Budget tours in Rwanda are done by those travelers that are interested in doing cheap safaris across the country. Rwanda is not only a luxury country but also a budget country where budget travelers can go and get part in different activities in different destinations across the country.
Some of the activities that budget travelers can be part of while in Rwanda include game viewing, gorilla trekking, golden monkey trekking, chimpanzee trekking, cultural tours, birding, boat cruise, sportfishing, canopy walks, sport fishing, and much more. Most of the budget travelers to Rwanda move in groups in order to share transport costs as well as accommodation costs. Travelers planning to visit Rwanda for budget tours are advised to come in groups in order to cut the costs.
What to do on Budget tours in Rwanda
Primate trekking: Tourists coming to Rwanda for budget safaris can participate in primate trekking that is done in different national parks in the country. Mountain gorilla trekking and golden monkey trekking is done in volcanoes national park, chimpanzee trekking is done in Nyungwe forest national park and Gishwati-Makura national park. Primate trekking in Rwanda requires one to have a trekking permit and these are got from the Rwanda Development Board using a trusted local tour operator.
Primate trekking activity in all the mentioned national parks starts with a briefing where participants must be at the park offices very early in the morning. During the briefing, the park wardens teach the trekkers different rules and regulations of the activity to be done, grouping is done and armed ranger guides are assigned to lead them into the jungle.
While in the jungle searching for the primates, the trekkers get to meet different park mammals, primates, birds, and different plant species. Once they allocate the families they have been looking for, they will be given 1 hour to be around them, take photos, learn about their habits, and watch them d daily activities such as hunting, nesting, playing, and much more. Trekkers will later trek out of the jungle meeting different park animals.
Birding: Budget travelers to Rwanda can participate in birding exercises that are done in different places across the country. The best birding places in Rwanda include Kigali, Akagera national park, volcanoes national park, Nyungwe forest national park, Lake Kivu, and Gishwati-Makura national park. Rwanda is home to over 750 bird species that have been so far recorded and among these include grey-rumped swallow, African black swift, long-tailed cormorant, sacred ibis, Holub’s golden weaver, bronzed manikin, crimson-rumped waxbill, scarlet-chested, little bee-eater, variable sunbird, long-tailed cormorant, colorful southern red bishop, striated heron, Angola swallow, and chin-spot batis.
Pin-tailed whydah, African fish eagle, yellow-throated greenbul, speckled mousebirds, Yellow-fronted Canary, yellow-bellied waxbill, spectacled weaver, bronze sunbird, crimson-rumped waxbill, cardinal woodpecker, spot-flanked barbet, spotted yellow-throated greenbul, tropical boubou, African Paradise Flycatcher, Papyrus Gonolek, Common Moorhen, Common Snipe, Paradise Flycatcher, Southern Black Flycatcher, and Spur-winged Geese among others.
Game viewing: On budget tours in Rwanda, game drives are some of the activities one shouldn’t miss out on because they give travelers an opportunity to spot different wild animals. The game driver activities are done in Akagera national park which hosts over 1000 large mammals. Game viewing activities in this park are done in the morning and evening but the experience is the same. During the game drives, the tourists are able to see animals such as zebras, lions, buffaloes, hyenas, leopards, giraffes, roan antelopes, cape elands, duikers, warthogs, giant forest hogs, oribis, topis, elephants, and rhinos to mention but a few.
Hiking: Budget travelers to Rwanda can participate in hiking activities that are done mainly in volcanoes national parks. To hike these mountains you need to be physically fit to make it to the summit because they are steep and sometimes slippery. Mountains that can be hiked in Volcanoes national park include Bisoke, Karisimbi, Gahinga, and Muhabura. There is Mountain Sabyinyo in volcanoes national park but it can’t be hiked because it has steep slopes.
Hiking Virunga mountains requires participants to wake up very early in the morning and move to the starting points where they will meet the park wardens to take them through the briefing. During the briefing, they will be taught about the rules and regulations of the hiking activity then armed ranger guides will be assigned to the group to lead them to the summit.
While hiking these volcanoes, the hikers have opportunities of meeting different animals on the slopes such as monkeys, buffaloes, gorillas, chimpanzees, duikers, giant forest hogs, elephants, birds, and different vegetation covers. There are different stopovers while hiking but on reaching the summit, you will have great views of surrounding Virunga volcanoes, mountain Rwenzori, lakes, rovers, national park, and much more. after enjoying stunning views at the summit, descend to the starting point, meet different park animals, meet the driver guide for a transfer to the next destination.
Boat cruises: On a budget tour to Rwanda, boat cruise activities are done on Lake Kivu which has no crocodiles and hippos, as well as Lake Ihema in Akagera national park. The boat cruise activities in these places are done in the morning and evening hours and give the same experience. During the boat cruises at Lake Ihema, the participants are able to see different water animals such as crocodiles, hippos, and park animals on the shores trying to drink water. On both Lake Ihema and Lake Kivu, the boat cruises give opportunities on seeing some of the water birds such as shoebill stork, grey crowned crane, spotted yellow-throated greenbul, tropical boubou among others.
Canopy walk: Travelers on a budget tour to Rwanda can be part of the canopy walk that is only done in Nyungwe forest national park. The canopy walk is done by people above the age of 6 years and it’s a guided activity that starts with a briefing, The activity takes 2 hours of having an aerial view of the national park, animals, birds, plants, waterfalls, lakes, rivers, mountains and other surrounding places.
What is the best time to have budget tours in Rwanda?
Budget tours in Rwanda can be done at any time of the year but the rainy season is the best time to have these tours. During the rainy season, some of the activities are done at a lower price, and the accommodation facilities do offer huge discounts. Budget travelers need to know that during the rainy season, there is plenty of rainfall, which makes the trekking trails and game trucks muddy and slippery, the vegetation is tall with unclear views of the park animals and the roads leading to the park are impassable.
Budget travelers can still visit Rwanda in the dry season of June to September and December to February. During the dry season, there is little or no rainfall which leaves the trekking trails and game trucks dry, the vegetation is short giving clear views of animals and the roads leading to the park are passable.
Accommodation on a budget safari in Rwanda
On a budget tour in Rwanda, one has to book a cheap accommodation that offers good services in order to have the best of the budget tour. There are so many budget and mid-range accommodation facilities in different tourism destinations in Rwanda where travelers can spend a night or more. Budget travelers can as well opt for camping to save more of their money.