Rwanda Travel Tips - Apogee safaris

RWANDA TRAVELLER’STIPS

Capital: Kigali. Dialing Code. +250 Currency. Rwanda Francs (Amafalanga]

Electricity.. 230 volts AC, 50Hz. European-style plugs with two round pins are most commonly used.

Passports…A passport valid for six months from the date of entry is required by all nationals East Africans can use national Identity cards.You’ll need one blank page on your passport for entry stamps.

Visas.. You need a visa to enter Rwanda. 90 day tourist visas are available on arrival The Rwandan Directorate General of Emigration and Immigration publishes a list of visa types and costs. You can also choose to get a visa in advance at any Rwandan diplomatic mission or online. Further information about visa requirements is available from the Rwandan High CommissionVisas for Rwanda are required by all nationals for Nationals of Australia, Germany, Sweden, the UK and the USA can purchase a visa on arrival. All other nationals must obtain a visa in advance. Travelers who are also visiting Kenya and Uganda may find it more useful to apply for an East Africa cross-border joint visa which allows entry into all three countries on a single visa. Also to note, a single-entry visa on arrival is also available to nationals who do not have a Rwandan embassy or consulate in their country. If this applies to you, visit www.migration.gov.rw to request a visa online.

Vaccination certificate.. All travelers require a yellow fever vaccination certificate.Check whether you need a yellow fever certificate by visiting the National Travel Health Network and Centre’s TravelHealthPro website.

Crime… Levels of crime remain relatively low in Rwanda. However you should take sensible precautions. Take care when walking at night. Pre-arrange transport. Lock car doors when driving, don’t leave valuables in cars when parked and don’t leave cars unsupervised in the town centre. Don’t carry large amounts of money or other valuables. Some off-limits military zones in Kigali may not be well-lit or signposted. You should take extra care when walking around less populated zones, particularly at night time.

Air travel.. Before using internal or regional flights that are not with major international carriers, you should check the airline’s accreditation and see whether the airline operates in line with the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) safety standards.

Health and Safety… Levels of health and safety in Rwanda are lower but well managed. Fire safety standards are also variable, with incidences of fire in residential and public places a continuing risk.

Political Violence.. Since the 1994 genocide, political violence in Rwanda has been rare. The terrorist group Al-Shabbab operates in the region, but has not targeted western interests in Rwanda. There are no known domestic organized crime groups in Rwanda.

Money..The country’s currency is Rwanda Franc. However, Euro, US dollars, pounds and other internationally recognized currencies are accepted in all major towns.Rwanda 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 and 5.

Credit cards and ATM: Accepted at only a few hotels in Kigali. MasterCard and Visa are the preferred cards. International Visa cards are accepted at Ecobank head office in Kigali and at Kigali airport. They can also be used at Access Bank head office in Kigali. However, these ATMs are affected by power cuts. It is best to travel with US dollars, some banks won’t accept sterling.

Religion: Roman Catholic 57%, Protestant 26%, Adventist 11%, Islam 5%, indigenous beliefs 0.1%, none 2%.

Corruption.. Unlike other African countries, Rwanda does not tolerate corruption and you are unlikely to encounter it. You will cause offence if you offer a bribe. Begging is strongly discouraged by the government and you are advised not to give money or plastic bottles to children who ask.

Environment protection.. You will also not see litter anywhere in the country and dropping litter is frowned upon. Once a month there is a national clean-up day dedicated to the maintenance of shared areas. Eating and smoking in the street is also considered rude.

Language in Rwanda..The official languages are Kinyarwanda, French and English. Kiswahili is used for trade and commerce.

Food and drink: Food is generally safe to eat if well-cooked and hot. If in doubt, veer towards larger restaurants in cities and those aimed at tourists, which will have undergone government safety checks. Avoid buying food from the side of the road and don’t drink tap water. Use bottled water or otherwise boil or sterilize. Milk is unpasteurized and should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised. Avoid dairy products that are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.

Tipping: There is no clear principle on tipping in Rwanda, but most staff in the bigger hotels have come to expect it, as have guides and trackers. A general rule is to tip 10% in restaurants if you feel inclined and give $5 – $10 to guides, trackers and porters.

Note: Please for further information visit the country’s website.

…..You’re Welcome…..