Shelly and Paul made my return to Rwanda after 25 years comfortable and extraordinary. They personalized it so I could show my family my country, my history, culture and the beauty of the country. Even though the itinerary included lots of driving, our 9-year old, enjoyed the adventure because of the amazing travel companions Shelly and Paul are. The inclusion of activities such as mountain biking, hiking and boat trips were the icing on the cake. We travel quite a bit and this trip has made it to the top of our unforgettable trips list.
Dear Shelly,
I wanted to extend my sincere thanks for your services and support during our visit to Rwanda in May! It was wonderful working with Emma and Gaga on the ground once we arrived. Everything worked out very well and the group was very happy.
Thanks for making the arrangements to make our trip such a success! Overall, it was a truly impactful program.
Wishing you all the best,
Rebecca – Vancouver, B.C.
May, 2016
Hi Shelly
A huge thank you for organizing such an extraordinary trip. Everything ran so smoothly and I don’t think we wasted a minute of time. Eric was such a great guide/driver/good companion. Altogether faultless and it will take us some time to get our heads around Rwanda. We were both really taken by its beauty and the amazing strength of its people. I would say it was a life changing experience.
It was great to meet up at the end and say hello to Paul. Thank you for sending us the reading list etc.
I am sure we will be in touch again soon but in the meantime we will spread the word of all the treasures Rwanda has to offer and of course your great company.
Best wishes from us both.
E & H
July 2, 2015
England
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“Outstanding, friendly, personalized, and professional service.”
5 of 5 star Reviewed June 28, 2015 NEW
Intore helped a colleague and me organize a 10-day stay in Rwanda that included: hotel reservations, private driver, tour of Akagera Park, water each day, Gorilla trekking permits and guides, interpretation, and logistical support. The entire process was outstanding, and I will definitely be using Intore again! During the trip planning, the Intore staff were patient, knowledgeable, and affable. They listened to requests and offered suggestions, always keeping our goals in mind. When we arrived in Kigali, our driver was right there; he was highly friendly and eager to help, and he remained at our disposal throughout the trip, even helping with interpretation for some excursions farther afield. Beyond merely driving us around, he explained everything we saw, and he provided outstanding historical context for every site, landmark, and neighborhood. For our trip to Akagera, Intore had a driver pick us up from our hotel in Kigali and drive us to the park, where a guide met us. We were provided with lunch, water, and a detailed explanation of everything in the park–from the flora and fauna, to the park’s role in Rwanda’s history and development. Our driver was highly flexible, even taking us to on an unplanned outing to Gisenyi to seek Lake Kivu and the DRC border. After the trip, Intore followed up with us in person to make sure that we had a rewarding and satisfying experience. Their help and support were truly outstanding. Please, please, please, if you are even considering seeing Rwanda, contact Intore; they are professional, and they will help you to discover this gem of Africa. Rwanda is a beautiful, magnificent country, and I am impatient for my next trip with Intore!
Visited April 2015
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“Amazing experience – Intore go above and beyond.”
I knew that I’d stumbled across some pretty special people from my first communication with Intore. I was having some trouble getting my visa back from the embassy in DC and as soon as I mentioned this, Shelly was on the case, offering everything she could to try and help me sort the situation out despite the fact that it was not at all in her job description! From that moment I knew I was in amazing hands.
I had initially planned to use Intore for 3 days, to make a round trip from Kigali to Cyangugu, but once I was on the ground ended up spending far more time with them. They were amazing and made it all so easy for me.
Even though I had only planned to use them for a short part of my trip, Shelly and Paul went above and beyond – offering to pick me up from the airport at midnight, calling my hotel when I got stranded in Nairobi overnight due to a cancelled flight, coming back to my hotel to check that my lost luggage turned up at the hotel and then making a long rush hour drive back to the airport when it became clear that it hadn’t. They also arranged a last minute change hotel change for me which meant I got to spend the night at the beautiful Nyungwe Forest Lodge and was one of the highlights of my trip.
Shelly suggested the perfect itinerary for me, recommended a number of local projects for me to visit, offered to make introductions where she could and took me out to visit Agahozo Shalom Youth Village on her own time as she was so excited for me to see their work.
I was traveling alone but from the minute I arrived in Rwanda I felt like I had a family around me. I knew that if anything came up during my stay (even on the days that I wasn’t using their services) Intore would be there day or night to help in any way that they could.
My actual trip was fantastic. My driver, Arthur, was friendly, professional, and a great guy to spend 6 hours in a car with.
I will be back in Rwanda in a few months and wouldn’t dream of using anybody else. Intore are kind, generous, super professional, and hugely committed to making sure you have the most amazing time in Rwanda.
Thank you, Shelly, Paul (and Arthur) for an incredible trip.
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Hi Shelly,
We are back in Brussels! The trip was excellent – Yvan deserves the
highest praise. He ensured that everything go impeccably well.
Brian – Seattle
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Hi Shelly and Paul!
We’re at the Airport, after a great last dinner in Kigali with Eric!
Just wanted to let you know we had a terrific week with a great kind guide.
We are certainly coming back…..
Thanks for all the last minute organizing………….
Martine & Paul – Netherlands
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Hi Shelly,
Brian and I are having a wonderful visit to Rwanda. Our time at Wellspring today was very productive. We look forward to trying to bring students to Rwanda in the next school year. Yvan has been amazing he is a wonderful representative of Intore Expeditions. Everything has been planned perfectly and we look forward to using your services again when we return. …
Dan – Seattle
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Dear Shelly and Paul, I returned home yesterday and wanted to write to thank you for the arrangements and to let you know that my niece Stacy and I had an amazing two days in the mountains. Eric was very helpful, informative and wonderful to be with. Please extend my regards and appreciation to him.
