Rwanda
Table of Contents: Culture and History / Regions / Cities / Other destinations / Travel to Rwanda, visa requirements Flights to Rwanda, airtickets By car Buses to Rwanda / Get around / Talk / Shopping, Rwanda souvenirs / Good restaurants and cheap meals / Hotels, youth hostels, lodging / Rwanda nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs. / Learn / Work / Stay safe / Stay healthy / Respect / Contact More from Central Africa: Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Zambia More from Africa: Central Africa, East Africa, North Africa, Saharan Africa, Seychelles, Southern Africa, West Africa |
Rwanda [1] is a relatively stable Central African country, and although not easy to get to, it is relatively easy, safe and simple to travel around. It is landlocked, surrounded by Uganda to the north, Tanzania to the east, Burundi to the south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west.
Culture and History
It's been 12 years since the genocide that devastated this tiny country, and it's come a long way. Shake off your memories of war and expect a warm and friendly welcome to a beautiful country.
Regions
Cities
Other destinations
Travel to Rwanda, visa requirements
A passport is required to enter Rwanda and a certificate of vaccination for yellow fever is required to return back to the country of origin. A 90 day visa is issued on arrival free of charge for nationals of the US, UK, Canada, Congo (Dem Rep), Germany, Kenya, Mauritius, South Africa, Sweden, Tanzania, and Uganda. Citizens of other countries must contact the nearest Rwandan embassy or consulate for more information.
Flights to Rwanda, airtickets
There are direct international flights into Kigali from Brussels (once per week), Nairobi, Johannesburg, Entebbe Addis Ababa and Bujumbura.
By car
Buses to Rwanda
- Uganda has direct buses running from Kampala in Uganda to Kigali. The bus costs 15,000 or 20,000 /= (roughly US$7.50-10) depending on the time you chose to travel, early morning being cheaper.
- Tanzania has one open border with Rwanda, but this is a far more difficult way to enter Rwanda due to the remoteness and lack of roads in western Tanzania. A bus runs from Mwanza to Benako (both Tanzania) and from Benako buses run onto Kigali. Another town to consider on this route is Ngara (Tanzania).
- Burundi there are two ways to enter from Rwanda, and security in the border areas varies. For the intrepid there is a daily direct service from Kigali to Bujumbura operated by Yahoo Car, and since 2007, a new "luxury" service operated by Belvedere Lines.
- Democratic Republic of the Congo remains off limits to many tourists due to instability, though Goma and Bukavu can be visited easily from Rwanda.
Get around
Short distances can be travelled either on foot, or by velo-taxi (bicycle taxi). Velo-taxis are widespead, and are relatively inexpensive. A velo-taxi driver will cycle, and the passenger will sit rather precariously on the back.
Motorcycle taxis are also popular, especially in Kigali.
Slightly longer distances (indeed the whole country) can be travelled by Matatu. These white minibuses are found throughout East Africa, and are crammed full of adults, children, and anything else you can think of (bags, chickens)
Talk
Kinyarwanda is the chief spoken language in Rwanda. It is also spoken in the east of D.R. Congo and in the south of Uganda (Bufumbira-area). Kinyarwanda is a tonal language of the Bantu language family (Guthrie D61). Kinyarwanda is closely related to Kirundi spoken in the neighboring country, Burundi and to Giha of western Tanzania.
English and French are also official languages, and many residents (particularly in urban areas) will speak one or the other in addition to Kinyarwanda.
Due to the mass movement of people over the past fifty years (a result of the country's war torn history) you will likely encounter several people who speak a handful of other languages spoken in the East African region (Kiswahili, Lingala, Luganda...).
Shopping, Rwanda souvenirs
Good restaurants and cheap meals
The local "Brochettes" are delicious.
Hotels, youth hostels, lodging
Accommodation is usually fairly basic and a little more expensive than neighboring Uganda and Tanzania.
A few nice hotels can be found in Kigali - including the famous "Hotel des Milles Collines" as featured in the movie Hotel Rwanda.
Rwanda nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs.
Learn
Work
Stay safe
Tourists are usually welcomed warmly in Rwanda, and the country is largely considered safe for visitors. The possible exceptions are certain places along the Congolese and Burundian borders. Rwandan troops rumoured to be involved in the civil war that still plagues the north-east of Democratic Republic of the Congo, mainly due to the presence of Interhamwe who fled after the 1994 genocide. Whilst Gisenyi and Kibuye are considered safe, the border situation can change at any time - check Foreign Office information for further advice.
While the gorilla trekking is near to the DRC border it is generally considered safe.
While travelling in matutus (taxis) in the countryside, don't be surprised if the matutu drives through several Police/Military check-points. This is done to check IDs, so it would be wise to bring your passport with you everywhere you go in Rwanda.
Stay healthy
The following is an excerpt from the U.S. State Department's Consular Information Sheet on Rwanda, last updated on 1-12-2006:
Medical and dental facilities are limited, and some medicines are in short supply or unavailable. Travelers should bring their own supplies of prescription drugs and preventive medicines. In Kigali, Americans may go to King Faycal Hospital, a private facility that offers limited services. There is also a missionary dental clinic in Kigali staffed by an American dentist. An American-operated missionary hospital with some surgical facilities is in Kibagora, in southwestern Rwanda. Another hospital with American physicians is located in Ruhengeri, near the gorilla trekking area, and a Chinese hospital is located in southeastern Rwanda in Kibungo. The U.S. Embassy maintains a current list of healthcare providers and facilities in Rwanda. This list is included in the Consular Section’s welcome packets for American citizens. There are periodic outbreaks of meningitis in Rwanda. Yellow fever can cause serious medical problems, but the vaccine, required for entry, is very effective in preventing the disease.
Respect
Women show respect to their husbands.
It is also impolite to make eye contact with an elder.
Please understand that Rwanda is still recovering from a civil war and genocide in which over 800,000 people, perhaps a million, were killed. Many Rwandese lost relatives and friends. Remember to be sensitive to this sad fact when dealing with Rwandese. Most people today are trying to forget the tribal divisions and would rather be referred to as Rwandese than Hutu or Tutsi.
Contact
More from Central Africa: Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Zambia More from Africa: Central Africa, East Africa, North Africa, Saharan Africa, Seychelles, Southern Africa, West Africa |
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