel guest. I’m a bit pushy and asked if we could sit in on a lesson, which they welcomed us to do. Another education initiative was also present that travels around and provides reading materials for schoolchildren. But back to our stay! The beds were comfy and had mosquito nets provided. The bathroom was a bit far, but they’re in the process of building new ones closer to the cabins. Breakfast was inexpensive and delicious. Mountains of fresh fruit, the option of eggs, bread, coffee, various teas. Lunch and dinner were also available, inexpensive, and if you are at all familiar with Rwandan food, it seems they will make just about anything you ask for. It was very plentiful, healthy, and also vegetarian/vegan friendly if that’s your thing. I have a mango allergy, and they made sure to separate food preparation to accommodate for that. All in all, it was a wonderful stay! HIGHLY recommend!

The stay was great. The team was really helpful and flexible.

I enjoyed my stay at Red Rocks and recommend it for back packers.

Great Stay, quite tranquil

Warm welcome, a lot of activities to support the local community, we did the cooking class - which we loved! They also have a restaurant with even an outdoor pizza oven, it takes a long time, but it’s worth it! My friend got sick, and everyone was worried about him, even the next day - such a special place with only lovely people with a big heart!

With the pandemic finally on the way out, we thought we'd tick one off the bucket list and come to Rwanda. We booked all of our activities through Red Rocks, who made sure we had the trip of a lifetime. Our driver/guide, Zidane, was excellent throughout our time in Rwanda; he was very knowledgeable about the country as we drove around it and he knew a lot of the local places to visit, eat, etc. Everything ran very smoothly and we were pleased to see so much of the country in as budget a style as possible in Rwanda. As it was our first time in Africa, Red Rocks were a great help in organising our whole tour, taking the stress out of doing it ourselves and facilitating the trip of a lifetime. Red Rocks' own accommodation, where we spent 4 nights, offers comfortable beds, good washing facilities and wifi in the communal areas. However, the best thing about the place was the people. The chef was always willing to go out of his way to cook us something special, which was invariably delicious. The activities the camp offers are also well worth it. Roger's guided birdwatching tour was a particular highlight, and it was also a pleasure to join the beekeeping association in the evening. The local women's cooperative can also teach you how to make the local banana beer, which is in itself a unique experience. We were very interested to learn about the work of Red Rocks Initiatives with the local communities, something which really added to our journey. It's well worth visiting the art gallery towards the volcanoes if you get the chance (and buying some of the brilliant art, helping to support young locals make a living). Indeed, each lodge we stayed at in Rwanda through Red Rocks had a clear emphasis on helping local communities, helping to make our trip as sustainable as possible. All in all, a truly unforgettable experience and a highly recommended tour company.