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How Much is a Rwanda Safari?
Best known for gorilla trekking, Rwanda is one of three African safari destinations with mountain gorillas, besides Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Mountain gorillas in Rwanda can only be found in the Volcanoes National Park (Parc National des Volcans), which is part of the Virunga range and also has two other gorilla habitats: these are Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable national park in Uganda and Virunga National Park in Congo, respectively.
However, the “Land of a Thousand Hills,” also offers fantastic wildlife species in Akagera National Park, and remarkable primates and birds in Nyungwe Forest National Park, among other tours. More so, when you visit the Genocide Funeral sites located throughout the country, you will have a glimpse of the Rwandan people as well as a detailed understanding of the horrific 1994 fatal genocide that claimed thousands of lives.
Rwanda is one of the few African countries that has a tiny population but a high-cost tourist strategy. The “land of a thousand hills” has made significant investments in marketing its tourism, travel, and leisure industries, with mountain gorilla trekking being the main activity on a Rwanda Safari. Nonetheless, the country has many other interesting attractions that any tourist would not want to miss. Below we will discuss how much a Rwanda safari costs, by looking at the cost of several major Rwanda safaris;
Cost of Rwanda Gorilla Trekking
Gorilla trekking in the Volcanoes National Park is Rwanda’s prime safari attraction. However, it’s reassuring to know that the cost of a gorilla trekking permit is only a small part of the total cost of gorilla trekking. Besides, a Rwanda gorilla trip plan has a unique cost that is determined by a variety of criteria. One must still consider factors such as accommodation, transportation, meals, a packing list, porters, tips, a VISA, and a ticket, among others, as discussed below;
Cost of a Gorilla Trekking Permit
To trek mountain gorillas in any gorilla safari destination, be it Rwanda, Uganda, or DR. Congo, one must acquire a gorilla trekking permit. A gorilla permit is a document issued by an organization that regulates national parks, that allows anyone over the age of 15 to trek mountain gorillas. By May 2017, the Rwanda Development Board, which oversees gorilla trekking in Rwanda, had raised the price of a gorilla permit from USD 750 to USD 1500 per person for each trip. In comparison to other gorilla safari destinations, Rwanda has the most expensive gorilla permits: whereas a gorilla permit in DR. Congo is at USD 450 per person, a gorilla permit in Uganda is at USD 700 (foreign non-residents), USD 600 (foreign residents) and UGX 250,000 for east African Citizens.
The cost of a gorilla permit covers one hour spent with the gorillas, ranger fees, an admission fee, and advance trackers. Gorilla permits are best to be booked from a reputable travel operator or the government officials in charge of tourism in the country of interest. Gorilla trekking permits in Rwanda can be obtained from the Rwanda Development Board directly at [email protected]. It is advisable to book gorilla permits at least two months before your Rwanda gorilla trekking safari due to high demand and also to plan ahead of time and avoid complications.
Cost of Accommodation
When planning a Rwanda safari, another aspect to consider is accommodation; and it is crucial to note that the cost of your preferred lodging will have a considerable impact on the cost of the Safari. Rwanda has a variety of lodging options, including luxury, mid-range, and budget safari lodges, hotels, and camps. Even in the Volcanoes National Park, tourists can discover something to suit their budget. You will have a place to stay with the help of a reputable tour operator. As a result, you should take your time and look for a choice of suitable accommodations that fit your budget.
All of Rwanda’s safari sites feature excellent hotels ranging from luxury and mid-range to budget where you can stay for a night or two, depending on the length of your safari. The type of accommodation you choose is determined by your budget. Rwanda luxury hotels cost between $400 to $2500 a night, mid-range hotels $200 to $350, and budget hotels cost up to $150. You can you’re your accommodation either on your own or through a reputable tour operator. However, it is advisable to use a tour operator since they are familiar with the safari destination.
Rwanda Safari Transportation Cost
After obtaining a gorilla permit and determining where you will stay, transportation is the next aspect to consider. Transportation costs start with the cost of air tickets to and from your country, which varies depending on your country of origin and destination. Rwanda’s main entry point is through Kigali International Airport, which is located in the country’s capital. Furthermore, most of the gorilla trekking expeditions in Rwanda begin in Kigali. The Volcanoes National Park is about a 3-hour drive from Kigali International Airport and the park can be reached in several ways; including private transportation arrangements that cost around $50.
Alternatively, you can use public transportation, such as a cab, though this comes with several drawbacks, including several unnecessary stops. The Volcanoes’ Park entrance gate is approximately 14 km from the park’s headquarters, where the activity begins. The most convenient way to get to the Park is to use pre-arranged transportation services through your local travel operator, which may cost around $100 or less depending on the type of vehicle hired.
