Rwanda travel resources
Mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, Nyungwe's forest, Akagera's savannah and Kigali.
Quick facts
- Currency
- Rwandan franc (RWF)
- Language
- Kinyarwanda, English, French, Swahili
- Best time to visit
- Jun–Aug, Jan–Feb (outside the main rainy seasons) Compare countries by month
- Emergency
- 112 police and ambulance · 111 fire Emergency numbers by country
- Plug types
- C, E, G Plug types by country
- Drives on
- Right Driving side by country
- Government travel advice
- UK Canada How to read it
General guidance; seasons vary by region. Plug types from Wikipedia's mains electricity by country table; currency and driving side from Wikidata; emergency numbers checked against UK government travel advice in . Check the latest advice for entry rules and safety before you book.
Before you go
- The Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration says citizens of all countries can get a visa on arrival, and African Union, Commonwealth and La Francophonie citizens have the fee waived for 30 days. Anyone not visa-exempt can also apply online through Irembo.
- Visit Rwanda says plastic bags are banned by law and any in your luggage will be confiscated at the airport or other point of entry.
- TravelHealthPro lists a high risk of malaria in Rwanda and recommends antimalarials.
Top destinations in Rwanda
Travel resources
Travel tips
- Book gorilla permits through the Rwanda Development Board’s booking portal or a tour operator, and enter your passport details exactly. Visit Rwanda says trekkers must be at least 15, and the portal says visitors with erroneous applications are denied entry even if they paid.
- Check GOV.UK’s advice for the Rusizi District and the DRC border region before a trek near the border. GOV.UK says short-notice border closures can affect plans, so discuss your itinerary with your tour operator.
- Keep the last Saturday morning of each month free. GOV.UK says it is Umuganda, a national day of community service, when most normal services close from 7am to 11am.
- Leave vapes and e-cigarettes at home. GOV.UK says it is illegal to bring them in, even for personal use, and they will be confiscated and you could be fined.
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