Cost of a safari in Rwanda
Though Landlocked and one of the smallest countries in Africa, Rwanda has a well-developed tourism sector. The key attractions are the mountain gorillas, mountain hiking, Chimpanzee trekking, game drives to see the big 5 in Akagera national park, lake Kivu and Mount Kabuye among others. These activities and tourism sites attract over one million people to Rwanda each year. Travelers in Rwanda often visit the mountain gorillas of the volcanoes national park as the first priority before checking out other important places like the Akagera national park.
It is important to note that Rwanda is marketing herself as a luxury gorilla tour and general safari destination. Wealthy and influential Travelers choose Rwanda over some of her neighbors because of the 
peace and cleanliness around the country. The road network around the countryside is impressive. When traveling, one cannot help but marvel at the many beautifully terraced green hills which has led many to refer to the country as ” land of a thousand hills”.
The cost of a safari in Rwanda is not fixed but rather is influenced by several factors like choice of travel activities, choice of accommodation and choice of transport means among other factors. We will throw more light in the following chapters and start with the cost of gorilla trekking. You can read about the cost of a safari in Uganda here.
Cost of a Rwanda Tour – Gorilla Trekking
Gorilla trekking is the primary activity done by Travelers who visit Rwanda, Uganda and DR Congo. They are the only countries in the world with Mountain gorillas. Gorilla trekking is expensive compared to other wildlife activities and is why the cost of a safari in Rwanda is high. For an individual to 
participate in gorilla trekking, he/she is required to have purchased a gorilla trekking permit which costs 1500 US dollars in Rwanda. This is more expensive than the $700 charged in Uganda and $450 charged in DR Congo. Gorilla permits are usually on very high demand during the peak seasons and so Travelers are encouraged to make their bookings a few months prior to their travel date. The trekking permits can be purchased directly from the Rwanda Development Board or through a tour company in Rwanda.
Accommodation: The cost of accommodation facilities also plays a significant role in determining the final cost of a safari in Rwanda. The country provides Travelers excellent accommodation facilities near the gorilla parks, cities and smaller towns. The luxury facilities that cost between 300 to 5500 US dollars per night while the mid-range facilities cost between 150 to 200 US dollars per night. Budget lodges cost between 50 to 130 US dollars per night. A traveler’s choice of accommodation facility is based on their preference and budget. It’s very important that Travelers who are registered for gorilla trekking reside near the gorilla park in order to make it early for the pre-trek briefing at the park headquarters.
Transfers/Transport services: Tourists almost always start their trip from the capital Kigali. The drive from Kigali international airport to the Volcanoes National Park (Gorilla Park) takes about 3 hours by road. Travelers have several options of traveling to the gorilla park. They can hire a private taxi at a cost of about $100 or use a more affordable public bus. Public transport has its disadvantages among which include frequent stop overs to drop and pick new passengers. Buses stop about 8 km away from the gorilla park. One would have to get another car to take them to their hotel or to the park offices 
hence incurring additional costs. It is more safe to plan your gorilla trekking tour with the help of a tour operator to avoid all these hassles. Tour operators will charge you about $200 to get to the gorilla park. Tour Operators provide experienced Guides/Drivers who will ensure that you have all that is needed for gorilla trekking including the right clothing. They know exactly when the treks start and know the people at the park in case something goes wrong.
The cost of hiring potters: Gorilla Trekking can become challenging especially while climbing steep slopes. The excess weight of bags and equipment such as cameras can tire any traveler. Elderly Travelers are particularly prone to getting tired without support. Porters for gorilla trekking are available for hire at the briefing point or park headquarters. Porters help carry heavy backpacks and support those Travelers who need help when climbing difficult sections of the forest. The services of a Porter go for between 10 and 15 US dollars. Using Porters is important because It may be the only way they can make a decent living or support their families.
The cost of a safari in Rwanda – Game drives
After gorilla trekking, a game drive in Akagera national park may be the most popular tourist activity in Rwanda. Akagera national park is one of the largest national parks in Rwanda. It is the only Savannah park and Travelers visit to see big 5 animals like lions, rhinos, buffaloes and elephants. There are also 
fun activities like nature walks, camping, boat cruises and fishing. Akagera national park can be visited during any time of the year but the dry season of June to August provides the best conditions to view wildlife. The skies are blue and clear around this time. There are less chances of rains in the park and the vegetation is less thick hence allowing one to see animals from afar. The scarcity of water during the dry season is a blessing in disguise because it forces animals to gather at the few water holes. The presence of different species of animals gathering in one place is a great spectacle. Visiting Akagera national park involves considering a few costs attached to park entry and activities. We can break down the costs as follows: –
Park Entry fees: The park entry fee is 50 US Dollars for foreign non-resident Travelers who are adults while children pay 30 US dollars. Citizens of Rwanda and East African nationals are charged 7.5 US dollars as park entrance fees while children pay 4 US dollars. Foreign Residents in Rwanda and East Africa pay 35 US dollars while their children pay 20 US dollars. Vehicle entrance fees to Akagera national park differs depending on the registration number plates. Rwandan and East African registered 
mini buses are charged 12 US dollars while larger buses or overlanders are charged 20 to 24 US dollars. Foreign Omni buses and small vehicles pay 40 US dollars while overlanders and buses pay 100 US dollars.
Cost of Game drives: Game drives in Akagera national park have to be done under the guidance of a Park Guide assigned by the Akagera park management. These Park Guides move with tourists on both day and night game drives. Hiring a day time guide for half a day costs 180 US dollars while full day game drive costs 280 US dollars. Night game drives cost 40 US dollars. These game drive costs include a vehicle that is large enough to carry 7 travelers and the driver.
Other costs: Apart from Park Entry fees and game drives, there are different costs for the other fun filled activities like boat rides which cost 35 US dollars for adults or 20 US Dollars for children. The park also offers sunset boat rides that cost 45 US dollars for adults and 35 US dollars for children. Fishing trips in Rwanda and for Akagera in this case costs 25 US dollars for adults or 15 US dollars for children excluding the fishing equipment. Travelers to Akagera can also visit the surrounding communities to 
experience the kind of life lived by the local people. Community tours cost 30 US dollars for adults and 20 US dollars for children. Camping is also a popular activity in Akagera National Park and costs 25 US dollars per person each night (Excluding camping materials). You might want to find out what to pack while on a trip to Rwanda.
To conclude, the cost of a safari in Rwanda is not fixed. There are several individual factors that contribute to the overall cost of a tour in Rwanda. Rwanda is positioning herself a luxury travel destination and because of that, traveling there is costlier. Some of the Luxury accommodations in Rwanda go for over $5000 per person during the peak season. Despite that, tourist visit Rwanda in high numbers because the government is aggressive in promoting the country. Rwanda’s partnership with Arsenal has seen the number of tourists increase at an unprecedented level.
