Welcome to Rwanda : About Rwanda

Rwanda, officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of East Africa, where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge. Located a few degrees south of the Equator, Rwanda is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is highly elevated, giving it the sobriquet "land of a thousand hills" (French: pays des mille collines), with its geography dominated by mountains in the west and savanna to the southeast, with numerous lakes throughout the country. The climate is temperate to subtropical, with two rainy seasons and two dry seasons each year. It is the most densely populated mainland African country; among countries larger than 10,000 km2, it is the fifth-most densely populated country in the world. Its capital and largest city is Kigali.
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Rwanda Facts: Traveling - Getting Here

Airlines servicing Kigali International Airport are: RwandAir, Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, KLM, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines.
Helicopter transfers within Rwanda are available through Akagera Aviation. RwandAir

Rwanda Facts: Getting Around

Rwanda has a well-surfaced road network linking the major towns, and the most convenient way to travel the country is by car. Smaller roads are frequently unsurfaced with varying conditions, especially during rainy season. Tour operators can arrange a vehicle with driver, or a number of agencies rent out cars and 4x4s. Taxis operate in the larger towns. Travel insurance may not cover motorbike taxis, which are also common. There are no rail services and the most popular form of public transport is shared minibuses. In Kigali, buses operate a smart card system called Tap&Go. Akagera Aviation provides helicopter transfers and tours.

Rwanda Facts: Connectivity

Rwanda has an excellent mobile phone network covering almost the entire country, and international calls can be made easily. Local SIM cards are readily available everywhere, even in remote towns. The main provider is MTN (coverage map), followed by Airtel. Mobile phones can be purchased or rented from major shops in Kigali. Rwanda is among the top three African countries in terms of internet connectivity, with an ever-growing fibre optic network. There is high speed 4G LTE wireless broadband in major cities. Most towns have several internet cafes and wifi is available in higher end hotels.

Rwanda Facts: Immigration & Visas

Citizens of all countries are allowed to get visa upon arrival without prior application. Citizens of country members to the African Union, Commonwealth and La Francophonie can get free visas upon arrival in Rwanda for a visit of 30 days. A citizen of East African Community Member States can receive a pass/entry visa free of charge upon arrival for a six-month stay in Rwanda. Visitors from the following countries can be granted 90-day visas at no cost upon arrival in Rwanda: Angola, Benin, Central African Republic, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, The Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis, Ghana, Guinea, Indonesia, Haiti, Mauritius, Philippines, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Sao Tome and Principe, Singapore and the State of Qatar. Citizens of countries that are not visa exempt have an option of applying online or at the Rwanda Diplomatic Mission of the country of residence before departure. Those applying online have the option to pay online or upon arrival. There is no single affiliated agent that is authorised to apply for a visa on your behalf. The visa fees must not exceed 50 USD for single entry visa or 70 USD for multiple entry.

Rwanda Facts: Embassies & Consulates

There are 29 diplomatic missions with residence in Rwanda. A total of 30 regional and international organisations have representation in Rwanda and 9 countries are represented by Honorary Consuls. Additionally, there are 39 non-resident diplomatic missions accredited to Rwanda. The latest lists of diplomatic missions can be found on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
List of Diplomatic Missions with residence in Kigali
List of Consular Missions in Kigali
List of Non-Resident Diplomatic Missions accredited to Rwanda

Rwanda Facts: Money

The Rwandan franc (Rwf) is the principal currency, although US dollars are widely accepted. Expect to pay for local services in cash, in Rwandan francs. The greater the amount, the more likely US dollars or other hard currencies are preferred, such as gorilla tracking and upmarket hotels. A growing number of places accept credit and debit cards, with Visa being more widely accepted than Mastercard. It’s best to check when making a booking. ATMs can be found in Kigali and nearly all major cities. Cash can be exchanged at banks and private forex bureaux (bureau de change). Both are closed on Sundays and public holidays. It may be impossible to exchange traveller’s cheques away from the capital. Western Union facilities are common. Tipping is discretionary and appreciated. Cash is usually preferred. As a rough guide, tip professional guides and drivers US $10 per day, trekking porters US $2.

