How to Save Big on Your Rwanda Safari

Saving money on a safari is one of the most challenging things most travelers often encounter. The cost of your Rwanda safari starts right from the moment you think about departing your home country till you fly back home after appreciating what Rwanda has to offer the world when it comes to nature. Yes, there is plenty to explore in the spectacular Rwanda, the Land of a Thousand Hills but often, it comes at a cost to get there.

Rwanda positioned itself as a luxury safari destination with gorilla permits costing US$1500 per person. Despite this factor, there are several opportunities for travelers to save big on their Rwanda safaris. Here are some of the incredible tips on how to save big on your Rwanda safari.

Choose affordable destination to visit in Rwanda

When you talk about Rwanda safaris, the world has been to believe as if there is only one place to visit that is Volcanoes National Park which is visited for gorilla trekking tours. The fact is Rwanda has many other unique destinations to be visited and if you can’t do gorilla trek, you can combined it with visit to Uganda. Other than Volcanoes NP, the other available travel destination options in Rwanda include Nyungwe Forest National Park, Gishwati-Mukura National Park –the excellent destinations for you to get up close with chimpanzees and many other primates.

Akagera National Park is such an incredible savanna park that is also worth visiting on Rwanda safaris. This is the only place in Rwanda where you can see the big 5 game species in a single habitat. Away from wildlife parks, tourists can also go for Kigali city tour to explore different historical sites including genocide memorial centers like Kigali memorial site.

Consider visiting Rwanda during the low/off season

Rwanda is an open destination to travelers all year round. While the dry season also most referred to as the peak season is the most desired period of the year to enjoy Rwanda safaris, it is possible to also visit the country during the wet or off season. It is during the off season/months when most accommodation cut down on their rates thus giving you opportunity to stay in a classic lodge at a price within your wallet size. On your travel calendar, the wet or off months of the year to consider are March, April, May and October, till November.

The dry season is most desired due to its favorable weather conditions, especially if you plan to go gorilla trekking, mountain climbing/volcano hiking. The disadvantage though is that it is a peak season and the demand for accommodation plus even gorilla permits/chimpanzee permits is high.

Book budget-friendly accommodation

Yes, Rwanda is a luxury destination, but do you know that there are also plenty of budget or midrange accommodation options to choose from? On Rwanda safari, visitors don’t book only luxury safari lodges, but also other available options. Every park or destination in Rwanda has budget-friendly lodges for instance Volcanoes National Park consists of comfortable lodges like Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge, La Palme Hotel, Kinigi Guesthouse, Le Bambou Lodge, and others.

Contact the local tour operator

Planning a safari by yourself is possible but comes at a challenge, especially when it comes to finding affordable accommodation. This is why we recommend that you deal directly with the tour operator on the ground. The local tour operators have vast knowledge on the different tourism products and their rates.

Go for the activities that you can afford

On a Rwanda safari, there is more than gorilla trekking to be done. If you can’t afford a gorilla permit to track mountain gorillas in Volcanoes NP, there are also other options including volcano hiking, Dian Fossey tomb hike, cultural visits, chimpanzee trekking, golden monkey tracking, game drives, boat cruise, city tours, and many more.

Travel as a group

You can also save big on your Rwanda safari by traveling in a group. Group travel helps you share costs on a trip, especially on the car rental/transportation in Rwanda from your hotel to destinations. Sharing the trip cost is one of the best ways many travelers have managed to save much on their safaris not only to Rwanda but also in Uganda.