How Much Does a Rwanda Safari Cost? A Transparent Breakdown
Permits, lodges, transport and tips: where the money goes, with sample budgets from value to luxury.
Eben Safari Tours Team2 min read
The big costs
1. Permits. The gorilla permit is US$1,500 per person. Golden monkey, chimpanzee, canopy walk and Akagera fees add a few hundred dollars more.
2. Accommodation. Per person per night, roughly:
- Budget: US$40–120
- Mid-range: US$150–400
- Luxury: US$800–3,000+
3. Vehicle and driver-guide. A private 4x4 with a driver-guide costs around US$150–220 per day for the vehicle (shared by your group), plus fuel.
4. Meals. Usually included at lodges; budget US$15–40 per meal in Kigali.
5. Tips. About US$15–25 per day for your driver-guide, plus trackers and porters.
Sample per-person prices (two sharing)
| Trip | Price per person |
|---|---|
| 1-day gorilla trek from Kigali | US$1,795 |
| 1-day Akagera safari | US$470 |
| 2-day Akagera safari | US$1,195 |
| 3-day gorilla safari | from ~US$2,450 |
| 7-day classic Rwanda (mid-range) | from ~US$4,850 |
| 7-day Rwanda Wildlife & Gorilla Expedition (luxury) | US$9,405 |
| 3-day Uganda gorilla trek from Kigali | US$2,698 |
How to save
- Travel in a group of 3–4 to share vehicle costs
- Choose the wet season for lower lodge rates
- Trek gorillas in Uganda (US$800 permit) and fly via Kigali
- Self-drive with one of our rental cars for non-gorilla days
Send us your budget and we'll build the best trip it allows: plan your trip.
Written by the Eben Safari Tours team
We are a Kigali-based tour operator, guiding travellers through Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania since 2015. Our guides trek with the gorillas, drive Akagera and climb the volcanoes every week, and we update these guides whenever rules or prices change.
