Picking up a rental car by a traveler from a rental operator is one of the most critical
processes of hiring a car in Rwanda. Pickups are normally done at the Kigali International Airport, lodges and hotels, or any popular tourist spot in Rwanda. Some rental operators do it free of charge as an added incentive while others charge a fee because there are expenses involved like fuel and time.

The process of car rental pickup is not complex and does not consume a lot of time. It is
something that should not worry a traveller but it is something important to do in the right
way. It is pivotal in having a successful and convenient car rental experience in Rwanda.

Let’s take you through the dos of picking up a rental car in Rwanda

Build a rapport with the car rental personnel

It is within human ethics to exchange pleasantries when you meet a person you wish to do
business with. Make introductions to gain the trust of the rental staff to happily guide you
on how to go about your car rental experience.

Check for dents and damages on the vehicle

When you reach the vehicle, inspect it and check for scratches, faults, and damages on
the car body, mirrors, windows, and interior of the car. Report to the rental staff if you see
any dent or damage and go the extra mile to take pictures of the faults. By doing this, you’re safeguarding yourself from being blamed for the dents and damages that are not of your own causing.

Get familiar with the car

Request the rental company staff to tutor you on how the vehicle operates right from the
driving system, lighting, wipes, air conditioning, and fuel consumption to the mechanical system. You should also test drive the car to ascertain whether it is in the right condition for a long-distance trip.

Read and sign the car rental contract

Don’t overlook the long black-and-white document because it is the actual guide on how to
use the rental vehicle. Cross every T and put every dot on the I of the car rental contract and request clarity where you have not understood. Insurance must be one of the topics to take a keen eye on and ask how it works.

Get a briefing about the traffic and road laws in Rwanda

Request the rental staff to tutor you about the major traffic laws on-road and the nature of
driving. This will help you not to go on the wrong side of the law and also to know what to
expect on the road. The rental staff should also render travel information like the location
of the parks, the best accommodation to stay in, the restaurants to eat and how to interact with people.

Nestled in the east of Africa, Rwanda is one of the places to explore on a self-drive safari. It is a country with lots of tourist attractions hidden in its highlands. Some of the places to visit on a Rwanda self-drive experience are Volcanoes National Park– the home to the endangered mountain gorillas, Akagera National Park– the Big Five destination, Nyungwe Forest– the capital of small primates and Kigali where culture meets modernity.

Exploring all those aforementioned destinations on self-drive does not come cheap unless
you conjure some tricks to cut down the cost of the travel expenses involved. In this article, we bring to you some of the tips to have an affordable Rwanda self-drive experience.

Book with an online rental operator

The perfect platform to find rental operators with competitive or affordable rates is the
Internet. On the web, there is a chain of rental companies competing for clients and one
way of cutting a deal is by offering a lower price than their counterparts. This works in
favour of travellers who end up getting Rwanda self-drive car rental services at an affordable price.

Rent a Budget Car rental

Car rental companies have a fleet of cars to hire but all have different rates and fuel
consumption which are a part of the expenses incurred on a Rwanda self-drive trip.
Travellers are advised to hire rental vehicles like a Toyota rav4 or land cruiser Prado tx
which have a low fuel consumption rate and price tag compared to the big SUVs like the
Toyota land cruiser V8, GX and hardtop.

Go for a Rwanda self-drive in the low travel season

Rwanda has two contrasting travelling periods, the peak and low seasons. The peak season
takes place from June through October and December and the low season happens from
March through May. In the low season, there is a low turn-up of tourists at the different
destinations in Rwanda and this brings low demands of travel auxiliary services like car
rental services and accommodation. Due to the low demand, travel service operators like
car rental and accommodation tend to lower their prices to attract the few customers in the
park. Travellers are advised to advantage of the low travel season period to have a relatively affordable Rwanda self-drive experience.

Go for camping

Instead of staying in established lodges or hotels, go camping to enjoy the wilderness of
Rwanda as you also save some money on your self-drive trip. You can either go for a
pitch/dome tent or a rooftop tent, the car rental operators hire both types of tents with other camping gear. There are also campsites where you can station your tent and enjoy the night at an affordable rate.

Engage in less costly activities

Although gorilla trekking is the most sought-after and exciting activity in Rwanda, go for
other activities like game viewing, nature walks, city tours, boat tours and historical and
cultural tours which are cheaper.

Enjoy local foods

While on a Rwanda self-drive experience, dine in local restaurants and order local foods.
These meals are not only delicious and organic but also more affordable than those in
swanky restaurants.

Rwanda is some area laid out to be explored on a self-drive trip whether you are an
experienced or a first-time traveller. It is small in size and also has a good road network that makes it easy to access all its national parks and other destinations on a self-drive tour. Self-drive in Rwanda has been embraced by numerous tourists and rave reviews have been aired out after engaging in the experience. It has now become a household experience in Rwanda’s tours and travel industry. It is an experience travellers are relishing for nowadays.

Nonetheless, there are certain things a visitor must do right to have an exciting and
incredible Rwanda self-drive experience. Below are some of the tips for self-driving in
Rwanda

Get familiar with the vehicle

When the vehicle is delivered to you, request the rental personnel to teach you how the car
system operates, for instance, the gear system, the lighting systems, wipers, engine, air
condition, music and the fuel type and consumption. This will make you get acquainted with the vehicle thus driving it with confidence and cautiousness.

Ensure that the vehicle is at full tank

Road trips in Rwanda require driving long distances of about 80 kilometres and more. The
travellers are advised to keep the vehicle at the full tank so that they don’t run out of fuel in the middle of the journey. It would render inconveniences especially when the tank gets
empty in a remote area where there are no refilling stations nearby.

Plan for the Journey

Draft an itinerary for the self-drive trip in Rwanda. Plan the time to start the journey when to reach there and when to visit particular tourist places you wish to explore. A well- crafted itinerary enables you to fully enjoy the different tourism destinations in Rwanda at your own pace and terms.

Follow the driving rules in Rwanda:

Rwanda is very stringent to its laws when broken a premium fine or jail time awaits.
Self-drive tourists are advised to heed every road and traffic rule to the dot so that they
don’t get on the wrong side of the law. Police patrols or individuals are always loitering on
the roads of Rwanda to curb down offenders. Some of the road laws to adhere to include
the speed limit, overtaking, reckless driving and drunk driving.

Take breaks while driving

Rwanda self-driving trips involve long-distance travel of over 100 kilometres plus. Travellers are advised to take sporadic breaks to stretch their bodies and refresh their minds so that they don’t wear out. Sleep driving is one of the main causes of accidents worldwide, taking breaks while driving prevents it.

Pack dry foods and enough drinking

Since tourists spend so much time on the road, they are advised to have edibles and drinks
to take whenever hunger and thirst kick in. Dry foods like crisps, pickles, groundnuts,
biscuits and drinks like water, fizzy drinks and juice must be packed for a self-drive Rwanda.

Don’t drive at night

Avoid drinking at night. Like any third-world country, most of the roads in Rwanda especially those in the remote area where the national parks are found have no lights. It is difficult to drive in the dark particularly when you are a foreigner. In the night, you encounter reckless drivers under the influence of drugs and alcohol. The night is the peak time for road demises like accidents and highway robbery.

Greet the Locals

Greeting is one of the most treasured norms in Africa. People are welcoming and friendly.
When you greet them, you become an instant friend or family. Being friendly is
recommended while travelling because it is very easy to get help from the locals in case of
any issue.