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Visiting Rwanda
If it is your first time to visit the African continent, it may not be best to start with Rwanda. Rwanda is a beautiful jewel of a country and will set your expectations so high for all of the other African countries that you will be sorely disappointed!
In my few days visiting Rwanda I was shocked to find no evidence of the horrible genocide that had ripped the country apart mere decades earlier. The cities are immaculately clean due to regularly scheduled cleaning days, the roads are beautifully paved with no potholes, and the people are polite, lovely, and friendly. It also felt very safe, and was definitely one of the safest countries I have visited in Africa.
The country is very green and lush and boasts some of the best coffee in the world. It is also well-known for its gorilla trekking, although it is quite expensive to see the gorillas. A permit alone costs $1500 per person!
Entering & Exiting The Country
Visas
A visa for American citizens costs $60. Make sure you bring exact change if you are paying on entry, otherwise you should be able to obtain an e-visa. In some cases you can get an East African visa. This allows you to visit Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya and only pay once for an entry visa.
Yellow Fever Certificate & Malaria
Be aware that you will also need a yellow fever certificate to enter and exit the country. It is also advisable to take malaria medication.
No Plastic Allowed!
Authorities will also go through your luggage and confiscate any plastic bags you might have brought with you. Rwanda is one of the few countries in the world that has completely outlawed plastic bags and they are very strict about bringing them into the country. If you make an honest mistake and put your shoes in a plastic bag you won’t be penalized but they will confiscate the bag.
Drone Regulations
If you are interested in bringing a drone into the country look carefully into the paperwork you need. If you do not have the most updated paperwork and your drone does not adhere to regulations it will be confiscated at the airport or border crossing. When you exit the country they should return it to you.
Where To Go
Kigali
Kigali is the capital and a very nice, small city. Although it is the hub of Rwanda and probably the point that you will enter at, there isn’t much going on and it feels very safe. Definitely check out the Genocide Memorial Center while you are there.
Lake Kivu
Another beautiful place you should check out is Lake Kivu in Gisenyi. There are small hotels that you can stay at along the lakeshore with beautiful views over the water. There are also many restaurants with great fish and traditional Rwandan food along the lakeshore.
The water is very safe to swim in if you are staying in the Gisenyi area. Be aware that there is methane in the water due to the lake’s connection with the Rift Valley and volcanic activity in the area. Gisenyi is a great place to stay if you are considering crossing the border into the Democratic Republic of the Congo to visit Mount Nyiragongo.
What To Wear
Because Rwanda is at a high elevation (4,800ft/1,463m) the temperatures can fluctuate. The days tend to be very nice and pleasantly warm while the nights can get pretty chilly. Bring layers and a light raincoat for the rainy season.
Rwanda is also a conservative culture, so please make sure you cover your legs and shoulders – this is for men and women! Check this out for some ideas on dressing appropriately in Rwanda.
Getting Around
Like many other African countries, the public transport vehicle of choice is the matatu. If you are willing to try it out it can be a cheap mode of transport.
I would recommend hiring a driver or renting a car yourself if you want to explore at your own pace. Rwandan roads are great for driving and quite safe.
Other Things Of Note
Many people speak English, but Swahili and French are also widely spoken.
If you are looking for souvenirs, coffee should be number one on your list! I always bring back coffee when I visit and swear it is truly the best coffee in the world. Pottery can also be quite beautiful and unique here.
Be respectful and know that you will get stares if you are not African. People are simply curious but often will only stare and maybe whisper about you and then move on.
Rwanda is not a cheap African country. Make sure you budget accordingly. If you are very frugal you might spend ~$30/day but budget for twice that and be prepared to haggle when you can.
Have you been to Rwanda? What did you do while you were there?
What an informative post! I love how Rwanda has outlawed plastic products like plastic bags, that’s incredible! I wish more countries would follow in their footsteps! Your photography is beautiful as well. xo
Aww thank you so much! It really is incredible how vigilant they are with getting rid of plastic bags there. Other countries are following in their footsteps. Kenya recently banned plastic bags, too!
