You are looking for hostels in Rwanda? Good news, you have come to the right place.
On this page we list every single city with hostels and other budget accommodations. Hostelz.com helps you to find your Rwanda hostel and compare its prices on the major booking sites such as Hostelworld, Hostelsclub and Booking.com. So you can sleep on a budget and save money while backpacking Rwanda.
We list every single hostel in Rwanda and the world. In total, we have 5 cities in Rwanda for you. Please note that not all cities actually have a hostel to stay in. Below you can filter for cities with hostels and with no hostels-type accommodation, but guesthouses and budget hotels. This will help your planning.
Alright, you are more the visual type? Planning your trip with a map is always handy.
Therefore, this map shows you all cities with hostels in Rwanda. It will help you to plan your trip. Just zoom in the map and click your destination for more details. Just so you know: If we do not have a hostel in a city, it is likely that there is no hostel in that city.
Rwanda is a country in East Africa that was once plagued by a long war. Today, it is one of the top tourist destinations in Africa, and one of the safest to visit. There are many things to do in Rwanda, and all of the experiences are unique. The country is known for its strict laws and orderly day to day life. It is very clean, organized, and a great place to unwind.
Rwanda is a small nation, but it is full of friendly people running hostels, hotels, and home stays throughout the country. With so many tourists pouring in, hostels have become a source of business for the locals, and they run them very well indeed. You can typically find a hostel at an affordable rate near many of the major landmarks and cities in the country.
While staying here you should visit Kigali, the capital city. It is located in a part of Rwanda that has better weather conditions than the rest of the country. The city is full of history, with memorials to the mass genocides of the past. The best part? It has fast, working WiFi and internet access.
Rwanda is famous for one activity above all else: gorilla treks. Seeing the gorillas in their natural habitat is something you have to do when here. It is a unique and thrilling experience that allows you to literally come face to face with the primates.
The gorillas can be found alongside other species of wildlife in the many national parts of the country. You should take the time to visit Nyungwe and Akagera national parks to witness nature in all its glory.
In Nyungwe forest, you can engage in a very unique adventure: the canopy walk. This involves walking above the floor of the forest, looking down on the canopy of trees below. The experience alternates between towering above the forest and being at eye level with the tops of the trees while on the walk.
Another natural attraction would be Lake Kivu, a body of water that also forms the border between Rwanda and The Congo. You can swim in the lake as long as you ask a native where the safe spots are. Cities like Kibuye and Gisenye are located nearby and are worth a visit to check out the cultural diversity of the area.
If you would really love to see more of the culture of Rwanda, make sure you go to Butare. This is known as the cultural hub of the entire country, and was once one of the most important cities in the country. One of the largest historical museums in Rwanda is located here. Located nearby is Nayanza, the location of the royal palace of Rwanda.
The golden monkeys of Rwanda are an endangered species that you can see in action at the Volcanoes National Park. You can’t always see them, but you can track them through the park located at the Virunga Volcanoes of Rwanda.
One last place you should visit is the Iby’lwacu Cultural Village, an interactive experience where you can meet some ex-poachers and learn about the traditions of the local royalty, healers, archers, and cooks. You can also witness the Intore dance ceremony performed by the locals.
Handwritten by local expert for Rwanda hostels Jakob Lombardi
Hey fam! Here are a few more tips from the community, from them to you, and you to them. This space is dedicated for travellers to share their best tips on backpacking Rwanda. Have a closer look - the Hostelz community share real hidden gems, insider knowledge and overall impressions of Rwanda. Everyone is welcome to add something useful, funny, unexpected and the "absolutely necessary to know before you go" - share, share and then share a little more!
There is a lot of travel planning to do. So let us help you once again by putting together the frequently asked questions:
There is several hostel booking sites, such as Hostelworld.com, Hostelsclub.com and Booking.com. While every platform has its pros and cons, there is a universal truth you as a traveler should be aware of: Not a single booking site can always offer the best prices.
This is where Hostelz.com comes in. You can compare all major booking portals with one click.
For you as a traveler, Hostelz.com is the best booking site to actually save money.
Prices always vary, depending on various factors. Weekends tend to be more expensive, same goes for special holidays. Please also take into account local vaction time.
You can search for exacty hostel prices in Rwanda here on Hostelz.com. Pick your destination and pick a date. The system will track down the prices to give an idea of what budget and prices you can expect.
If you want to stay at the best hostels, it is a good idea to have your hostel booked around 1 month before you travel. For the regular hostels, booking one week before should be okay. Yet again, this always depends.
We dedicated a full article to the topic of when to book hostels.
Generally speaking, hostels are as safe as you make them. We highly recommend always to bring your own padlock, using the lockers and taking care of your belongings. Make sure you pick a safe hostel, offering lockers and a safe location. Please always pay attention to the reviews; they can give you a great insight on what to expect and safety tips.
There is a few basics you should always pack when staying in hostels.
There is more actually. We wrote a complete guide with more details. Read our full hostel packing list.
