How to Find Cheap Hotels in Rwanda

Rwanda is working hard to make people forget about the genocide of 1994 and see the country as the "land of a thousand hills." The mountain gorillas of Volcanoes National Park have become the most popular tourist attraction in this country.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer with an Internet connection
• Credit/debit card to reserve accommodations

Learn About the Culture

1. Say "hello" in the official language of Kinyarwanda, which is "uraho," or "muraho" for several people at once.

2. Shake hands. The Rwanda handshake consists of grabbing right hands closer to the wrist than the palm, embracing lightly and touching the right, left and right cheeks lightly.

3. Watch for traffic when crossing streets in the cities of Rwanda as the crazy drivers pay no attention to people crossing the streets.

Travel to Rwanda

4. Fly into the Kigali International Airport, the only commercial airport in the country, via a connection in Belgium or Kenya.

5. Save money on your flight by arriving in Enetebbe, Uganda and taking a bus into Kigali.

Select Cheap Accommodations in Rwanda

6. To book accommodations, contact Rwanda Tourist Board at 011 ([phone] or visit their Web site (see Resources below).

7. Stay in cheap accommodations in the capital city of Kigali for around $90 per night. Nicer rooms in this area range from $120 to $250 per night.

8. Stay in a nice cheap room in Butare, Rwanda for $40 to $80 per night and enjoy the local nightlife.

9. Stay in Gisenyi for additional access to Lake Kivu, and you can find a room starting at $25 per night.

10. Find a room on Lake Kivu near the town of Kibuye. It will cost as little as $25 per night for a bed in a cottage.

Tips & Warnings

• Try to haggle for lower prices on your room when not staying in major cities.
• All phone numbers include the United States international prefix "011." When calling internationally outside the United States, substitute that "011" with "00." All country codes are within parentheses and begin with a "+" sign.
• Purchase your visa early for your trip and be prepared to pay the fee.
• Get the yellow fever vaccination and certificate proof to enter the country.
• You will need to carry your "return ticket" with you in case you are asked questions by the local police.
• You will need around $20 to pay for the exit tax when leaving the country.
• Do not travel to rural areas along the borders of Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo because of fights between area rebel groups.
• Do not drink the milk unless you boil it first. Try powdered or tinned milk instead.