Beautiful! This is never a country that I’ve considered before, but your pictures and facts make it a bigger contender! I hope it get to see it in person some day.
I really hope you are able to visit one day! I would definitely put Rwanda at the top of my list for recommended places to visit in Africa for a first-timer. It really breaks you in to the continent gently!
I have heard of how clean Rwanda is and I definitely want to come see it for myself. Thanks for the beautiful pictures!
It is even more beautiful because of how clean it is, especially in contrast to the neighboring countries. Africa is such a beautiful continent but definitely has a pollution and garbage problem in many places. I hope you are able to visit one day!
Rrrwwwaaanndddaaaaaaa….one country I long to visit!
It is such an amazing place! I hope you do visit one day so you can see it for yourself!
Rwanda looks beautiful!! I hope I get to visit one day.
It is so much more beautiful in person. Photos really can’t capture the color, beauty, and culture. I hope you get to experience it yourself one day!
The tea fields and matoke make me want to visit Rwanda so much! You captured the natural beauty so well in these pics. It is truly stunning.
Thank you so much! The matoke is very tasty and the country is so much more beautiful in person. I hope you are able to visit one day, too!
I’ve been thinking of visiting Africa for our next trip abroad but haven’t narrowed down the location yet. Thanks for these details!
Rwanda is a great place to start if you’ve never been to Africa before. It is very safe, relative to other countries, but you still get a lot of African flavor. Let me know if you need any advice for visiting the continent – I’m happy to help!
Your photos look amazing!!!! Totally adding Rwanda to my list!!! 😀
Thank you so much! I’m glad I inspired you to visit – it won’t disappoint!
My son spent a summer in Rwanda a couple of years ago. He said many of the same things you did. He absolutely loved it. He loved the people there. Your pictures are beautiful. I would love to visit one day.
I’m so glad your son enjoyed his trip there and I hope you get to visit one day! It really is an incredible place.
You have kindled the fire in me. Rwanda is definitely on my list now. Thanks for sharing. Hope someday you will be able to visit Nigeria too.
Are you from Nigeria? My fiancé has done some work there so maybe I will make it there one day, too!
I love all the information and tips you give for visiting. Not many posts will tell you all of these things! RWANDA DOES LOOK BEAUTIFUL! I can’t wait to add this to my bucket list!
Thank you so much! I’m glad you found it helpful and hope you are able to visit one day, too!
I’d never considered Rwanda to be a bucket list destination for myself, but after seeing these photos and learning from your visit -it’s a must-see! Beautiful place and your post is so informatiVe!
Thank you so much! I’m glad you learned something new and hope that you are able to visit this incredible country yourself one day!
WOW – Those photos!! I want to go!
I didn’t even have my Nikon when I took these photos so you can only image what it looks like in real life – it’s incredible!
Rwanda looks so beautiful and sounds like a great place to visit. This post is so informative too!
It is stunningly beautiful – I wish the photos could really do it justice!
I appreciate the advice for those of us who have never traveled to Africa. it’s on my travel bucket list for sure! Thanks for the helpful info!
You are very welcome! Africa can be an intimidating place to visit at times but Rwanda is great for a first-timer!
I haven’y made it to Rwanda yet but I will bookmark this post for when i do – such a great informative wrtie up! thanks for sharing 🙂
Amazing! I’m glad that I could be of help! I’m sure you will really enjoy your visit to Rwanda. The people are so lovely, and the lands are absolutely stunning.
Thanks for sharing your travel experience! I would love to visit Rwanda someday!
You are most welcome! Rwanda is a beautiful place and I hope you are able to visit!
It looks beautiful. I know someone who recently went and is still raving about their trip!
I honestly think that if I would have moved to Rwanda before I moved to Kenya I would have never wanted to live in any other African country!
Hello Karis, have you been in Rwanda once? Cuz I’m a Rwandan citizen and it would be a testimony of how lucky we are. ?
Yes, I have been to Rwanda! Thank you! 🙂