How to Find Cheap Hotels in Kigali, Rwanda

Kigali, which is Rwanda's capital and largest city, is spread out over a series of steep hills and valleys and serves a major transportation hub for most of Central Africa. While the violence of a few years ago still lingers in the mind of Kigali residents, visitors will find it a friendly place, and a city that looks to the future.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A passport
• A computer with Internet access

Choose Your Accommodations

1. To book accommodations, contact The Africa Guide at 011 ([phone] or visit their Web site (see Resources, below). (If calling internationally but not from the United States or Canada, call 00 ([phone].)

2. Choose one of Kigali's local hotels, which offer a wide range of prices and amenities. Rooms can be as cheap as $20 per day.

3. Pick one of the local guesthouses in Kigali to feel closer to the people and culture in Rwanda. These accommodations are cheap and can range from $20 to $80 per night, including meals.

4. Stay at one of the many international hostels favored by backpackers and students. A bed in a shared room can cost just a few dollars per night.

5. Consider a luxury hotel from a major chain. Such accommodations can be relatively cheap, ranging from approximately $100 to $200 per night.

Arrive in Kigali, Rwanda

6. Fly into Kigali International Airport.

7. Use the local minivans, called matatus, to get from the airport to the hotel.

8. Hire a taxi and a driver for the day to get around the city.

Enjoy Kigali

9. Visit the Hotel Rwanda, made famous by the film of the same name.

10. Check out the exterior of the Parliament Building, which is still scarred by bullet holes and missile explosions from the unrest in 1994.

11. Stroll down the Avenue du Commerce and soak up the local flavor of Kigali stores and bazaars.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid driving in the Rwanda countryside if possible. Most of the roads are muddy and steep and quite dangerous.
• Unlike other African cities, the matatus in Kigali are generally driven safely and responsibly. In fact, they are the only public form of transportation in Kigali.
• Do not take photos of the airport or of military personnel or government buildings. Your camera will be confiscated, and you can face serious fines.
• Drink only bottled water and eat only well-cooked food.
• Beware of poisonous snakes, including the much-feared black mamba.