I returned home yesterday and wanted to write to thank you for the arrangements and to let you know that my niece Stacy and I had an amazing two days in the mountains. Eric was very helpful, informative and wonderful to be with. Please extend my regards and appreciation to him.
I returned home yesterday and wanted to write to thank you for the arrangements and to let you know that my niece Stacy and I had an amazing two days in the mountains. Eric was very helpful, informative and wonderful to be with. Please extend my regards and appreciation to him.
We loved Rwanda and hope to be able to visit again soon.
Anna C – New York
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“For the first time I traveled to Rwanda with a relative, I wanted to use a tour company to facilitate our visit. Shelly, Paul, and the rest of the Intore team was terrific! The drivers were prompt, pleasant, knowledgeable, and helpful, and the vehicles were comfortable, spacious, and immaculately clean. I would highly recommend Intore Expeditions && Business Tours for anyone seeking the services of a tour company in Rwanda!
Zachary D. Kaufman, J.D., Ph.D.
“Due to the quality and depth of interactions with Rwandans—from villagers to prominent cabinet members—the tour was much more than a visit of genocide memorials and museums. Having a survivor accompany us allowed us to ask questions all day long, rather than just at a particular site.
The tour leaders—Paul Karamera and Shelly Rosen—were knowledgeable, responsive, and seemed to know everyone wherever we went. Their good humor and enthusiasm got us through long days. From little details to the big picture, the whole tour was great and inspired in us a deep desire to return to Rwanda again and again.”
Josh and Judith – Tacoma, WA
Dear Paul,
I wanted to thank you for overseeing an enlightening and truly wonderful tour of Rwanda. My two weeks were filled with amazing sights, much learning, and a fulfillment of my lifelong dream to see gorillas in their natural habitat. I so appreciated your willingness to share your vast knowledge of the history, people, natural wonders, and culture of Rwanda.
Our tour of Kigali on my first day in Rwanda helped me understand both current events as well as the history of your country. Your amazing ability to speak and read so many languages certainly was helpful as we visited social service agencies, museums and genocide sites. As a social worker I appreciated your tailoring some of my time in Rwanda to my interest in learning about the current social services available for people facing a range of issues.
The highlights of my trip were the safari in Akagera National Park and the trek to see gorillas. Again your knowledge of the animals was impressive!
My pictures bring lots of reminders of fun and interesting times in Rwanda. Again, thank you!
Sincerely,
Mary Lou B., Seattle, WA
Intore Expedition and Business Tours, under the talented and trustworthy leadership of Paul Karemera, has been a godsend to Bridge2Rwanda, an NGO that hosts many visitors to Rwanda to encourage their engagement in the development of this extraordinary country. Logistics can be very challenging and unwelcome surprises are common. Paul has proven to be our reliable solution. From Airport pick-up to Gorilla Trekking, and everything else in between, Intore takes care of it all for our business and our clients. One simple e-mail and we are confident that our needs are covered. Their prices are competitive and their service is superior. They take all the worries away.
Sincerely,
Tom Allen
Country Director, Bridge2Rwanda
Paul Karemera is the only contact you need when travelling in Rwanda! His knowledge and “know-how” attitude will put you at ease in an instant. His expertise is an invaluable asset that guidebooks cannot offer. If you want an insider’s understanding of the local flavor, to see the beauty and to witness the history of Rwanda, then Intore Expeditions is for you. Kigali is an emerging and thriving city. Thanks to Paul and his associates, the land and people of Rwanda will be with me for a long time to come.
Dawn Ottinger
Seattle, Washington
My trip to Rwanda was all about expectations. Or should I say, UNexpectations. I really had no idea what I was getting myself into as I knew very little of the country or its people outside of the genocide history. What I quickly found out is that Rwanda is a beautiful country full of beautiful people. I truly believe God has His hand on Rwanda and it’s easy to see in the hope and joy you encounter in everyone you meet. This goes for the wonderful people of Intore Expeditions, too. Throughout our entire trip, Intore was there to help us in any way we needed. Paul and Shelly are amazing people with an amazing staff of drivers who take great care of their passengers. I look forward to my return to this special country and I highly recommend Intore Expeditions to anyone looking to travel there.
Jason A. Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock, Arkansas
Just trust shelly and paul and follow their adventure with all your heart! they love what they do and you cannot afford to miss it!
Peggy
Greece
We had an outstanding safari experience. We saw about 25 different types of animals and birds, including elephants, zebras, impala, giraffes, and hippos. The trip was well organized. Our guides were very knowledgable and we felt very safe and well cared for. I would recommend this experience highly to anyone who is traveling in Rwanda.
Lara New Hampshire
New Hampshire
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Dear Shelly and Paul – Just arrived in Seattle still full of the glow from our trip w/ you. It definitely ranks up there as one of our most memorable – from the riveting encounters with the golden monkeys and gorillas, through the stunning turacos, sunbirds, and rollers, to the beautiful terraced landscapes. But of course the most special thing about the trip (aside from those caramelized bananas) was having a chance to travel w/ both of you, see Rwanda through your two, very complementary lenses, and begin to get to know each of you better.
Thanks SO much for a remarkable 10 days! We look forward to seeing you when you are next back in Seattle.
Judy and Jeff Seattle
Seattle