Rwanda Group Tours: How We're Connecting Solo Travelers & Couples Across Rwanda
Rwanda Safari is the only safari company in Rwanda connecting travelers looking to join group tours.
Not a foreign booking platform with local ground handlers. We're the actual Rwanda-based operator organizing everything directly.
This isn't "tours for groups" (we obviously do those too). This is solo travelers and couples joining other solos and couples to make safaris more exciting and drop costs dramatically.
The difference: Direct booking. No foreign platform commissions. No middleman markup.
The result: Our prices are less than half what foreign platforms charge for the exact same experience.
We didn't invent this because it sounded clever. We invented it because solo travelers kept asking for it.
It Started with Rwanda's Only Group Safari to Akagera
2018: We launched Rwanda's first-ever shared safari to Akagera National Park.
The pitch: Instead of paying $400-600 for a private vehicle you don't need, pay $180 and share with other travelers doing the same trip the same day.
The result: It became Rwanda's most frequented 1-day safari. Solo travelers figured it out first. Then couples realized they didn't need a whole 7-seat Land Cruiser either.
By 2020: Daily departures. Guaranteed to run even if you're the only person. Other travelers join = automatic refunds up to 35%.
Courtesy of Akagera Safari® - our specialized division that's been operating Akagera-only tours since 2008.
Then Demand Exploded for Multi-Day Akagera Group Safaris
Solo travelers started asking: "You do 1-day shared safaris. Can I join a 2-day? 3-day? 4-day?"
The problem: Multi-day safaris cost $800-1,600 for private arrangements. Solo travelers were stuck paying double occupancy or skipping overnight experiences entirely.
2022: We launched 2-day, 3-day, and 4-day shared Akagera safaris.
How it works:
- You book your dates
- We match you with other travelers on the same itinerary
- Tours run with 2-7 people per vehicle
- Private rooms at bush camps and lodges (no sharing)
- More people join = automatic refunds (15-35%)
Currently available:
- 1-day Akagera - Every other day departures from Kigali, $180
- Multi-day Akagera (2-4 days) - Unlimited departures based on demand, from $450
For complete Akagera group safari schedules, pricing, and availability: Akagera Safari (https://akagerasafari.com)
Why This Model Works (And Why Nobody Else in Rwanda Does It)
1. GUARANTEED DEPARTURES
Tours run even if you're the only person booked. No "minimum participants" anxiety. We eat the cost of running small groups because predictability matters more than maximum profit per departure.
2. DYNAMIC REFUND SYSTEM
More people join = you get money back automatically:
- 2-3 people: 15% refund
- 4-5 people: 25% refund
- 6+ people: 35% refund
Example: Book 1-day Akagera at $180. Four others join. You automatically get $45 back. Final cost: $135.
This creates urgency without pressure: Tours filling up = better deal for everyone already booked.
3. NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT (+ OPTIONAL ROOM SHARING)
Solo travelers pay per-person pricing. Private rooms included on overnight trips by default—no double occupancy penalty.
Want to share a room and save even more? Select room sharing during booking (our system lets you choose). Most solo travelers choose private rooms, but the option exists for additional savings.
50% of our group tour participants travel solo.
4. ONLY RWANDA TOUR COMPANY DOING THIS
Most Rwanda operators are ground handlers for Western companies - they work B2B, not direct to travelers. They can't market online, don't have booking infrastructure, can't guarantee departures (financial risk), and don't control permits in bulk.
We invested in:
- Reservation technology
- Websites that can handle bookings.
- Reservation systems for hotels to synchronise their bookings with us
- Mobile apps for our guides and clients to communicate in real time and track each other's location
- Solved a crucial online payment problem. We are now using payment providers that our clients are accustomed to an trust
- Bulk gorilla/chimp permit buying
- Guaranteed departure financial model
- Daily coordination systems
- Insurance for cancelled gorilla permits ( Only Rwanda Safari offers a free cancellation policy on gorilla permits)
Nobody else in Rwanda has this infrastructure. So we're the only ones doing it.
