Rwanda Travel Info

Electricity
In Rwanda the power plugs and sockets are of type C and J. The standard voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.
In Rwanda the standard voltage is 230 V and the frequency is 50 Hz. You can use your electric appliances in Rwanda, if the standard voltage in your country is in between 220 - 240 V (as is in the UK, Europe, Australia and most of Asia and Africa). Manufacturers take these small deviations into account. If the standard voltage in your country is in the range of 100 V - 127 V (as is in the US, Canada and most South American countries), you need a voltage converter in Rwanda. You can also consider a combined power plug adapter/voltage converter.

Time Zone
Rwanda GMT + 2 (1 hour ahead of continental Europe)

Currency
One Rwandan Franc (RWF) = 100 centimes. Notes are in denominations of RWF 5,000, 2,000, 1,000 and 500. Coins are in denominations of RWF100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1. US dollars are also widely accepted.

Credit cards
A growing number of places accept credit and debit card, especially in Kigali. Visa is more widely accepted than Mastercard.

Mobile Phones
Local SIM cards are widely available from street vendors and shops (even in remote towns), and basic handsets can also be picked up cheaply in Kigali. The main mobile network provider in Rwanda is MTN, and network coverage is reliable in most of the country.

Bugs
With Rwanda being located in Africa you may encounter all manner of local wildlife (insects, reptiles, small mammals, rodents, cockroaches). Lights attract bugs so don’t leave your lights on when you leave your room.
Mosquitoes are best dealt with by using mosquito repellent, long baggy clothing in the evenings and sleeping under a mosquito net. Regarding medication in malarial areas please follow the advice of your local health practitioner and the World Health Organisation.

Security
Please ensure that your passport, air tickets, and money are securely stored in your room safe. Do not leave jewellery, mobile phones, cameras or any other valuables in your room or in public areas.

Tipping
There is no clear principle on tipping in Rwanda, and, for the most part, tipping is not expected. If you do want to tip, a good rule of thumb is to add 10% to the bill in restaurants, and tip $5 to your guide, tracker and porter after one-day treks, more for multi-day trips.

Safety on Safari
The basic rules of safari are:
Don’t feed animals you don’t own.
If you don’t know ask.
Always listen to your guide.
Do not go walkabout without a guide.
Wild animals are called that because they are wild and unpredictable.

Road Safety
Rwanda has worked hard to improve the condition of its road network over the last two decades. However, while you are likely to find paved surfaces in major towns and cities, in very rural areas roads are often dirt tracks, some only passable with 4-wheel drive vehicles. Additionally, landslides often close major roads during annual rainfall in spring and autumn.

Health
These are merely guidelines please follow the advice of your local health practitioner and the World Health Organisation.
There are hospitals spread throughout Rwanda's capital, Kigali, but fewer in rural parts of the country. In the event of a serious accident or illness evacuation by air ambulance to Kenya or South Africa may be required. Medical insurance, including cover for emergency repatriation, is essential. Visitors are advised to bring their own personal medication. In emergency, dial 912 for an ambulance.
Malaria and water-borne diseases are prevalent throughout the country. Water is unsafe and should be boiled beforehand – or simply stick with bottled water.
Mosquitoes, malarial and otherwise, are best dealt with by using mosquito repellent, long baggy clothing in the evenings and sleeping under a mosquito net.
Schistosomiasis (also known as bilharzia), a parasite that lives in fresh water and enters the body through intact skin, is present in the country. If you swim in Lake Kivu, or any of the country's other lakes, and develop symptoms (fever, rash, diarrhoea) then seek medical advice. The parasite can lead to significant health issues if left untreated.

Compulsory Vaccinations
A Yellow Fever certificate is required if arriving within 6 days after leaving or transiting countries with infected areas. Exempt: Children under 1 year, those not leaving the airport whilst in transit and those entering Rwanda not having left an airport during transit in affected countries.

Recommended Vaccinations
Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Rabies, Hepatitis B, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Poliomyelitis.

COVID-19
You do not need to present proof that you have been fully vaccinated to enter Rwanda. However incoming travellers eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations (aged 12 years and above) are encouraged to be fully vaccinated before their travel.

Visas (all subject to change without notice)
All travellers need a valid passport (usually valid for 6 months after your trip), with sufficient pages for entry and exit stamps (usually at least two).
Citizens of all countries must obtain a visa in advance from the Rwandan Embassy, High Commission or Consulate in the country where you reside.

From March 2020, citizens of the following countries can get a visa on arrival free of charge for a stay up to 30 days: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Australia, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Belgium, Botswana, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Cambodia, Comoros, Congo, Cyprus, Dominica, Djibouti, Egypt, Eswatini, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, France, Gabon, Grenada, Greece, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, India, Kiribati, Jamaica, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritania, Maldives, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Saharawi, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Switzerland, Togo, Tunisia, The Bahamas, The Gambia, Tonga, Tuvalu, Trinidad and Tobago, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, United Kingdom, Vietnam, Vanuatu, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Citizens from the following countries can get a visa on arrival free of charge for a stay up to 90 days: Angola, Benin, Central African Republic, Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Guinea, Indonesia, Haiti, Mauritius, Philippines, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Sao Tome and Principe, Singapore, St Christopher and Nevis, and Qatar
Citizens of East African Community Member States (Burundi, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and South Sudan) can get a visa on arrival free of charge for a stay up to six months

Language
The official languages of Rwanda are Kinyarwanda, English and French. Kiswahili is used for business.

Religion
The majority of the population follow Christianity, although traditional beliefs and Islam are also represented.

Culture and Customs
Rwanda, with its rich cultural and natural heritage, offers a kaleidoscopic range of experiences. A vastly cultivated land, traditional life is based on agriculture and cattle. Rwandans tend to settle as families in fertile areas, each family surrounded by their own fields.
Handshaking is the usual form of greeting and is usually given with eye contact and a smile. Greetings are not rushed and are accompanied by lengthy enquiries regarding your family, health and wealth.
Music and dance are a significant part of their traditions. Performances vary from expressions of bravery and excellence, to amusing dance styles and lyrics, to artistry based on time-honoured agricultural roots.
Most visitors to the country travel there to experience the gorillas, as half the world’s mountain gorillas can be found on slopes of the Virunga Mountains.
As many people in Rwanda follow their traditional way of life, visitors should be sensitive to customs which will inevitably be unfamiliar to them. Bear in mind that outside urban areas and safari destinations, people may well not be used to visitors. Plastic bags are prohibited due to environmental reasons.

Photography
Do not photograph government institutions / buildings without checking with your guide. When photographing people ask permission; in some tourist areas it is customary to pay to take photographs.

When to travel 
Rwanda is a great destination throughout the year, depending on what your interests are. The drier months from May to October are best for gorilla tracking and forest walks. November to March is an ideal time for bird watching as Palaearctic migrants supplement local species. The long rainy season from February to June is perfect for photography as the scenery is clear and lush. Chimpanzee tracking is also easier at this time as the chimps are not searching for food in remote corners of the forest.