Capital City: Kigali

Population: 13 Million

Government: Republic

Currency: Rwandan Franc (RFr) – (USD, English Pounds, and Euro also used.)

Time – Central Africa Time (GMT/UTC + 2 hours)

Weather and Climate

Rwanda enjoys an agreeable tropical highland climate; 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 are the coolest. The average daily temperature in Kigali is 21°C (70°F). There are two rainy seasons a year, from mid-February to May and mid-September to mid-December. From June to mid-September, the dry season sees light cloud cover and occasional light rainfall.

 Language

The official languages in Rwanda are Kinyarwanda, English and French. The most prolifically spoken language is Kinyarwanda. Travellers will find that most business and tourism industries have a good working knowledge of the English language.

 Security

Rwanda is generally safe but takes common-sense precautions about safety and security. Keep an eye on your belongings. Don’t walk in the towns or cities at night – take a taxi instead.

 Getting Here

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

Luggage 

Due to limited space available for storage in safari vehicles, we strongly recommend using soft duffle bags. Some air charters limit baggage to a 10 – 15 kg maximum.

Insurance 

Take out travel insurance to cover loss of baggage or valuables, personal accidents and medical expenses.

 Tipping 

Tipping is not obligatory but a tip for exceptional services.

Electricity 

The country uses electricity at 230V and 50Hz and has European-style electric outlets.

Cuisine

Local and international cuisine is served in the lodge, camps and hotels.

Citizens of all countries can get visas upon arrival without prior application. The visa fees must be at most 50 USD for a single entry visa or 70 USD for multiple entries. Check current requirements https://www.visitrwanda.com/facts/immigration-visas/

Health

Covid-19 testing is no longer a requirement before boarding a flight to Rwanda. However, regular Covid-19 testing is encouraged. In addition, the Passenger Locator Form is no longer a requirement before departure. Please visit the Rwanda Biomedical Centre’s website for more information about Rwanda’s response and daily updates on COVID-19.

Gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, volcano climbing and birding watching need proper timing if you are among the seasoned African safari-goers. However, seasons may not define your travel time to Rwanda, depending on your interests and desires. Hence one’s best time could be the worst for the other traveller.

Rwanda experiences two seasons that is the dry and the rainy season. Therefore, the best time to visit Rwanda should be the dry season, when there is less rain, which makes hiking and trekking relatively easier.

The dry season starts from June to September and from December to February. These dry months are typically characterised by hot weather but with alternating downpours in the afternoon or vening.

The long rainy season in Rwanda begins in March to May and then between October to November with short rains. The good thing about the rainy season is that it’s regarded as a low season and visitors are always few, giving you a chance to enjoy yourself without crowds.