Gorilla Safari Packing List
To have the best experience while trekking mountain gorillas, there are several items that you require to make your Rwanda gorilla safari a success. These include insect repellents, hand gloves, a good camera, hiking shoes, long-sleeved clothing, birding binoculars, and a rain jacket. These items should be purchased before your gorilla safari.
Visa and Border Crossings
Crossing borders between Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo for gorilla trekking is also available. Visitors considering gorilla trekking in DR. Congo are required to pay about $100 to cross the border at Goma. Moreover, visitors who wish to trek gorillas in Uganda from Kigali can use the border instead of flying to Entebbe International Airport and then driving for 9 to 10 hours to Mgahinga Gorilla Park or Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Crossing the Uganda border from Rwanda costs around $50 at Katuna or Cyanika. However, tourists can also obtain an East African visa for $100, which will allow them to enter any of the East African countries.
Cost of Portage
Porters in the gorilla park are always available for hiring at your park headquarters to provide services such as luggage lifting when you travel to the jungle for gorilla trekking. Gorilla trekking can be tough for the elderly; and since they must utilize sedan chairs, they have to pay porters to hoist them up when walking. Hiring a sedan chair may cost you around $400, and porters will transport it for you. Porter services are available for $10 per porter.
These porters live near national parks, and some of them are students seeking funds for their studies, while others are men seeking funds to feed their families. Nevertheless, they all come from the local community within: and by utilizing their services, you will undoubtedly be creating more job chances and safeguarding the welfare of the local community, these porters will be earning a living from doing this type of work.
When is the best time to go gorilla trekking in Rwanda?
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is good all year. However, the best time to see gorillas is during the dry seasons between June and September and December to February. During these periods, hiking conditions are more tolerable than during the wet or rainy season, and there is a lower risk of contracting Malaria. The rain is constant and severe during the longer rainy season, which lasts from March to May, making trekking mountain gorillas difficult. Forest trails can be muddy and quite treacherous. However, the rainy season, which is the low gorilla trekking season, comes with discounts on gorilla permits.
Cost of a Rwanda Wildlife Safari in Akagera National Park
The picturesque National Park Akagera is Rwanda’s only savannah national park. The park is home to various wildlife species including the big five, as well as numerous bird species. The park is also ideal for tourists who want to see Rwanda’s abundant biodiversity. To maintain this beautiful park, however, many fees, government taxes, and related contributions are utilized. Visitors to Akagera Park are divided into three groups: Rwandans, East African citizens, and foreign international visitors; each of these groups is billed differently in terms of the activities they will participate in, which include game drives, boat excursions, bird watching, and camping, to mention but a few.
Rwanda safaris are usually tailored to the traveler’s preferences and budget. As a result, popular Rwanda safari itineraries range from budget Rwanda safaris to mid-range to luxury Rwanda safaris, with the safari package components determining each;
Park Entry Fees
Every tourist to Akagera National Park is required to pay park entry fees. Park entrance fees for international tourists are $100 for adults and $50 for children aged 6 to 12 years, $50 for foreign East African residents (adults), and $30 for children. Rwandese nationals on the other hand pay $16 for adults and $11 for children for entrance fees.
Entrance fee for vehicles
Every vehicle entering the National Park must pay a fee based on its capacity and registration number. Small safari cars and minibusses registered in Rwanda and the East African community cost $10, whereas omnibus buses or overlanders pay between $20 and $24. International compact vehicles and minibusses, on the other hand, are charged $40, whereas buses, overlanders, and omnibuses are charged $100.
Safari Game Drives.
Safari game drives in Akagera National Park cost $180 for day game drives which last a maximum of 5 hours. This cost includes a driver and safari car that seats up to 7 people. Additionally, the complete day game drive costs $280. Sight View Safaris offers night game drives for $40 per adult and $25 for children.
Boat Rides
This costs $20 for adults and $30 for children per hour, at a maximum of 11 people, and $180 if you want to rent a whole boat. Sunset boat cruises in Akagera cost $40 for adults and $35 for youngsters.
Camping charge
Camping in Akagera National Park costs $25 per night for adults and $15 for children in a secure camping area and includes your tent and other camping goods.
Fishing Excursions
These cost $25 for adults and $15 for children. This cost is meant to cover the fishing equipment.
Community and cultural encounters
These come in a variety of ways and feature a variety of activities; however, they cost $30 for adults and $20 for children.
Best Time to Visit Akagera National Park
The best time to visit Akagera National Park is from June to September, during the dry season, when the foliage is often thin and dry, providing you with rewarding views of wildlife. At this time of year, it is much simpler to spot as many animals as possible because they congregate around water sources throughout the dry season.
