Last Updatd: 2/2/2020 | February 2nd, 2020
In this guest post, Alicia Erickson offers some handy tips on exactly how you can see Rwanda on a budget! She spent a long time living there and, today, is sharing her tips on the country (one I haven’t got to yet!). She’s a freelance writer so I don’t have a blog to link to. right here are her tips:
Rwanda, a small nation nestled between Tanzania, Uganda, as well as the democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in the center of the African continent, is filled to the brim with rainforests, wildlife, lakes, as well as volcanoes. It is aptly nicknamed “the land of a thousand hills.”
Rwanda likewise occurs to be one of the safest as well as simplest nations to navigate in east Africa. Sure, this nation may have a bit of a reputation that proceeds itself. however the genocide that ravaged the country ended more than 25 years ago. Over the past two decades, innovation, environmental sustainability, as well as women’s rights have been at the forefront of Rwanda’s fast development.
You may wonder, is Rwanda budget-friendly? Sub-Saharan Africa in general can be a tricky location to travel cheaply, as it is commonly perceived as a high-end safari destination. Rwanda is no exception. much of its recent tourism advancement has been geared toward high-end high-end lodges as well as trekking with the coveted mountain gorillas, which costs a lofty $1,500 for a permit.
However, don’t let the hefty cost tags connected with gorillas as well as high-end lodges deter you from experiencing the peaceful magic that Rwanda exudes. having lived as well as traveled there on as well as off from 2015 to the present, I have discovered a number of techniques for saving money as well as checking out lesser-known destinations that are extremely affordable as well as sometimes free! Without a doubt, Rwanda on a budget plan is absolutely possible, if you don’t mind forgoing a few of the higher-end tourist options.
Here is exactly how to save money as well as see Rwanda on a Budget:
Table of Contents
How to save money on Accommodation
How to save money on Transportation
How to save money on Food
Suggeted Budgets for Rwanda
9 money saving tips for Rwanda
A quick note on Visas
Suggested budget plan Resources
How to save money on Accommodation
Although there are many high-end hotels as well as lodges, there are likewise a handful of hostels, fairly priced guesthouses, as well as even some Airbnbs, not to mention camping. I’ve utilized all these choices in both Kigali as well as destinations across the country.
Budget choices tend to be simple however clean. Be conscious that water as well as electricity reliability fluctuates, though they tend to be more consistent than in neighboring countries.
Hostels: Hostels are fairly new to Rwanda, however there are a few to select from. A dorm space in a hostel such as find Rwanda Kigali or Mamba Guesthouse runs $10–15 USD/night.
Guesthouses: hotels as well as lodges tend to expense well over $100 USD/night. However, there are likewise a number that offer personal spaces for about $20-45 USD/night. The Nest in Kigali is a excellent bed-and-breakfast option, with personal spaces costing about $50 USD/night.
Airbnbs: Airbnbs are progressively prominent in Kigali, Lake Kivu, as well as Musanze. costs for a personal space begin at $20 USD/night.
Camping: camping is extensive in national parks such as Nyungwe forest as well as Akagera as well as commonly offered on the sites of many guesthouses. keep in mind that evenings can get great as well as that camping is a bit of a difficulty during rainy season. costs run $8–15 USD/person/night. Akagera national Park, Red Rocks in Musanze, as well as Kitabi Eco-Center in Nyungwe all offer tents for rent.
How to save money on Transportation
Motorbikes: I discovered public motorcycles to be the fastest as well as cheapest method to get around within cities. Motorbike trips within Kigali expense 300-1,000 RWF ($0.40–1.10 USD).
Taxis: Taxis are more costly as well as harder to find. However, when it rains, motorbikes don’t drive, in which situation taxis are the very best alternative. An typical trip within Kigali costs 2,500-5,000 RWF ($2.70–5.40 USD).
Buses: When venturing out of town, public buses are cheap, safe, as well as fairly trustworthy throughout the country. The major bus station in Kigali is Nyabugogo. Countrywide buses expense 2,000-4,000 RWF ($2.20–4.30 USD).
Car rentals: There are a handful of destinations, such as the national parks, that are much better explored by cars and truck or motorbike, both of which are offered to rent. Renting a cars and truck starts at $50 USD/day, depending upon type of vehicle.
How to save money on Food
Kigali is rich in worldwide food, though eating out can get costly quickly. expect costs to be on par with European or American restaurants.
