Planning a trip to East Africa is exciting. In this Rwanda cost guide, African Budget Safaris looks at all the costs that go into a Rwanda safari, and what you can expect to pay for transport, gorilla trekking, or a visit to Akagera National Park for a big 5 safari. As with all safari destinations, there are a few factors that will influence the cost of your Rwanda safari. Traveling, on, or off-peak, trip duration, level of comfort, accommodation options, transportation, and group size, will all affect your Rwanda safari cost. In this guide, we will explore these key elements that influence the cost of your East Africa trip, and help you to take one step closer to booking your East African safari getaway.
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Gregoire Kayibanda International Airport serves as Rwanda's main entry point. The airport is close to Rwanda’s capital city Kigali. Direct flights to Rwanda can be taken from Dubai, Doha, Johannesburg, London, Amsterdam, Paris, and Brussels, as well as Lusaka, Entebbe, Harare, Dar es Salaam, and Nairobi. Airlines that service Kigali International Airport include Qatar Airways, KLM, and Turkish Airlines, as well as Kenya, Ethiopian, and Brussels Airlines.
When you choose to travel will have an effect on the cost of your flight to Africa. In the UK and USA, peak travel times are during the summer breaks from May to September and then again in December over the festive season. At these times, because of demand, airline tickets will be at their most expensive. Similarly, peak travel time for East Africa is during the long dry season which starts in May and runs to October. This is when demand is highest and prices will be at a premium.
If you are flexible with your dates and are working with a tight budget, check with your travel agent to see when flights will be cheapest. A good compromise between high season and best travel season can be to look at the shoulder seasons, either just before or just after the peak months when tickets will be more affordable, you will still benefit from better safari travel conditions, and there will be fewer tourists.
The great thing about Rwanda is its small size. This means that getting around Rwanda is comparatively cheap and does not take a lot of time. Public transport is by far the cheapest option, but taxis stop often and have questionable safety standards. For foreign travelers airport transfers and transport between destinations will be worked into the cost of your Rwanda Tour package, and often results in a better overall safari cost.
These are some transportation costs that go into a Rwandan safari holiday.*
*Transportation costs are meant as a guideline only and may vary.
When visiting Rwanda, travelers must be in possession of a valid passport. 30-day tourist visas are available for all nationalities on arrival. The visa fees must not exceed US$ 50 for a single entry visa or US$ 70 for multiple entry. Visa requirements vary from country to country and it is important that you clarify this information with your local travel agent before you travel.
Rwandan park fees are broken down into activity permits. This means that you will have to decide what it is that you want to do. Most visitors to Rwanda will want to go gorilla trekking, and as the most popular activity, it is the most expensive. In fact, while gorilla trekking in Rwanda is considered to be the best, it is also by far the most expensive. Below is a quick breakdown of costs in Rwanda’s national parks, Volcanoes National Park, Nyungwe, and Akagera.
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Nyungwe National Park
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While looking at the individual cost breakdown, bear in mind that safari companies often get bulk discounts, and selecting your activities as part of a package tour can result in significant savings. When booking a tour, make sure that you communicate with your travel consultant, and carefully check your safari travel itinerary, to make sure you are ticking off all of your Rwanda bucket list items.
When visiting Rwanda, you will find a range of accommodations from shoe-string cheap, to budget, mid-range, and of course luxury. The cheapest by far will be to camp in the national parks, but, especially considering the potential for wet weather in this equatorial paradise, camping is not for everyone.
When choosing a safari package with African Budget Safari, you can tailor your accommodation to suit your budget. Below is an example of the cost difference between a budget and mid-range Rwanda safari based on 2023 rates.
These rates are meant as guidelines and are subject to change. If you are planning a safari adventure to Rwanda, check in with one of our expert safari consultants for up-to-date safari costs.
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For an overview of African safari costs and to compare the safari costs in different countries - see our comprehensive African Safari Cost Guide which is updated regularly. |
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Group size is an important consideration and can be a big budget saver. Intimacy and exclusivity always come at a premium, and Rwanda is no exception. Very simply put, traveling with a group allows you to share the cost of a Rwanda safari making it more budget-friendly and affordable. For example, you might hire a car for US$ 50 per day, and if you have 4 travel companions to share the cost with, it works out to US$ 22,50 each, a budget saving of US$ 37,50. This principle applies to safari package deals too, where African Budget Safaris can pass on those savings in the form of lower rates. Below are the Rwanda safari cost differences between 2, 4, and 6 people.
The saving between traveling with 2 or 6 people, works out to a difference of US$ 439. In terms of cutting costs, and making the most of your safari budget, traveling with a group of close friends or family is not only fun but can also be a budget-savvy planning choice.
In the past, Rwanda had low-season and high-season rates. However, with the popularity of gorilla trekking, permits are now a standard cost at all times of year. Savings can still be made by traveling out of peak season and should be applied mostly to accommodation and your inbound air costs.
A good example of seasonal savings can be seen by looking at Akagera National Park's luxury tented camp, Ruzizi.
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If you would like to know more about Rwanda, check out our FREE comprehensive Rwanda guide. African Budget Safari offers a selection of Rwanda safari tours that center around the ever-popular gorilla trekking experience. You can browse our Rwanda Safari packages here, or talk to one of our experienced African Budget Safari travel consultants Here.
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