Rwanda

Trek through a spectacular landscape of volcanic mountains, mist-shrouded forests and bamboo thickets that provide safe haven for majestic wildlife

Join expert local guides and trackers in search of rare mountain gorillas, golden monkeys and chimpanzees, giving you the once-in-a-lifetime chance to observe these gentle giants in their natural habitat

Search for lions and abundant birdlife in Akagera National Park, Rwanda's only protected savannah

Spend a day at beautiful freshwater Lake Kivu, one of African’s Great Lakes

Reflect upon Rwanda’s tragic past at the moving Genocide Memorial and support sustainable tourism with local handicrafts, cultural performances and organised village visits

There are four discernible climatic periods – long rains from mid March to mid May; a long dry period from mid May to mid October; short rains from mid October to mid December; and the short dry from mid December to mid March.

The average daytime temperature is 30°C in Kigali and 12-15°C in the highlands.

The climate is not uniform throughout the country so use the above as a general guide. It is drier in the east than in the west and north.

Sometimes the volcanoes can even be capped in snow

Kigali and Volcanoes National Park can become quite chilly.

The areas around Lake Kivu are generally sunny and pleasant all year round.

Rwanda can be visited any time of the year even during the rainy seasons as the scenery then is greener and the skies are clearer. Although it can be raining quite heavily in the mountains in these periods, it is no problem to travel then.

The main dry season is the best time to trek the gorillas in Volcanoes National Park.

PLEASE NOTE: we suggest you pack a waterproof jacket with a hood at all times of the year.

Rwanda is +2 hours ahead of UTC/GMT

Kinyarwanda, French, English, Swahili (all official)

Rwandan Franc

US dollars cash are by far the easiest foreign currency to exchange in Rwanda. It can either be changed to RWF or used directly (but often at a lower rate). We recommend you only take USD notes from 2006 or newer; older or torn notes are not accepted. We suggest bringing some smaller denomination notes as well as 20’s, 50’s and 100’s.

Credit cards are of very little use. Some big hotels in Kigali will accept them but be prepared for high merchant fees. Visa and Mastercard only are accepted. Diners and Amex are NOT accepted anywhere in Rwanda.

Do not rely on ATM machines as there are only a few in the whole of Kigali that are internationally connected and even then they cannot be guaranteed to work.

+250

Electricity in Rwanda is 230 Volts, at 50 hertz. The most common pin type is C. (2 round prong).

Electricity in Rwanda is 230 Volts, at 50 hertz. The most common pin type is C. (2 round prong).

Your safety is our number one concern. Our safety track record is exemplary thanks to careful management and thorough consultation with local partners. Our industry leading risk management procedures have become a skill that we continue to refine. Our leaders in the field are highly trained and have safety as their number one priority. Expert leaders, risk assessments, quality inclusions and your financial security all come standard when you travel with us.

Please refer to our Travel Advisory page for updates on recent events, travel warnings and advice.

We strongly recommend that all clients take out travel insurance at the time of booking to cover against sickness, accident, loss of baggage, unexpected alterations to travel arrangements and travel disruption, emergency evacuation, cancellations, etc. Insurance information is enclosed with your pre-departure information. Please contact us if you would like to obtain a quote for your trip duration.

We suggest that you consult your doctor, local government inoculation centre or a travel medical specialist in order to get the most current advice regarding vaccination requirements.

Money and valuables should always be stored safely when travelling. Keep your passport with you at all times and do not leave it in your main luggage. You will need it to change money and check into hotels. Where safety deposit boxes are available, we recommend that you use them. Keep jewellery and valuables to a minimum.