How to go for Rwanda safaris on Budget
How to go for Rwanda safaris on Budget, Rwanda’s abundant wildlife and primates, magnificent gorilla encounters, rich culture and history enables this country to make it on most safari goers’ bucket list. But just like most African safari destinations, traveling to Rwanda can also be quite expensive due to the different costs in the safari such as park entrances, different activities, accommodation, and transportation among others.
Here are a few tips on how you can spend less on your safari to Rwanda.
Travel to Rwanda during the low seasons(Off seasons)
While the best time to go on a safari to Rwanda is during the dry seasons which is also the peak season, this time of year is characterized by high prices of accommodation and transportation due to the large crowds that visit this destination during this time.
Therefore if you are a budget traveler, the best time to visit Rwanda is during the wet seasons also referred to as the low season. This season runs from March to May and October to November. During this time of the year the number of tourists in this destination are few therefore it’s possible to obtain discounted accommodation and transportation thus reducing the price of the entire safari.
Also, Rwanda offers 30% discounts on gorilla permits during the low seasons particularly from November to May for anyone who combines a gorilla safari with a visit to other national parks like Akagera national park or Nyungwe national park with a minimum of 2 nights in each of the parks with proof of receipt for the accommodation and one should have taken part in at least one activity in the parks. Or
One has to spend 1 night in Akagera national park and 1 night in Nyungwe national park with activities in both destinations.
For these discounted permits however, each person is eligible to only 1 discounted gorilla permit. Should someone choose to trek the gorillas twice, additional 2 nights in either Akagera national park or Nyungwe national park will be required.
Choose budget accommodation options
Rwanda as a country offers a wide range of accommodation for tourists from budget accommodation that cost between (50$ to 150$) per night, mid-range accommodation that costs between (150$ to 300$) per night and luxury accommodation that costs between (300$ to 900$) per night as well as super-luxury accommodation that costs 900$ and above per night.
These accommodation choices greatly impact the total price of your Rwanda safari therefore if you are visiting Rwanda on a budget, the budget accommodation option would be the perfect choice for you.
Opt for group tours rather than traveling Solo
Choosing to join a group for your safari to Rwanda will drastically reduce the total cost of your safari. This is because on a group safari, costs such as accommodation costs, transportation costs, and guide fees are shared among the members of the group hence each individual incurs a less cost on the safari.
Book your flights and accommodation in advance
How to go for Rwanda safaris on Budget, When traveling to Rwanda on a budget, ensure to book all your flights and accommodation in advance. From research, booking a flight at least 6 months before the travel date reduces the expense on the flights by at least 40%. This is because the cost of the flight is most times higher for last minute bookings especially during the peak seasons. Making your bookings earlier on also allows for you to have a variety of accommodation and flight options to choose from therefore a cheaper alternative is always easy to get.
Opt for public transportation
If you a traveling either alone or in a pair, renting a car and incurring the costs of both fuel and the car hire can be quite expensive. Therefore if you are a backpacker, hoping from one public bus to another for the different destinations will help you spend less. This however comes with security risks and a bit of inconveniences too being a foreign country.
Whether visiting Rwanda on as a budget or as a luxury traveler, this is one of the destinations one ought not to miss when planning a safari to Africa.
