How can I do a Rwanda safari on a budget?

Choose simple guest houses, travel in the November to May low season, share a vehicle with friends or family and focus on one gorilla trek supported by cheaper activities like hikes and golden monkeys.

Is the gorilla permit cheaper in low season?

The standard gorilla permit is USD 1,500. From November to May, Rwanda offers a 30% discount when you also stay two nights in Akagera or Nyungwe. Divulge Adventures will apply any discount you qualify for.

Are budget hotels in Rwanda comfortable?

Yes. Rwanda's budget guest houses are generally clean, safe and friendly, with private bathrooms and hot showers.

What is the cheapest month to visit Rwanda?

The wetter months of March to May and November usually offer the best rates on lodges, with fewer visitors.

Is a budget Rwanda safari still private?

Yes. You have your own 4x4 and driver guide, so you travel at your own pace.

Which permits are included in this budget Rwanda safari?

The gorilla, chimpanzee, golden monkey and Mount Bisoke permits are all included, plus park fees and the canopy walk.

Can I upgrade some nights?

Yes. Many travellers keep budget rooms for most nights and upgrade one or two, such as near the gorillas.

Budget Rwanda Safari: 10 Amazing Days of Gorillas & Chimps

This budget Rwanda safari packs ten days of wildlife, primates and hiking into one trip by staying in clean, friendly guest houses.

Overview

Day by Day

Includes/Excludes

Safari Map

FAQs

Overview

This budget Rwanda safari proves you do not need luxury lodges to see the very best of Rwanda. In ten days you visit Akagera, Nyungwe, Lake Kivu and Volcanoes National Park, staying in simple, clean guest houses that keep costs down.

You still enjoy every highlight: a Big Five game drive, chimpanzees, the canopy walk, a gorilla trek, the Mount Bisoke hike and golden monkeys, with a private 4×4 and driver guide throughout.

Why choose a budget Rwanda safari?

The gorilla permit is the biggest single cost in Rwanda, so the smartest savings come from accommodation. Rwanda’s budget guest houses are safe and friendly, with private bathrooms and hot showers.

Ten days gives you time to add cheaper activities, like hiking and golden monkeys, that make the trip feel full without adding a second gorilla permit.

Value seekers: every major park at a lower cost.
Backpackers and students: a private safari on a budget.
Active travellers: treks and a volcano hike included.

What to expect on your budget Rwanda safari

You start with a sunset boat cruise and a full-day game drive in Akagera. On day four you tour Kigali and drive to Nyungwe via the King’s Palace Museum. Day five is your chimp trek and the canopy walk.

Day six brings tea picking and a drive to Kibuye on Lake Kivu. Day seven includes a boat trip and a coffee tour before heading to Musanze. Day eight is your gorilla trek, day nine is the Mount Bisoke hike, and on day ten you trek golden monkeys before returning to Kigali.

How to save even more

Travel in the November to May low season, when lodges are cheaper and a 30% gorilla permit discount applies with two nights in Akagera or Nyungwe. Sharing the vehicle with friends or family also lowers the cost per person.

Best time for a budget Rwanda safari

March to May and November usually offer the lowest rates. June to September and December to February are drier but busier, so book early if you travel then.

Read our guide to gorilla trekking in Rwanda and golden monkey trekking guide. Want a shorter trip? Try the 3 Days Golden Monkey and Bisoke Hike. Park facts are on Visit Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park page.

How much does the budget Rwanda safari cost?

Price on request. The cost depends on your travel dates, group size, the season and the lodges you choose, so we prepare every quote personally rather than showing one fixed price.

WhatsApp us on +254 706 223888, email [email protected] or send the enquiry form on this page, and we will share a detailed quote for your dates.

Safari Highlights

Akagera game drive and Lake Ihema boat cruise
Chimpanzee trek and canopy walk in Nyungwe
Lake Kivu boat trip, tea picking and a coffee tour
Gorilla trek, Mount Bisoke hike and golden monkeys
Clean, friendly budget guest houses throughout

Day 01 :

Arrival in Kigali

Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be met by your Divulge Adventures representative and transferred to your hotel, with time to exchange money. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Chez Lando

Day 02 :

Kigali - Akagera National Park (Sunset Boat Cruise)

After breakfast, drive east to Akagera National Park, approximately 2.5 hours, with scenic stops. Enjoy lunch at your lodge, then board a boat on Lake Ihema for a sunset cruise past hippos and crocodiles. Dinner and overnight at Akagera Rhino Lodge

Day 03 :

Akagera Full-Day Game Drive - Kigali

After an early breakfast, set out on a full-day game drive looking for the Big Five and Akagera's rich birdlife, with a picnic lunch in the park. Drive back to Kigali in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Chez Lando

Day 04 :

Kigali City Tour - Nyanza - Nyungwe

After breakfast, enjoy a short Kigali city tour including the Kigali Genocide Memorial. Drive southwest with a stop at the King's Palace Museum in Nyanza and lunch en route, arriving at Nyungwe in the evening. Dinner and overnight at Gisakura Guest House

Day 05 :

Chimpanzee Trekking and Canopy Walk

Rise early for your chimpanzee trek and spend one hour with a habituated community. After lunch, walk the canopy walkway for a bird's-eye view of the rainforest. Dinner and overnight at Gisakura Guest House

Day 06 :

Tea Plantation - Lake Kivu (Kibuye)

After breakfast, try tea picking with local farmers, then drive north to Kibuye on Lake Kivu, approximately 3 hours. Relax by the lake in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight at Rwiza Village

Day 07 :

Lake Kivu Cruise and Coffee Experience - Musanze

After breakfast, take a boat trip to Lake Kivu's islands, then visit a coffee cooperative for a crop-to-cup tour and tasting. Continue north to Musanze. Dinner and overnight at Kinigi Guest House

Day 08 :

Mountain Gorilla Trekking and Gorilla Guardians Village

After an early breakfast, report to the Kinigi park headquarters for your briefing and trek into the forest to spend one hour with a mountain gorilla family. After lunch, visit the Gorilla Guardians Village for traditional dances and village life. Dinner and overnight at Kinigi Guest House

Day 09 :

Mount Bisoke Hike

After breakfast, join a guided hike up Mount Bisoke, climbing about 4 hours to the summit crater lake for a picnic lunch, then descending in 2 to 3 hours. Spend the rest of the afternoon resting. Dinner and overnight at Kinigi Guest House

Day 10 :

Golden Monkey Trekking - Kigali (Departure)

After breakfast, trek through the bamboo forest for about one hour with the golden monkeys. Return, check out and drive back to Kigali for drop-off at your hotel or Kigali International Airport.