Rwanda Facts: Plastic Ban

Please refrain from bringing plastic bags to Rwanda. Banned by law since 2008, any plastic bags in your luggage will be confiscated at the airport or other point of entry. As a country we strive to protect, safeguard and promote the environment – a matter which is written in to our constitution and carefully observed by our citizens, who all participate in a community service called Umuganda on the last Saturday of every month. We respectfully request that all visitors help us keep Rwanda the cleanest country in Africa, and dispose of all litter responsibly.

Rwanda Facts: Drones

A permit is required to fly a drone recreationally or commercially in Rwanda. Permits are issued by the Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority, with an average processing time of 2 to 4 weeks (RPAS Activity Permit) or 2 months (RPAS Operator Certificate). Foreign citizens are unable to register drones themselves – a Rwandan citizen, permanent resident or body / entity may register a drone on behalf of a foreign citizen. Drones must be marked with a registration number assigned by the RCAA.
Basic rules:
Do not fly your drone over people or large crowds
Respect others privacy when flying your drone
Do not fly your drone over airports or in areas where aircraft are operating
You must fly during daylight hours and only fly in good weather conditions
Do not fly your drone in sensitive areas including government or military facilities. Use of drones or camera drones in these areas are prohibited
For more information, please consult the RCAA website or email enquiries to [email protected].
You may be interested to read up on the partnership between Rwanda and the World Economic Forum (WEF) to nurture the drone industry in Rwanda, building on the success of Zipline’s blood delivery technology, which hails from Silicon Valley. The partnership is managed by WEF’s Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. As Rwanda looks to the future, we will continue to put in place the infrastructure and policy frameworks that accelerate the adoption of emerging technologies to transform people’s lives.

Rwanda Facts: Health

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 recommended. Travellers should seek professional medical advice on taking anti-malarial medicines and take precautions to avoid mosquito bites, especially between dawn and dusk. Travellers should ensure they are up to date with vaccinations, following the advice of their local healthcare provider, and should consider bringing a small first aid kit. It is advisable not to drink tap water. Bottled mineral water can be bought in all towns – make sure the seal is intact. As a small country, medical help is rarely far away. For basic treatment most towns of any size have pharmacies with a limited range of medicines, while larger towns have hospitals. King Faisal Hospital in Kigali is the most advanced in Rwanda. In case of medical evacuation, Akagera Aviation operates a helicopter ambulance service within Rwanda in daylight hours, with one military paramedic on call. Please make sure you have adequate medical insurance. Due to the risks of passing on human colds or other illnesses to primates, it is essential that you are in good health if you want to see them.

Rwanda Facts: What to Wear

Dress codes are informal yet respectful. Men tend to wear trousers but shorts are fine, although walking around without a shirt is frowned upon. Women will feel more comfortable in knee-length or longer. Daytime temperatures are generally warm, so bring lots of light clothing and think about sun protection, including a hat and sunglasses. The evenings tend to be cool, and a light sweater appreciated. In Volcanoes National Park and Nyungwe National Park slightly heavier clothing is useful. A lightweight waterproof jacket may come in handy in the moist mountains. Avoid wearing blue in Akagera National Park, which attracts tse tse flies, and take sensible precautions against mosquitos and other bites. When tracking gorillas, wear sturdier clothing to protect against stinging nettles, and solid walking shoes. Consider bringing gardening or leather gloves as well as gaiters. For those who wear contact lenses, cleaning fluid is not readily available and dust or sun could prove an irritation, so it’s best to bring a pair of glasses along for peace of mind.

Rwanda Facts: Weather

Fractionally south of the Equator and with much of the country lying at altitude, Rwanda enjoys an agreeable tropical highland climate. Temperatures vary considerably between locations, but vary little from month to month. Peak temperatures rarely exceed 30°C (86°F) in the daytime or drop below 15°C (59°F) at night. Akagera is generally the warmest and the Virunga mountains the coolest. The average daily temperature in Kigali is 21°C (70°F). There are two rainy seasons in a year, from mid-February to May and mid-September to mid-December. The dry season, from June to mid-September, sees light cloud cover and occasional light rainfall. The roads and paths tend to be easier to navigate in this period.

Rwanda Facts: Terrain

Known as the land of a thousand hills, Rwanda has five volcanoes, 23 lakes and numerous rivers. The country covers 10,169 square miles or 26,338 square kilometres. Much of the country lies at elevations between 1,500m and 2,500m. The highest peak is Mount Karisimbi at 4,507m and the lowest point is the Rusizi river at 950m above sea level. The terrain is often uneven and sensible shoes are essential.