Group Tour Schedule
AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK:
- 1-day safaris: Every other day departures from Kigali - $180/day
- Multi-day safaris (2-4 days): Unlimited departures based on demand - From $450
- Complete Akagera Schedule (https://akagerasafari.com)**
VOLCANOES (Gorilla Trekking):
- Mon/Wed/Fri/Sun departures - From $1,650
- Gorilla permits ($1,050-1,500) paid separately
NYUNGWE (Chimpanzee Trekking):
- Tue/Thu/Sat departures - From $450
- Chimp permits ($150) paid separately
COMPLETE RWANDA SAFARI (5-8 days):
- High season (Jun-Sep): 4 tours/month, max 14 people - $2,200-3,800
- Low season (Nov-May): 1 tour/month, max 7 people - $2,200-3,800
- October: 2 tours/month, max 7 people - $2,200-3,800
Then We Expanded to Volcanoes, Nyungwe, and Complete Rwanda Safaris
Once the model proved itself in Akagera, solo travelers asked: *"Can I join group tours to Volcanoes? Nyungwe? Multi-park safaris?"*
2023-2024: We launched:
VOLCANOES (Gorilla Trekking):
- Mon/Wed/Fri/Sun departures
- From $1,650 (includes accommodation, NOT gorilla permit)
- 2-6 people per group
- Gorilla permits: $1,050-1,500 (paid separately, booked together)
NYUNGWE (Chimpanzee Trekking):
- Tue/Thu/Sat departures
- From $450 (2-day) to $850 (3-day)
- Chimp permits: $150 (paid separately)
- 2-7 people per group
COMPLETE RWANDA SAFARIS (6-8 days):
- Monthly departures (schedule varies by season)
- From $2,200 to $3,800
- Combines Akagera + Volcanoes + Nyungwe + Lake Kivu
- Permits paid separately
High season (June-Sept): 4 departures per month, max 14 people per tour
Low season (Nov-May): 1 departure per month, max 7 people per tour
October: 2 departures per month, max 7 people per tour
Who Group Tours Are For (And Who They're Not For)
GROUP TOURS ARE PERFECT FOR:
✅ Solo travelers - Meet people, share costs, no single supplement
✅ Couples who want social - Make travel friends, shared vehicle = lower cost
✅ Budget-conscious travelers - 40-50% cheaper than Western operators
✅ Fixed-date planners - Know your dates, book guaranteed departure
✅ First-time safari-goers - Built-in social = less intimidating
✅ Ages 25-70 (most participants 35-55, but we've had 22-73)
GROUP TOURS ARE NOT FOR:
❌ Families with young kids - Private tours better (flexibility + kid pace)
❌ People needing custom dates - Group tours run fixed schedules
❌ Travelers wanting total flexibility - Itineraries are set
❌ Those who hate groups - Private tours exist for a reason
❌ Honeymoons - Unless you want to make friends, book private
Can't decide? You can combine: group safari to Akagera + private Volcanoes extension. We do this all the time.
How It Actually Works (Booking to Departure)
STEP 1: YOU BOOK
Choose your tour, dates, pay deposit ($500 for multi-day, $180 full payment for 1-day Akagera).
STEP 2: WE MATCH YOU
Other travelers book the same dates. You get updates as the group fills.
STEP 3: TOURS CONFIRM
Guaranteed departures = tour runs even if you're alone.
2+ people = confirmed group (and you start earning refunds).
6+ people = maximum refund (35%).
STEP 4: AUTOMATIC REFUNDS
If more people join, you get money back automatically. No need to request. We just process it.
STEP 5: YOU GO
Meet your group at pickup point in Kigali. Shared vehicle (max 7 people). Professional guide. Private rooms at camps/lodges. Return to Kigali at trip end.
STEP 6: CLIMATE CONTRIBUTION
1.5% of your booking → [Stripe Climate](https://climate.stripe.com) for permanent carbon removal (automatic, transparent).
Why Less Than Half the Price of Foreign Platforms
Foreign Platform (G Adventures, Intrepid, Exodus, WeTravel):
- Lists tour at: $4,500 for 10-day Rwanda safari
- Pays Rwanda ground handler: ~$1,800 (40%)
- Foreign platform commission: $2,700 (150% markup)
- You pay: $4,500
Rwanda Safari (direct booking with us):
- Lists same tour at: $2,200-2,800
- We organize everything directly (we ARE the ground handler)
- No foreign platform commission
- You pay: $2,200-2,800
- You save: $1,700-2,300
Same guides. Same lodges. Same gorilla permits. Same vehicles. Same experience.
Just no foreign platform taking 150% commission.
We're based in Kigali. We own the vehicles. We train the guides. We book the permits in bulk. We coordinate everything locally.
Foreign platforms are marketing machines that contract local operators.
We're the local operator who built our own direct booking system.
That's why our prices are less than half.
What's Included vs What You Pay Separately
ALWAYS INCLUDED:
✅ National Park Permits (on multi-day tours)
✅ All transport (private safari vehicles, max 7 per vehicle)
✅ Accommodation (private rooms by default—room sharing available on request for additional savings)
✅ Professional guide (English-speaking, trained by us)
✅ Park entrance fees (Akagera, Nyungwe—NOT gorilla/chimp permits)
✅ Most meals (breakfast + lunch always, dinner on overnight trips)
✅ Drinking water (unlimited)
✅ 1.5% climate contribution (Stripe Climate)
✅ Airport transfers (on multi-day tours)
YOU PAY SEPARATELY:
❌ International flights
❌ Travel insurance (required—we check)
❌ Tips (~$10-15/day for guide + accommodations)
❌ Personal expenses (souvenirs, extra drinks)
The Social Dynamic (What Actually Happens)
50% of group tour participants travel solo.