Unfortunately, street food is essentially nonexistent since it is seen as dirty. Instead, seek out hole-in-the-wall regional restaurants serving rice as well as beans, ugali (a thick, maize-based porridge), brochettes (grilled meat), as well as potatoes. wine as well as mixed drinks are extremely costly as well as are typical high quality at best, so regional beers are your best option to quench your thirst.
Here are some typical food as well as drink costs:
Lunch buffet of regional food: all you can eat for 2,000 RWF ($2.20 USD).
Dinner at regional restaurant: 3,000–8,000 RWF ($3.25–10 USD). In Kigali, head to cars and truck laundry for brochettes as well as Panorama ten to two for grilled lake fish.
Produce at regional market: 100-1,000 RWF ($0.11–1.10 USD), depending upon the product. Fruits such as mangoes, enthusiasm fruit, as well as tree tomatoes are affordable as well as delicious. always bargain!
Lunch or dinner at an average-priced Western restaurant: 4,000-6,000 RWF ($4.50–6.50 USD). try Meze Fresh, Borneo, now Now Rolex, as well as Baso Patisserie for tasty as well as filling worldwide cuisine that won’t break the bank.
Dinner at an worldwide restaurant: 12,000-18,000 RWF ($13–20 USD). If you’re going to splurge, Kigali has some phenomenal Indian food (Khana Kazana) as well as French food (Poivre Noir).
Local beer: 1,000 RWF ($1.10) for Mutzig or other regional beer
Wine/cocktail: 5,000-10,000 RWF ($5.50–11 USD)
Suggeted Budgets for Rwanda
You can save a great deal of money by traveling slowly as well as separately as well as going a bit off the beaten track. While a great deal of activities as well as extras aren’t excruciatingly expensive, they can definitely throw off a everyday budget.
On a day when you’re camping or staying in a dorm, eating at markets or regional restaurants, as well as doing free activities utilizing public transportation, you can get by with $25 USD/day.
If you lease a cars and truck for a few days, have the occasional night out, as well as budget plan in a couple excursions, such as game drives in Akagera or hiking Mt. Bisoke, your everyday costs, averaged out over two weeks or so, will boost to around $50–75 USD/day.
9 money saving tips for Rwanda
Rwanda is quite affordable to see however that doesn’t mean you can’t discover methods to save on your trip. right here are some insider tips on exactly how to save money in Rwanda without losing the excellent experience:
Take regional transportation anywhere possible: Buses will get you to most major destinations, from which you can take public motorbikes to your final destination. Buses not only run to destinations within Rwanda however to the borders with the DRC, Uganda, as well as Tanzania, in addition to to major east African cities, such as Kampala. The primary bus station in Kigali is Nyabugogo. If you want to check out Rwanda more separately as well as cheaply than by car, think about renting a motorbike or bicycle in Kigali, depending upon where you want to go.
Motorbikes vs. taxis: Motorbikes are cheap, fast, as well as efficient. Public motorbike drivers wear red vests as well as bring an additional helmet for passengers. The typical expense should be 100 RWF ($0.11 USD) per kilometer, however always make sure to bargain. drivers don’t always understand precise locations, so it is practical to familiarize yourself with communities as well as recommendation points, such as a major hotel. note that motorbikes usually don’t drive in the rain, in which situation taxis or walking tend to be the only option. Taxis are much more costly as well as less practical in most other situations, unless bring a great deal of luggage.
Consider walking: walking isn’t always the fastest choice in Kigali, provided the hills, the fair distances between neighborhoods, as well as the truth that the city sits at an elevation of over 5,000 feet. However, it is likewise extremely safe, as well as walking is a excellent method to save money as well as to find communities as well as side streets you wouldn’t have otherwise.
Eat local: Western restaurants can get expensive. eat at regional buffets for a fast, filling, low-cost meal, as well as shop at regional markets as well as roadside means an abundance of cheap, fresh tropical fruits, which are always negotiable in cost.
Bring a recyclable water bottle: Water is not risk-free to drink from the tap, however many hotels as well as homes have filtered water to refill your bottle rather than buying new bottles.
Go off the beaten path: Sure, Rwanda may be understood for gorilla trekking as well as hiking Mt. Karisimbi, the greatest peak in the Virunga range, however these come at high costs. look for free activities, discover off-the-beaten-path tracks with little villages for endless days of hiking as well as exploration, as well as relax at the lake.
