Document checklist for Rwanda

• Visa (if applicable)
• A 6-month valid passport from the date of entry with two blank pages
• Sufficient funds to cover your trip
• Return or onward ticket

Essential Rwanda travel information

Currency – Rwandan franc (FRw). $1 is equivalent to approximately FRw 1088.

Daily budget for 1 person – FRw 23,931 ($22)

Languages – The official language of Rwanda is Kinyarwanda. The other three official languages are Swahili, English, and French.

Socket type – Types C and J, 230V supply voltage and 50Hz.

Time zone – Central Africa Time (GMT+2).

Top 3 cities to visit – Kigali, Huye, and Kibuye.

Top 3 landmarks/monuments – Volcanoes National Park, Kigali Genocide Memorial Sites, and Nyungwe National Park.

Visa information for Rwanda

To enter Rwanda, the majority of nations require an eVisa for Rwanda. However, visas may also be obtained, depending on your trip plans and objectives.

Typical costs and budget for Rwanda

Daily spending – 4,600 ($44) per person.

Meals – FRw 5,608 ($5.21)

Transport – The daily cost of local transportation might reach FRw 4,142 ($3.85).

Hotel – For a pair, a hotel in Rwanda costs about FRw 29,400 ($27).

The approximate cost of a weeklong journey for two individuals to Rwanda is FRw 338,389 ($314).

Transport and best ways to travel around Rwanda

Due to the massive road network connecting Rwanda’s major towns and cities, driving is the most practical mode of transportation. Unpaved, more minor roadways are frequently inundated during wet seasons.

Most tourists use a pre-arranged driver that a tour company has set up for them. It is a practical and safe means of transportation because they are accustomed to the surroundings and can find their way around.

In bigger cities, cabs are accessible. However, the least secure mode of transportation is the famous motorbike taxi. There are no railways; instead, shared minibusses are the primary mode of transportation. Buses in Kigali utilize the Tap&Go smart card system.

Safety in Rwanda

Most of Rwanda is a secure location to travel. Given Rwanda’s lengthy history of bloodshed and its unstable neighbors, it is reasonable that some people are apprehensive about traveling there. However, there haven’t been any significant political upheavals since the awful slaughter in 1994.

As a result, many more visitors are coming to Rwanda, which has improved its economic standing in Africa.

Nevertheless, crime still exists. Simple safety measures may make you less likely to be pointed out as a visitor; LGBTQ bigotry is another matter to be mindful of.

Be cautious when walking through crowded spaces like marketplaces, bustling streets, and bus stops.

Keep your valuables hidden from view.

Avoid going on a nighttime solo walk.

Never accept food or beverages of any kind from strangers.

Weather in Rwanda

The dry season in Rwanda, which lasts from June to September, offers the most incredible opportunity of spotting the country’s absolute national treasure, the mountain gorilla. The best time to search for chimpanzees is during the wet months of March through May and November.

Must do and see in Rwanda

Visit the Volcanoes National Park gorillas. The highly endangered mountain gorillas in Rwanda’s national park also have habitats in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The Kigali Genocide Memorial is a must-visit location for travelers to learn about the horrifying activities of the 1994 genocide and get insight into the nation’s history, culture, and future.

The King’s Palace Museum is a true-to-life recreation of a 15th-century king’s palace, complete with a thatched roof, royal hut, and milk cottage customarily managed by an unmarried woman. It belongs to the eight national museums of Rwanda.

Typical Rwandan food to try

Ugali – A paste is created when maize and water are combined to make a porridge. In addition to Rwanda, eastern Africa as a whole enjoys this meal.

Ibihaza is a straightforward and traditional dish that is packed with nutrients. For example, beans and pumpkin are combined and then cooked together.

Isombe is a typical Rwandan stew cooked with mashed cassava leaves and additional ingredients, including spice, peanut butter, tomatoes, onions, and garlic. It gets its meaty taste from the stock made from simmered cow bones.

Vaccine information for Rwanda

You need a yellow fever vaccine if you’re traveling from a nation with widespread disease. Please exercise caution due to the presence of malaria.