Common Rwanda Safari Scams You Should Not Fall for this Year
Would you like to know some of the common scams that travelers fall in? Here are some of the common ones you should not fall for while on your Rwanda safari this year: Like other business sectors or fields, the tourism and travel sector has had cases related to scam leaving a negative picture in the sector. Although these cases are minor, but there is need to exercise caution because some elements could be targeting innocent visitors. When booking or while on Rwanda safaris, typical scams can be encountered while in Kigali, Kibuye, etc. Here are some of the common Rwanda safari scams you should not fall for in 2023.
Picture scam
The most famous scam you are likely to encounter is the picture scam. This is when a local asks for you to take their pictures, the camera is handed to you. Once you return the camera, they intentionally drop it and throw blame on you to have broken it then demand for payment. Never accept to take anyone’s picture to be on a safer side.
Overcharging by taxis
Often visitors want to connect to their destinations faster before it is late and opt for taxis, especially in situations where there is no uber or other alternatives. Once you have boarded a taxi, please feel free to ask them to turn on the meter and as well, ensure that you keep mapping your journey before you take a taxi. This can give you prior idea of how long your journey is likely to take.
Friendly ATM helpers
Often, there are cases where a person approaches you at the ATM cash machine disguising to offer help, please avoid such elements as much as possible. They do so with intentions to scan your debit/credit card with their card skimmer in their pocket and keep watching you enter the pin number and by the time you are done, they could have drained your account. Alternatively, they can approach you especially when your card has issues and they will seem to assist you solve the issue. While at the ATM, ensure that your card number is well covered. Or better still, you can have credit card or enough cash to exchange to local currency to avoid frequenting to the ATM.
Friendly bar friends
For those of you who may have plans to hook up in Kigali or Kibuye or any big town in Rwanda, you should also be aware of this scam. You can be approached by 2 friendly girls/guys who will start conversing and make you believe as if you have mutual interest. They will suggest to you to go for a drink and invite you to the bar, then after you will end up paying for about 5 to 10 times or more for small shots. If you want to be on a safer side, you should be the one to suggest the bar or ask the bar attendant for menu & you can be in position to see the rates yourself.
Guessing game scam
This kind of scam is also common in big cities in Rwanda and the rest of the world where you may find a man with 3 boxes and with a group of people surrounding him. They will be guessing in which box the ball is found and one of them can guess it right then money is handed to him as a prize. They do it multiple times so that more of their members join with similar reaction. More and more people can gather and as a result, they can be pick pocketing.
Bird poop scam
Often there is a group that intentionally throws a bit of white paste on someone’s shoulders as a way to divert your attention and you think perhaps it was bird poop. From nowhere, a friendly person can come to provide assistance of cleaning you up and as they seem to help you, their hands will be already inside your pocket. Only accept such help if it is an emergency.