Alternatives to prominent activities: named “the land of a thousand hills” for a reason, Rwanda is plentiful in eco-friendly hills as well as mountains that aresuitable for hiking as well as biking. tracks prolong throughout the country, dipping down into valleys of banana plantations as well as up around mountainous passes. If you’re feeling adventurous, discover a motorbike or bicycle as well as do some exploring! If you’re aching for a volcano or primate experience, trip with chimpanzees in Nyungwe, observe golden monkeys in Volcanoes national Park, or do a day hike up Mt. Bisoke, which are cheaper however still satisfying alternatives.
Avoid tour companies: Pre-booked activities as well as tours can get expensive, as well as traveling without them is straightforward. because of the country’s little size as well as fairly well-developed deliver system as well as infrastructure, it is quite simple to travel independently. tap into a few of the resources I’ve provided below to assist response further questions.
Travel during rainy season: Although traveling during the heart of rainy season may not at first noise ideal, it can have some advantages as well. Treks, park entrance fees, as well as lodging commonly offer reduced rates during the off-season, not to mention that crowds are smaller. Rwanda’s landscape occurs to be particularly luscious this time around of the year as well. Also, it seldom rains all the time — it’s most likely that you’ll have a heavy rain in the afternoon, with sunshine as well as blue skies the rest of the day.
A quick note on Visas
Visas are offered both on the internet as well as on arrival, dependent on the type as well as length of visa you are seeking. A 30-day, single-entry visa on arrival is offered for $30 USD. The east African tourist Visa ($100 USD, apply on the internet in advance) grants 90 days of multiple-entry gain access to to Rwanda, Uganda, as well as Kenya. Note: if you leave these three countries, the visa is canceled. Visa extensions are granted at the immigration office in Remera, although this process is commonly complex as well as time-consuming.
Suggested budget plan Resources
Expats in Rwanda – before showing up in Rwanda, join the Facebook group, “Expats in Rwanda,” a group for expats travelling in as well as living in Rwanda. The group is always participated in discussions regarding recent news in the region, the opening of new restaurants as well as accommodation, as well as listings of products for sale or rent. You’re likely to discover cars, motorbikes, as well as camping gear for rent, sublets (short as well as long-term) in houses, in addition to an entire network of people to ask concerns about your upcoming trip. If you’re travelling on your own, you can likewise link up with other travelers/expats to join in on a game drive to Akagera, a hiking weekend in Musanze, or a lake trip to Kivu, which can save money.
Living in Kigali – one more excellent resource is Living in Kigali, which offers updated info on the ever-changing Kigali in terms of activities, events, food, as well as nightlife. grab a copy of the illustrated “Kigali” map when in town, offering a detailed design of city by activities, restaurants, as well as neighborhoods.
Red Rocks Rwanda – Not only is Red Rocks an affordable lodging choice in Musanze, however it is likewise a travel business as well as cooperative. They have amazing info on activities in the northern province as well as can likewise assist you link with community-based tourism as well as volunteer chances as well.
Nyamirambo Women’s center – found in the Muslim community renowned for its nightlife, Nyamirambo Women’s center is an artisan cooperative as well as travel business supporting residents of Nyamirambo. If you’re thinking about seeing Nyamirambo with a local’s eyes, they offer city tours in addition to activities such as basket weaving.
Irembo – Irembo is a tourism board for Rwanda. For info on offered treks as well as permits, head to Irembo’s tourism site, where you are likewise able to directly book permits as well.
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There has never been a much better time to see this small as well as proud nation. Rwanda has got immense interest on the travel radar over the past couple of years, however it is not yet overrun with tourism. If you take time to acquaint yourself with its culture, people, as well as natural riches, Rwanda on a budget plan is more than doable.
Hike as well as bike with the emerald hills as well as banana plantations, swim in the refreshing volcanic lakes, camp in the bush together with the huge 5 wildlife, check out an emerging as well as ingenious art scene, as well as enable Rwanda’s appeal to seep under your skin.
Alicia Erickson grew up as a third-culture kid, establishing a like for travel at a young age. She has been a digital nomad for the past 5 years, working as a political analyst, social entrepreneur, writer, as well as yoga instructor while she explores the world. She splits her time primarily between east as well as southern Africa, India, as well as Seattle, where she seeks off-the-beaten-path locales a