RWANDA TRAVEL INFORMATION

Kigali, a relatively new city and the largest positioned in the center of Rwanda, it was founded as an administrative out post in 1907 and became the capital city at independence in 1962 shifting focus form Huye, Kigali extends across several hills and valleys with a good road links to the rest of the country. It’s remarked by visitors as one of the cleanest city which is a matter of pride across every community throughout Rwanda. Kigali is developing rapidly with new shopping malls, office buildings and a world class convention center built in the style of the Kings Palace of olden days which lights up the night sky. A tour in Rwanda is not complete without a visit to the genocide memorial which honors the memory of more than one million Rwandans killed in 1994, there is lots to see and do in this city with a growing number of options to dine out and have a few drinks, many panoramic views, the Kigali cultural village offers a dedicated space for local artisans and food vendors to exhibit and their good

Since the atrocities of the Rwanda genocide, the government of Rwanda sought to recognize one main ethnicity Rwanda, rather than belonging to the Hutu, Tutsi or Twa, It’s rude to ask for someone’s tribe in Rwanda, they all speak the same local language of Kinyarwanda (from the Bantu family) and share the same cultural heritage, Swahili and French are also commonly spoken

By Air

Kigali International Airport is the main access point to Rwanda, you can get there by a number of International airlines, including Royal Dash Airlines (KLM), SN Brussels, Emirates, and Qatar Airways. Turkish Airlines, South African Airways, Rwanda Air,Kenya Airways, Air Tanzania, Rwanda Air and Ethiopian Airways- To link the different airline flight schedule links

By Land

Rwanda can be reached by land boarders from Uganda to the North through the Cyanika Border post with only 3hours from Kigali and Gatuna boarder with only 1.5 hours from Kigali

Land borders from Tanzania to the east and Burundi to the south and Democratic republic of Congo to the west

The best way to travel and see the beautiful landscapes of Rwanda is by road and light aircraft flights, enjoy our affordable small to large Helicopter options from transfers to sightseeing- 2 seater Robinson, 6 seater Agusta to 19 seater military type choppers operated by Akagera Aviation

All visitors to Rwanda require a valid passport for at least 6 months from date of entry, You’ll need one blank page on your passport for entry stamps.

Nationals from the East African Community, Democratic Republic of Congo, Canada, South Africa, United States of America, Germany, Mauritius, Great Britain, Sweden, and Hong Kong may visit Rwanda without a visa for a period of up to 90 days.
If there is no Rwandan Embassy or Mission in your vicinity, an entry facility can be requested online on http://www.migration.gov.rw
The rest of the countries not listed above pay $50 for a single visa valid for 3 months, if travelling to more than one East African country you can get an East African Visa which allows you to move between Kenya/Uganda/Rwanda on one Visa. Please get in touch with us for more information for all your travel information
Citizens of all countries are allowed to get visa upon arrival in Rwanda without prior application.

The national currency is the Rwandan franc, which is divided into 100 centimes. Exchanging US dollars or Euros into Rwandan francs on arrival is fairly easy. Most of the larger hotels in Kigali will accept payment by international credit card. Banks should be open Monday to Friday from 07:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 18:00, and Saturday from 08:00 to 13:00. In larger towns, most banks should have international ATMs.

The official language is Kinyarwanda (from the Bantu family) many Rwandese can speak English, Swahili and French

A valid yellow fever and Covid vaccination certificate are mandatory, Anti-Malarial and mosquito repellent are essential, it’s also advised to drink bottled water and not tap water, we recommend you consult your doctor before travel Rwanda is a polythene-free country. For environmental reasons, plastic bags have been banned, the customary plastic duty-free bags included.

Rwanda has been named as the sixth safest country in the world and safest country in Africa for solo travelers. For Many people Rwanda is still associated with the brutal genocide in 1994 but the country has become wildly recognized as one of the safest in Africa for some time, Rwanda has invested much effort in its national security by building a competent and professional security organ but it is recommended that visitors still take sensible precautions. Take care when walking at night, especially when walking around less populated zones and at night.

We recommend a couple of light comfortable, casual wash and wear clothes for the day, the temperatures drop at night in the north and south of the country( Volcanoes National Park and Nyungwe National Park so we recommend you carry a Jacket or sweater/fleece, if you intend to hike Mountain Gorillas you will need to pack strong hiking boots, socks long enough to tuck in your trousers, Long sleeved shirts to protect from stinging nettles, water proof jackets, don’t forget your hat and sunglasses- don’t forget your camera and binoculars, please visit our pre- arrival information on the agents corner for a packing list

Driving is on the right side. We don’t recommend self-drive tours, Visitors without experience of African roads are advised to stick to the drivers & vehicles organized by our company.

How much to tip in Rwanda depends entirely on your level of satisfaction of course, but even a small tip to show your gratitude will be highly appreciated, You might consider USD10- 15 per day, Add Link to view our tipping guidelines—this will lead to the agents corner To include Tipping for Gorilla and Chimp tracking guides recommended is15 per guest, Gorilla tracking porters is $20,

Rwandan food is all about local produce and most of the population lives off subsistence farming, meaning their meals mostly consist of starchy crops but Tourist oriented hotels and restaurants serve good western style meals, with a wider range of cuisine available in the capital and some larger towns. Local restaurants serve Rwandan dishes like Sweet potatoes, beans, cassava, the potato is very popular, try the Rwandan Fries known as Ibiraya,

Rwanda’s standard voltage is 220V voltages power with a 2 pointer plug charger system, if the standard voltage in your country is different you will need voltage converter to be able to use hair dryers or electric razors, we suggest travelling with an adaptor, consult us before your travel to advise you more.

Generally soft sided luggage is required, travelling light is best with duffle bags and a small backpack should do – Prefer to our pre- arrival information for full details