Budget & Tips

Rwanda has a hotel infrastructure that ranges from very inexpensive establishments with spartan comfort to comfortable hotels and very high-end luxury lodges. The top level hotels in Rwanda are located in Kigali, Gisenyi, Lake Kivu, Akagera Park, Nyungwe and Kinigi, at the foot of the volcanoes. Medium-sized establishments, along with guesthouses, are the most common throughout the country. The former are roughly equivalent to European two-star hotels, with decent comfort and facilities that are normally in good working order. Church-related guesthouses are also scattered throughout the country. Rwanda also relies on responsible luxury tourism, and many exceptional eco-lodges have been created in recent years (One&Only Nyungwe House, One&Only Gorilla's Nest, Ruzizi Tented Lodge, Magashi Agakera, Retreat by Heaven, Singita, to name a few).

As for the budget, you will not find a single room for less than 25 US$, in collective accommodation and shared sanitary facilities, with the constraints that this implies. For a hotel accommodation, count at least three times more. The average budget will be able to get by with 70-90 US$ per night. For more comfortable accommodations, you should expect to pay between US$90 and US$160 per night. High-end establishments can charge up to US$800 per night (or even more for some ultra-exclusive establishments).

To be booked

As a general rule, it is best to arrive in the country with your hotel reservations. A trip to Rwanda cannot be improvised, especially if you wish to visit the national parks. The tourist permit to visit the gorillas in the Volcanoes National Park must be purchased in advance through the Visit Rwanda website (https://visitrwandabookings.rdb.rw/), as the number of daily visits is limited. Travel agencies can arrange this for you. In Kigali, most hotels are fully booked during conferences and congresses, so it is best to inquire in advance.

What's very local

Bed and Breakfast. Homestay is not very developed. This is due to the smallness of the habitat, but also to a whole series of cultural codes that make the house a very private space. On the other hand, guesthouses with 3 to 5 rooms are widespread, but they are often independent houses of the owner.

Youth hostels. Apart from a few youth hostels, such as the Red Rocks in Musanze, more and more guesthouses, which are not religious hostels (numerous in Rwanda), also offer dormitory beds for budget travelers (Yambi Guesthouse in Kigali, Palm Garden Resort in Gisenyi).

Campgrounds. There are few camping possibilities, except in the national parks, in the rare authorized places, as well as in the gardens of some hotels and at the youth hostel in Kigali.

Good plans. In most provinces, even in the most remote areas, it is possible to find accommodation in a parish, a "diocesan center" (Catholic) or a "hostel" (Presbyterian). But it is better to make reservations: many church-related groups may occupy the premises during weekends and some retreat or seminar weeks.

For food lovers

When guest houses offer on-site catering, one can expect some wonders, even if only for breakfast. This is the case for example of Bugesera Lodge, Umusambi, The Nest, Maison Sifa or Jangwe Lodge. In the hotels, it will often be king's buffets that will be served in the morning.

Smokers

Smoking is not a cultural habit. Hotels are generally non-smoking. Smoking is done outside.