information
Time Zone
Official Languages
Currency
Population
Central Africa Time
(GMT/UTC + 2 hours)
Kinyarwanda
French
English
Rwandan Franc
(Rwf)
13
Million
GENERAL INFORMATION
RWANDA is a country situated in Central Africa, bordered to the North by Uganda, to the East by Tanzania, to the South by Burundi and to the West by the Democratic Republic of Congo. Rwanda’s total area is 26,338 KM* with a population density estimated to be 445 people per km’. Also known as ‘The Land of a Thousand Hills’, Rwanda has five volcanoes, 23 lakes and numerous rivers, some forming the source of the River Nile.
SECURITY
Rwanda is one of the safest countries in the world, ranked 1st in Africa and 5th globally by the World Economic Forum (WEF).
HEALTH
Travelers should ensure they are up to date with vaccinations, following the travel advice of their government/foreign affairs or
their local healthcare provider, and should consider bringing a small first aid kit.
It is advisable not to drink tap water. Bottled mineral water can be bought in all towns – make sure the seal is intact.
As a small country, medical help is rarely far away. For basic treatment most towns of any size have pharmacies with a limited
range of medicines, while larger towns have hospitals. King Faisal Hospital in Kigali is the most advanced in Rwanda.
In case of medical evacuation, Akagera Aviation operates a helicopter ambulance service within Rwanda in daylight hours, with
one military paramedic on call. Please make sure you have adequate medical insurance.
TRAVEL
AIRLINES
All international flights arrive at Kigali International Airport, just 10km from Kigali city center.
Airlines servicing Kigali International Airport are: RwandAir, Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, KLM, Qatar Airways,
Egypt air and Turkish Airlines. Helicopter transfers within Rwanda are available through Akagera Aviation.
Non-stop flight from Kigali to Europe
• RwandAir: year-round direct flights to Brussels (BRU), London Heathrow (LHR) and Paris (CDG).
• Brussels Airlines: year-round to Brussels (BRU)
• KLM: year-round to Amsterdam (AMS)
Non-stop flights from Kigali to the Middle East / Western Asia
• RwandAir: year-round to Doha (DOH) and Dubai (DXB).
• Turkish Airlines (Star Alliance): seasonal flights to Istanbul (IST)
IMMIGRATION & VISAS
Citizens of all countries are allowed to get visa upon arrival without prior application.
Citizens of country members to the African Union, Commonwealth and La Francophonie can get free visas upon arrival in Rwanda
for a visit of 30 days.
A citizen of East African Community Member States can receive a pass/entry visa free of charge upon arrival for a six-month stay
in Rwanda.
Visitors from the following countries can be granted 90-day visas at no cost upon arrival in Rwanda: Angola, Benin, Central
African Republic, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, The Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis, Ghana, Guinea, Indonesia, Haiti, Mauritius,
Philippines, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Sao Tome and Principe, Singapore and the State of Qatar.
Citizens of countries that are not visa exempt have an option of applying online or at the Rwanda Diplomatic Mission of the
country of residence before departure. Those applying online have the option to pay online or upon arrival. There is no single
affiliated agent that is authorized to apply for a visa on your behalf.
The visa fees must not exceed 50 USD for single entry visa or 70 USD for multiple entry.
More information: https://www.migration.gov.rw/visa.
GETTING AROUND KIGALI
Taxi Apps
Kigali has two taxi and ride-hailing apps: Move and Yego Cabs. Both works are available on Android devices and iPhones.
Move is exclusively available to drivers of Volkswagen cars. For Yego cabs, you can also call 9191, a toll-free number, to order your ride.
Public Transport
Buses are the most common form of public transport in Kigali. Busses are modern, comfortable, and run on set schedules and routes. Destinations and routes are marked by the colours of the buses and a screen at the front. Bus stations in Kigali are known as ‘taxi parks,’ and you’ll usually find one in every neighbourhood. You can also catch a bus at a bus stop.
Tap&Go Cards
To board a bus, you’ll need a “Tap & Go” card. These cards are available in every taxi park and most bus stops. You can top the cards in the following ways:
• Visit vendors at the taxi parks and bus stops
• Using MTN Mobile Money by dialing *182*2*5#
• Downloading the Tap&Go app on your phone
TRAVELLING OUTSIDE KIGALI
Traveling from Kigali to different districts usually takes 2-3 hours. However, traveling to the Western provinces can take up to 7-9
hours.
NYABUGOGO Taxi Park is the central bus station in Kigali for traveling outside the city.
If you visit a National Park or other tourist destinations, your tour company will usually provide transport.
Rwanda also shares a land border with Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. All of these can be
visited by road.
Regional busses to neighboring countries also leave from Nyabugogo Taxi Park.
Journey times vary greatly, depending on your final destination.
Akagera Aviation provides helicopter transfers and tours.
REGULATIONS IN RWANDA
Plastic Ban
Please refrain from bringing plastic bags to Rwanda. Banned by law since 2008, any plastic bags in your luggage will be
confiscated at the airport or other point of entry.
As a country we strive to protect, safeguard and promote the environment – a matter which is written in to our constitution and
carefully observed by our citizens, who all participate in a community service called Umuganda on the last Saturday of every
month. We respectfully request that all visitors help us keep Rwanda the cleanest country in Africa, and dispose of all litter responsibly.
Drones
A permit is required to fly a drone recreationally or commercially in Rwanda.
Permits are issued by the Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority, with an average processing time of 2 to 4 weeks (RPAS Activity Permit)
or 2 months (RPAS Operator Certificate).
Foreign citizens are unable to register drones themselves – a Rwandan citizen, permanent resident or body / entity may register a
drone on behalf of a foreign citizen.
Drones must be marked with a registration number assigned by the RCAA(Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority).
Basic rules:
• Do not fly your drone over people or large crowds
• Respect others privacy when flying your drone
• Do not fly your drone over airports or in areas where aircraft are operating
• You must fly during daylight hours and only fly in good weather conditions
• Do not fly your drone in sensitive areas including government or military facilities. Use of drones or camera drones in these
areas are prohibited
For more information, please consult the RCAA website or email inquiries to d.fss@caa.gov.rw.
ACCOMMODATION
More information available soon.
CONNECTIVITY & WIFI
Rwanda has an excellent mobile phone network covering almost the entire country, and international calls can be made easily.
Local SIM cards are readily available everywhere, even in remote towns.
The main provider is MTN, followed by Tigo. Mobile phones can be purchased or rented from major shops in Kigali.
Rwanda is among the top three African countries in terms of internet connectivity, with an ever-growing fibre optic network.
There is high speed 4G LTE wireless broadband in major cities.
Most towns have several internet cafes and wifi is available in higher end hotels.
