Africa
Highlights - Essential Info - Itineraries - History
Visa Requirements - Holders of UK passports do not require a visa for entry into Rwanda, although you should have a full passport with at least six months validity from the date of your return to the UK.
Non-British passport holders should check their visa requirements with their local Embassy or High Commission. Please also be aware that you need to have at least two blank pages in your passport.
Health - A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is required for entry into Rwanda (which you will also have to produce if you continue on to other East African or Indian Ocean countries). Although no other vaccinations are officially required for entry into Rwanda, the following are recommended: Tetanus, Typhoid, Polio, Meningitis and Hepatitis A. You should consult your local travel clinic or doctor for the latest information regarding immunizations.
Malaria exists in most parts of Rwanda and it is therefore essential that you seek medical advice with regard to its treatment. Bilharzia, a parasite carried by freshwater snails, can be found in some lakes and streams throughout Africa. Although the shores of Lake Kivu are currently said to be safe, it is worth double checking before your travels.
We strongly recommend that you contact your doctor or the MASTA (Medical Advisory Service for Travellers Abroad) Travellers Health Line on 0870 606 2782 for all professional medical advice.
Time - From the first Sunday in September to the first Sunday in April: 2 hours ahead of GMT. From the first Sunday in April to the first Sunday in September: 1 hour ahead of GMT (i.e. the same as B.S.T. - British Summer Time)
Money - The currency of Rwanda is known as the Rwanda Franc (Rfr). Credit Cards are accepted in very few places in Rwanda although there are plans to introduce Visa countrywide. US Dollars are by far the most widely recognised foreign currency, and, except in Kigali, US Dollars cash are the only foreign currency easily exchangeable outside of banks. It is theoretically possible to draw money against a credit card at the Bank of Kigali and Visa is accepted in some of the larger hotels. Although there are ATMs around Kigali they generally only accept cards issued by a local bank. All Rwandan banks have branches in Kigali and there’s usually at least one bank in each of the other main towns. There are also several foreign exchange bureaus (known locally as forex bureaux) in Kigali, and these generally offer better exchange rates against cash than the banks do (but they don’t accept travellers’ cheques).
Travellers’ cheques (best if they are in US Dollars) are theoretically cashable in all Kigali banks, but don’t rely on this. Please note that you might be requested to show the receipt that was issued at the time when the travellers’ cheques were purchased.
Flights
|
Airline |
Route |
Frequency |
Via |
|
Kenya Airways |
Heathrow/Kigali |
Daily |
Nairobi |
|
|
|
|
|
Climate - a rough guide
Rwanda can be visited all year round, although the long dry season, June to September, is the best time for tracking gorillas in the Volcanoes Park and chimps at Nyungwe Forest as the ground should be dry and you are unlikely to be soaked by rain. During this time travelling on Rwanda’s dirt roads is also much easier and the risk of Malaria is at its lowest.
Rwanda has two annual rainy seasons, the big rains lasting from mid February to the beginning of June and the small rains from mid September to mid December. Rainfall tends to be heavy, in particularly over the mountains and from March to May.
The dry seasons are from June to September and a shorter one from December to February. Having said that, please note that the climate is not the same all over the country and it tends to be drier in the east than in the west and north. Occasionally the volcanos in the north are snow-capped and the capital Kigali may have cooler temperatures in the evenings. Lake Kivu, however, tends to have warm weather all year round. It is still feasible to travel during the rainy season and the advantage is of course that the scenery is greener and the sky less hazy which is perfect if taking photographs.
The chimps at Nyungwe are easier to spot during the rains as they tend to wander further off in search of food during the dry season and birding is at its best from November to March. Please note also that in recent years the traditional seasons in Rwanda, as elsewhere in the world, have become less predictable than before.
|
Rubona |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
|
Temp (F) |
77/ 57 |
77/ 55 |
77/ 57 |
77/ 57 |
75/ 57 |
75/ 55 |
78/ 53 |
80/ 57 |
78/ |
78/ |
78/ |
78/ |
|
Rain (in) |
4.3 |
6.4 |
5.5 |
7.2 |
6.4 |
0.9 |
0.2 |
1.0 |
2.4 |
4.0 |
4.3 |
3.6 |
Temp (Fahrenheit) = Average Maximum Temperatures (day/night)
Rain (inches) =Average Monthly Rainfall
