Rwanda: Travelling

Transportation From Airport to City Centre:

Airport	Distance	Taxi	Bus	Train	Car Rental
Kigali - Kanombe (KGL)	10 km/6 miles	Taxi RWF 10,000-15,000 – 20 minutes -	No official bus lines operate from the airport, but hotels operate courtesy shuttle services	Not available	Available

Major airlines

You Can Consult The EU Air Safety List. Look Also at the rating of the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Different Forms of Tourism

Historical

Memorials can be found throughout the country, in memory of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi ethnic group (an estimated 1 million people were killed by the Interahamwe army in a span of 100 days). The most important is the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where 250,000 victims have been buried. Other memorials are those of Nyanza, Ntarama, Nyamata and Murambi.
In Rukari, the King's Palace Museum is a reconstruction of the traditional royal residence, with shows of local dances and explanations about the architectural structures of the ancient buildings.

Cultural

East of Cyangugu is Butare, the intellectual capital of the country. It boasts an interesting museum, craft shops and a botanical garden. North of Butare is Gitarama, which has a good art museum; nearby is the cathedral town of Kabgayi; and in Mushubati, the grottoes of Bihongor.
The Rwanda Art Museum in Kigali displays contemporary artworks from Rwanda as well as abroad. In the capital there is also the Museum of the Environment, which also works as an educational centre for environment-related issues. The Ethnographic Museum in Butare has one of Africa’s finest ethnographic collections.

Nature

Rwanda is a mountainous land in the heart of Africa known as the "Land of a Thousand Hills", split by the Rift Valley, and dominated by a mountain range that crosses the country from north to south. The three principal areas of interest are the Virunga Volcanoes, the Kagera National Park and the region around Lake Kivu.
- Kagera National Park: Kibungu, in the east of the country, is in the centre of a region of lakes and waterfalls, including Lake Mungesera and the Rusumo Falls. It is also close to the southern tip of the Kagera National Park, which covers over 2,500 km² (1,000 sq miles) of savannah to the west of the Kagera River (the frontier with Tanzania). The park has a variety of wildlife and is a habitat for over 500 species of birds. There are accommodation facilities on the edge of the park at Gabiro, 100km (60 miles) to the north. Reservations should be made in advance. In the rainy seasons (December, March and April) many of the routes become impassable.
West of Kagera is the Parc des Volcans, one of the last sanctuaries of the Gorilla mountain. The ORTPN bureau in Kigali can organise guided tours of the park for small parties; it is advisable to book a long time in advance. This region is composed of volcanic mountains, of which two, across the frontier in the Democratic Republic of Congo, are still active.
Kivu Lake : Gisenye is the main centre for excursions in the Parc des Volcans. Plane trips can be made from here to view the craters. Located in the north of Kivu Lake, it also offers many opportunities for water sports or for excursions on the lake. Kibuye, further south, is another lakeside resort. Near Cyangugu, on the southern shores of the lake, are the spectacular grottoes of Kaboza and Nyenji, and the thermal waters in Nyakabuye. Nearby, the Rugege Forest is the home for many rare species of wildlife.

Religious

Kibeho, in the south of the country, is known for the Virgin Mary apparitions and has become a well-known religious site in East Africa.
Other religious landmarks are Butare's Catholic Cathedral, the Cathedral of St. Michael in Kigali and the Byumba Cathedral.

Thermal

Rwanda can offer several hot springs, including the ones in Bugarama, Gisenyi, Kinigi and Nyamyumba.

Beach

The shores of Lake Kivu conceal some of the best inland beaches on the continent.

Winter Sports

The climate of Rwanda is not suitable for winter sports.

Outdoor Activities

Trekking is one of the major outdoor activities and can be carried on in most of the country’s national parks. In the Congo Nile Trail, which runs the full length of Lake Kivu for 141 miles, is possible to hike, bike and kayak for the entire trail. Mount Karisimbi, a volcano that is also the highest summit of Rwanda, can be climbed during a two-days excursion. Near Kivu Lake, Gisenyi offers many opportunities for water sports.

Shopping

Weaving and basket making is a traditional art in Rwanda: the typical dry containers are also known as peace pots and are used both for storing food and medicines and for commemorating weddings or other special occasions. Pottery – made with the traditional Batwa techniques – are of high quality and are among the most typical products of Rwanda. The Caplaki craft-cooperative in Kigali is among the best places to go shopping for souvenirs, offering wooden carvings (another peculiar form of art of the area), paintings, batik, bags, etc.

Tourism Organisations

Visit Rwanda

Health and Safety

Health Precautions

There are no specific vaccination requirements to enter Rwanda (except for vaccine against yellow fever which is required if travelling from a country with risk of yellow fever or a country with an active yellow fever outbreak). Nevertheless, WHO and foreign ministries of various countries recommend the following vaccines before entering the country: Hepatitis A, Malaria, Typhoid, Hepatitis B and Rabies.

For Further Information on Sanitary Conditions

CDC - Health Information for Travelers to Rwanda

For Further Information on Safety Conditions

U.S. Department of State - Rwanda Travel Information
Government of Canada - Rwanda Travel Advice
OSAC - Rwanda Crime and Safety Report

Time Difference and Climate

Time and Time Difference

It is %T:%M %A In Kigali (GMT+2)

Summer Time Period

There are no daylight saving time clock changes in Rwanda.