Travel Information

Getting There:
All International flights arriving in Kigali are with SN Brussels, Kenya Airways Ethiopian Airlines, Air Burundi and Rwandair Express.
All international flights arrive at Kigali International Airport,10 Km from central Kigali
There are two flights a day from Nairobi, two per week direct from Brussels and two per week from Johannesburg
For information on connections from Nairobi, Entebbe and Johannesburg please contact us on karibu(at) kariburwanda.com.

Passport and Visas:
A valid passport is mandatory.

The visa information on the link above overrides any previous displayed information regarding Rwanda Visas.

To apply online for a Rwanda visa or East African Tourist Visa only if arriving to Rwanda first, please use the link below.

https://www.migration.gov.rw/index.php?id=203

Money:

The unit of currency is the Rwanda franc. The US dollar is the hard currency of preference. It may be impossible to exchange travellers' cheques away from the capital. Credit cards are usually only accepted at the major hotels in Kigali.

Language:
In addition to the indigenous language of Kinyarwanda, French and English are official languages. French is widely spoken throughout the country. In the capital and other tourist centres, many people speak English.

Public Holidays:
Good Friday and Easter Monday, which fall on variable dates, are recognised in Rwanda. Other public holidays are :
1 January (New Year's Day);
1 February (National Heroes Day);
7 April (Genocide Memorial Day);
1 May (Labour Day);
4 July (National Liberation Day);
15 August (Assumption Day);
1 October (Patriotism Day);
25 December (Christmas Day), and
26 December(Boxing Day).

When to Visit:
Rwanda can be visited throughout the year. Gorilla trekking and other forest walks are less demanding during the drier months. The European winter is the best time for birds, as Palaearctic migrants supplement resident species.

What to Wear:
Dress codes are informal. Daytime temperatures are generally warm, so bring lots of light clothing, supplemented by light sweaters for the cool evenings and heavier clothing for the Parc des Volcans and Nyungwe. When tracking gorillas, wear sturdier clothing to protect against stinging nettles, and solid walking shoes. A hat and sunglasses provide protection against the sun, and a waterproof jacket may come in handy in the moist mountains.

What to Bring:
Binoculars will greatly enhance game drives and forest walks, as will a good field guide to East African birds. Bring a camera and an adequate stock of film. Print film is available but transparency film is not. Toiletries and other essentials can be bought in the cities.

Communications:
Rwanda has an excellent cell phone network covering almost the entire country.
International phone calls can be made easily. Appropriate SIM cards for the network are readily available everywhere, even in remote towns, and cell phones can be purchased or rented from major shops in Kigali. Most towns of any size will have several Internet cafes and computer centres.

Getting Around:
Rwanda has possibly the best roads in East Africa. Most visitors who have booked through a tour company will be provided with good private vehicles, usually 4-wheel drive. All of the major centres are connected with local and luxury bus services. Air charter services are available anywhere in the country. You may hire a self drive or with driver 4x4 vehicle at very good prices by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Hiking and Biking:
The fine road network, with little traffic, offers wonderful opportunities for long bicycle trips across the verdant hills and valleys. Mountain biking and hiking can be enjoyed on the thousands of kilometres of fine rural trails linking remote villages, criss-crossing the entire country.

Gorilla Permits:
Gorilla Permits can be arranged by through www.kariburwanda.com email us karibu-at- kariburwanda.com and other travel consultants, or can be purchased directly through the Office Rwandaise du Tourisme et des Parcs Nationaux (ORTPN) / The Rwanda Office of Tourism and National Parks, at the headquarters in Kigali, or at their office in Musanze. Effective June 1st, 2012 gorilla permits cost US$750 each.

