Before You Book

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO- RWANDA

CAPITAL

Kigali

LANGUAGE

Kinyarwanda, French, English, Swahili

RELIGION

93.8% Christianity, 3.0% No religion, 2.2% Islam, 1.0% Others

LOCAL TIME

UTC+2 (Central Africa Time)

ELECTRICITY

There are two associated plug types, types C and J. Plug type C is the plug which has two round pins and plug type J is the plug which has three round pins. Rwanda operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz.

PASSPORT & VISA

A valid passport is required by all nationals. All Passengers are responsible for securing proper documentation prior to joining the tour. Please ensure that passport/s are valid for a minimum of 6 months beyond the intended date of return and contain between 2-6 blank “Visa” pages. You should have at least two free pages in your passport. Please access the Travel & Visa Requirements Section on the top of this page for the latest visa entry requirements for the country/ies you are visiting. Passports are required; in addition, travelers are also advised to check with local consulates for full details regarding visa requirements. Please note securing a valid visa for entry is the sole responsibility of the traveler.

Social conventions:

Rwanda has a tough stance on corruption, making it one of the least corrupt countries in Africa. There is a dedicated phone number (tel: 2641) for members of the public to report acts of corruption. Begging is strongly discouraged by the government, and you are advised not to give money to children who ask. During the last Saturday of every month, Rwandan citizens engage in Umuganda, essentially community work that could include litter picking, tree planting, building houses for the vulnerable, and more. Visitors are warmly encouraged to participate in Umuganda.

Avoid talking about ethnicity or referencing the genocide, as this remains a very sensitive subject. Pointing with one finger is considered rude. When pointing, use all five fingers. Eating and smoking in the street is also considered rude.

LOCAL CURRENCY

The local currency is the Rwandan Franc (RWF). One Rwandan Franc (RWF) = 100 centimes. Notes are in denominations of RWF 5,000, 2,000, 1,000 and 500. Coins are in denominations of RWF100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1. US dollars are also widely accepted.

Credit cards:

A growing number of places accept credit and debit card, especially in Kigali. Visa is more widely accepted than Mastercard.

ATM:

ATMs can be found throughout Kigali and in nearly all major cities.

Banking hours:

Generally, Mon-Sat 0800-1700.

Currency Restrictions:

The import and export of local currency is limited to RWF5000. The import of foreign currency is unlimited but must be declared upon arrival. The export of foreign currency is up to the amount imported and declared.

CLOTHING

Lightweights are required for most of the year with warmer clothes for cooler upland evenings. However, a waterproof jacket is advised, especially if visiting Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks. Long-sleeve clothing will help protect against mosquito bite (and therefore malaria) as well as sunburn.

COMMUNICATION & EMAILS

Telephone:

Rwanda's international calling code is +250. Due to the extensive mobile network coverage, and with mobile phones so widely used by locals and tourists alike, public payphones are no longer widely available in towns and cities. To dial internationally, start the call with '00' before entering the international calling code of the country you're calling, followed by the number.

Mobile phone:

Local SIM cards are widely available from street vendors and shops (even in remote towns), and basic handsets can also be picked up cheaply in Kigali. The main mobile network provider in Rwanda is MTN, and network coverage is reliable in most of the country.

Internet:

Rwanda is one of the top countries in Africa with good internet coverage; high-speed connectivity is available in most of the country and 4G coverage is said to have reached 95% of its population. Wi-Fi is also available in most international hotels and modern restaurants.

Post:

Priority airmail to Western Europe takes approximately five to eight days. Expect a similar estimate for deliveries to the USA.

Post office hours:

(Kigali) Mon-Fri 0700-100, Sat 0800-1300.

Shopping in Rwanda

Kigali is perhaps the best shopping destination within Rwanda, and here are few notable venues within Kigali:

• Caplaki Craft Village (tel: +250 786 540 678; www.facebook.com/kaplakiofficial) for array of souvenirs and handicrafts, such as carved masks, baskets, musical instruments, paintings, batik, bags and scarves. The quality is good, but bargaining is essential.
• Rwanda Clothing Store (www.rwandadlothing.com) for locally made threads
• Kimironko Markey for everything from batik to banana.

Plastic bags are banned in Rwanda, so take a cloth bag with you when shopping, otherwise everything will be given to you in brown paper bags.

Shopping hours:

Mon-Sat 0830-1800, some shops may close earlier on Saturdays.

FOOD AND DRINKS

Most of the population in Rwanda live off subsistence farming and so their meals rely heavily on starchy crops such as potato, maize and cassava. This is generally served with kidney beans and cabbage. However, the restaurants of Kigali, and other major towns, will generally serve grilled meat (chicken, beef, goat) with French fries, fish dishes, and sometimes rice with spicy stews. In Kigali, visitors will also find Japanese, Indian, French, Italian and vegetarian restaurants. Most hotels have restaurants that serve a reasonable choice of European dishes. Beer and, to a lesser extent, wine is readily available in restaurants and safari lodges throughout the country. Adventurers may also want to try banana wine, a local speciality and brewed in most towns and villages across Rwanda.

Specialties

• Brochettes are widely loved and featured on most menus. These are a skewer of your chosen meat or fish served with rice or chips.
• Tilapia is a white fish found in Lake Kivu and farmed locally. It often appears on menus.
• Matoke is steamed and mashed plantain.
• Mützig, Primus, and Skol are popular local beers.
• Urwangwa (banana wine), Rwanda's speciality beverage, can be sampled in villages and local bars throughout the country.

WEATHER & CLIMATE

Despite its proximity to the equator (just 223km or 139 miles south of the equator), Rwanda's high altitude grants the country an agreeable climate year-round, with peak temperatures rarely climbing above 30°C (86°F) in the daytime or dropping below 15°C (59°F) at night. The long dry season is from June to mid-September, with July being the driest month. In addition, there are two annual rainy seasons, the first from mid-February to May and second from mid-September to December. Generally, the best time to visit Rwanda is during the long dry season from June to mid-September or the shorter second dry season from December to February. Visiting at the start or the end of the rainy seasons are ideal for travellers on a budget, with off- peak hotel rates and fewer crowds, as well as a chance of good, sunny weather.

Kigalii: (approx)

TIPPING

There is no clear principle on tipping in Rwanda, and, for the most part, tipping is not expected. If you do want to tip, a good rule of thumb is to add 10% to the bill in restaurants, and tip $5 to your guide, tracker, and porter after one-day treks, more for multi-day trips.

HEALTH & MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS & GUIDELINES

As a general recommendation, it is advisable to check with your family doctor or travel clinic for latest health information.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

It is highly recommended that you purchase travel insurance. Your home country health plan may only provide limited coverage while traveling outside of the country. Indus Travels can offer you a complete travel insurance package. Some credit cards do offer travel insurance; however, they do not always provide adequate coverage. Review and understand the terms of your credit card insurance policy. Extra travel insurance can be purchased. Most insurance companies do have exclusions in their coverage. Pre-existing medical conditions are not insurable.