Rwanda Primate Safari in Nyungwe Forest National Park
Nyungwe National Park is one of Rwanda’s top locations and is best known for its chimpanzee trekking adventures. The park is about a 5 to 6-hour journey from Kigali in the country’s southwestern region. Nyungwe is a nature lover’s paradise, protecting an old forest rich in diversity. The park provides a variety of activities such as chimpanzee trekking, canopy walks, nature walks, hiking, birding, and primate walk. Below are safari prices in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Cost of Rwanda Chimpanzee Trekking
Nyungwe Forest National Park is Rwanda’s home for chimpanzee trekking safaris. The forest is home to approximately 400 habituated chimps divided into two communities which are found in the Uwinka and Cyamudongo Forests. A traveler can so trek chimps in either jungle. Travelers must arrive at the Uwinka Park headquarters by 7:00 a.m. for a briefing and registration. The trek to meet the chimps begins at 8:00 a.m., and the amount of time spent before meeting the chimps is variable. Depending on where the primates are that day, the trek can go anywhere from 30 minutes to a whole day. Travelers are, however, 99% certain of meeting the gentle giants on the day of the excursion. The maximum time spent with chimps is one hour.
Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest costs $90 for foreign non-residents, $60 for foreign residents and East African Citizens, RWF 5000 for Rwandans, and $10 for East African community citizens. Students from Rwanda pay RWF2500, foreign residents pay $30, and East African Community students pay $5. This price is good for 24 hours. A chimpanzee permit, like a gorilla permit, expires within an hour of observing the chimpanzees.
Cost of Trekking Other Primates
If you are visiting Nyungwe and would like to trek other primates, foreign non-residents pay $60, foreign residents pay $40, Rwanda citizens pay Rwf5000, Rwandan citizen students pay Rwf1,500, East African Community students pay $3, and foreign resident students pay $20. This price includes park admission, a tour fee, a conservation fee, and revenue to local communities. Besides chimpanzees, Nyungwe forest is home to 12 more primate species which include Olive Baboons, Silver Monkeys, Vervet Monkeys, Golden monkeys, Crowned monkeys, Owl-faced monkeys, L’Hoest’s Monkeys, Red Tailed Monkeys, Golden Monkeys, Dent’s Mona Monkeys, Hamly’s Monkeys among many others.
Cost of Bird-watching
Nyungwe Forest National Park has approximately 275 recorded bird species, making it a popular birding destination in Rwanda. For birding safaris in Nyungwe, foreign non-residents pay $50, whereas foreign residents pay $40. Rwandese nationals on the other hand pay RWF5000. Notable bird species in Nyungwe include; Yellow-eyed black flycatcher, Red-faced woodland warbler, Red-collared babbler, Archer’s robin chat, Blue-headed sunbird, Kivu ground thrush, Ruwenzori Apalis, Ruwenzori Apalis, Dusky crimson wing, Regal sunbird, Buff-throated Apalis, Red-throated alethe, and Handsome francolin, among others. The greatest time to go bird watching in Nyungwe Forest is from January to June. The ideal time to watch migratory birds in Nyungwe Forest National Park is from November to April.
Other Rwanda Safari Prices to Consider
Driver Guides Cost
Your total safari cost also includes the cost of an English-speaking guide who will be available to you full-time from day one upon arrival to the point where you will be dropped off for your departure back home; as per your schedule. This guide will be useful in addressing any questions you may have regarding wildlife, history, culture, native lifestyle, and any other concerns about your Rwanda safari.
Cost of Meals
The majority of Rwanda’s tourism destinations are located outside of Kigali, the country’s capital and the starting point for most safaris. When visiting these destinations, visitors must always stop for a bite or a meal of the day. Besides the meals provided in your designated accommodation, mealtime may arrive while driving, necessitating a stop and a visit to a nearby restaurant or motel to eat. The cost of these meals is always included in the price of a Rwanda safari. Most Rwandan lodges and hotels often charge the same rate for their clients’ beds and breakfasts.
Cost of Tipping & Souvenirs
The majority of the time, the rangers, guides, porters, waiters, and waitresses try their best to ensure that you have a wonderful time and memorable experiences while on safari. Rwanda Tipping is always included in the price of the package when travelers tip service providers that help them throughout their Rwanda safari. This is a way of expressing your gratitude for their efforts by tipping them. How much you offer them is absolutely up to you. Tipping is not required while gorilla trekking and should be paid only if you are satisfied with the service provided.
Furthermore, most tourists desire to buy traditional goods to bring home with them – called souvenirs. Some tour operators include the cost of souvenirs in the overall cost of the Rwanda safari. As a result, when a visitor decides to buy something, the tour guide representing the company pays for it.
Tour Operator’s Mark-up
The majority of Rwanda safaris are all-inclusive, which means that a tour operator combines the numerous tour goods and sells them as a package. In exchange for a job well done, most clients pay a fee to the tour operator who books the accommodation, tourism activities, and transportation. In this case, the tour operator adds a percentage markup to the client’s specific criteria.