Health & Safety:
A certificate of yellow-fever vaccination is required. Much of Rwanda lies at too high an elevation for malaria to be a major concern, but the disease is present and prophylactic drugs are strongly recommended. It is advisable not to drink tap water. Bottled mineral water can be bought in all towns. Hospitals are located in all major towns

Seasons And Climate
A combination of tropical location and high altitude ensures that most of Rwanda has a temperate year-round climate. Temperatures rarely stray above 30 degrees Celsius by day or below 15 degrees Celsius at night throughout the year. The exceptions are the chilly upper slopes of the Virunga Mountains, and the hot low-lying Tanzania border area protected in Akagera National Park. Throughout the country, seasonal variations in temperature are relatively insignificant. Most parts of the country receive in excess of 1,000mm of precipitation annually, with the driest months being July to September and the wettest February to May.

Visa And Consular Information:

Information regarding visas can be obtained from the Rwandese
Embassy or Consulate nearest you. Telephone and Fax numbers are
listed below:

Rwanda'S Diplomatic Missions

Country: BELGIUM
City: BRUSSELS
Address: 1, Avenue de Fleurs, 1150 BRUXELLES
Phone: 032 02 763 07038
Fax: 032 02 763 07053

Country: BURUNDI
City: BUJUMBURA
Address: 24, Avenue de la Republique Democratique du Congo
Phone: 00257 22 6865
Fax: 00257 22 3255
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Country: CANADA
City: OTTAWA
Address: 121 Sherwood Drive, OTTAWA, Ontario Kiy 3ÚI
Phone: 001 613 722 7921001 613 722 7921
Fax: 001 613 722 4052

Country: CHINA
City: BEIJING
Address: Hsieu Shaouei Bei Yie, BEIJING
Phone: 0086 10 653218200086 10 65321820
Fax: 0086 10 65322006
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Country: ETHIOPIA
City: ADDIS ABABA
Address: Africa Avenue H 17k20N°.001, BP 5618, ADDIS ABABA
Phone: 00251 161 0300/ 61 0357/ 61 0387
Fax: 00251 161 0411

Country: GERMANY
City: BONN
Address: Beethovenalle-72, 53173 BONN
Phone: 0049 228 367038
Fax: 0049 228 351922
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Country: INDIA
City: NEW DELHI
Address: B. 112 Neet Bash, New Delhi-110016
Phone: 972 369 13419972 369 13419/ 972 369 112319
Fax: 972 365 68085

Country: KENYA
City: NAIROBI
Address: P.0 BOX 30.619 Kilimani, Kayahwe Road
Phone: 0025 425 75977
Fax: 002 542 575976

Country: SOUTH AFRICA
City: PRETORIA
Address: 35 Marais Street, Brooklyn, PRETORIA
Phone: 027 12 46 0709027 12 46 0709
Fax: 027 12 46 0708
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Country: TANZANIA
City: DAR ES SALAAM
Address: 32, Ali Hassan Mwinyi Road, P. O. Box 2918, DAR-ES-SALAAM
Phone: 255 511 15889255 511 15889
Fax: 255 511 15888

Country: UGANDA
City: KAMPALA
Address: Nakaima Road n°2, P.O. BOX 2468 KAMPALA
Phone: 256 413 43662256 413 43662
Fax: 256 412 44405
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Country: UNITED KINGDOM
City: LONDON
Address: 58-59 Trafalgar Square, LONDON WC2N5DX
Phone: 0044 171 930 2570
Fax: 0044 171 930 2572
Mobile: 0044 410 79 8036
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
URL: Foreign & Commonwealth Office: Travel Advisory to Rwanda

Country: UNITED STATES
City: WASHINGTON, D.C.
Address: 1724 New Hampshire Avenue N.W., WASHINGTON D.C. 20009
Phone: 001 202 232 2882001 202 232 2882
Fax: 001 202 232 4544
URL: U.S Dept of State: Rwanda Country Information

Country: UNITED NATIONS
City: NEW YORK
Address: 124 East, 39th Street, Third Floor, NEW YORK, N.Y. 10016
Phone: 001 212 679 9010001 212 679 9010
Fax: 001 212 679 9133

Country: UNITED NATIONS
City: GENEVA
Address: Rue de la Serviette 93 CH-1202, GENEVE
Phone: 0041 22 91 910000041 22 91 91000
Fax: 0041 22 91 91001

Source:Rwandatourism website