40% are couples.
10% are small friend groups (2-3 friends).
Ages: Mostly 35-65. If you're moderately fit and can handle 2-6 hour treks, you'll fit in.
What happens:
- Some people become travel friends for life
- Some prefer the quiet and stay friendly but distant
- Both work fine
Vehicle dynamics:
- Max 7 people per vehicle (usually 4-6)
- Everyone gets window seat rotation
- Lunch together, evenings flexible
- Game drives = shared excitement (animals don't care if you're quiet)
Accommodations:
- Private rooms by default (never forced to share)
- Room sharing available on request (saves additional cost)
- Dinner together at lodges/camps (optional to socialize or eat separately)
- Campfires, sundowners = natural social time
If you're worried about forced socializing: You're not trapped. Shared vehicle during activities, private room rest of time. Join conversations when you want, bow out when you don't.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What if I'm the only person who books?
A: Tour still runs. Guaranteed departures. You get private experience at group price (lucky you).
**Q: What if the group is weird?**
A: In 6 years, we've had one personality clash (out of 2,000+ participants). Our guides are trained to manage group dynamics. Most groups bond over shared wildlife excitement.
**Q: Can I bring my own group?**
A: Yes, but you'd book a private tour at that point (more flexibility, custom dates). Group tours are for individuals joining.
**Q: Do I have to share a room?**
A: No. Private rooms always. Even solo travelers.
**Q: Do I have to share a room?**
A: No. Private rooms by default. Room sharing is optional—you select it during booking if you want the extra savings. Even solo travelers get private rooms unless they specifically choose room sharing.
**Q: What if I want to leave mid-tour?**
A: Possible but not ideal. Gorilla permits are date-specific and non-refundable. If you must leave early, arrange it at booking.
**Q: Can I extend the tour privately?**
A: Yes. Common. Example: 6-day group tour + 2-day private Lake Kivu extension.
**Q: What's the cancellation policy?**
A: Standard: 60 days = full refund, 30-59 days = 50% refund, <30 days = no refund (permits are non-refundable).
**Enhanced Refund Protection** available at checkout (+8% of booking): 100% refund for covered reasons up to tour start OR up to 60 days after.
**Q: Do you accommodate dietary restrictions?**
A: Yes. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, allergies—notify at booking. Rwanda's lodges are excellent with this.
Browse Group Tours
BY DESTINATION:
- Akagera - Daily departures, 1-4 days
- Volcanoes - Hiking, Sat/Sun
- Nyungwe - Sat
BY TIMING:
- [High Season Tours](/group-tours/high-season) - June-Sept (8 departures/month)
- [Low Season Tours](/group-tours/low-season) - Mar-May, Oct-Nov (4 departures/month)
- [Selling Fast](/group-tours/selling-fast) - 60-90% full = highest refunds
BY TRAVELER TYPE:
- Solo Travellers- 50% of participants, no supplement
- Budget Tours - Maximum savings options
- Last Minute - Departures within 30 days
Why We're the Only Rwanda-Based Company Doing This
Rwanda Safari is the only safari company in Rwanda connecting travelers to join group tours.
Here's the landscape:
FOREIGN PLATFORMS (G Adventures, Intrepid, Exodus, WeTravel):
- Online booking platforms based in Western countries
- They connect travelers to group tours
- They contract local Rwanda ground handlers to run the actual tours
- They add 100-150% commission on top of ground handler costs
- Result: You pay $4,500, ground handler receives ~$1,800, platform keeps $2,700
RWANDA GROUND HANDLERS (most local operators):
- Work B2B only (they service foreign platforms, not direct travelers)
- No online booking systems
- No marketing to travelers
- Can't guarantee departures (financial risk)
- Don't control bulk permits
- Result: Reliable operators, but you can't book them directly
RWANDA SAFARI (us):
- Rwanda-based safari company organizing group tours directly
- We ARE the ground operator (we own vehicles, train guides, book permits)
- We connect travelers through our own booking platform
- No foreign platform commissions
- Direct booking = transparent pricing
- Result:You pay $2,200-2,800, we organize everything, you save $1,700-2,300
We're not a foreign platform. We're not just a ground handler.
We're the Rwanda operator who built the platform to connect travelers directly.
Nobody else in Rwanda does both.
Ready to Join?
Rwanda's only locally-organized group tours.
Daily Akagera departures. Guaranteed group safaris. Luxury quality at mid-range prices.
What happens next:
1. Browse group tours (check "Selling Fast" for highest refunds)
2. Book your spot (deposit or full payment)
3. Get updates as group fills (more people = automatic refunds)
4. Meet your group in Kigali
5. Automatic climate contribution (1.5% → Stripe Climate)
You don't just visit Rwanda. You join travelers discovering it together.
At prices foreign platforms can't match—because we're the Rwanda operator, not the middleman.
Browse Rwanda Safari Group Travel options that you can join below.
