Travel guide

Clothing

  • Shorts, lightweight trousers, short & long
  • sleeved shirts in neutral or muted colours.
  • Sweater or fleece, light rain jacket.
  • Swim wear /sarong
  • Comfortable lightweight but sturdy walking shoes or
  • Boots and flip flops or sandals

Medication & toiletries

  • High factor sun lotion
  • Strong insect repellant
  • Personal toiletries
  • You should bring any personal medications prescribed by your doctor, antiseptic ointments, painkillers, and fever-reducing anti-inflammatories like aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen. Other important items are anti-diarrhea medication like
    Imodium, eye drops (it can get dusty!) and some sort of electrolyte replenishment. Hand
    sanitizers can also come in handy.

Personal eyewear

  • A good quality pair of sunglasses
  • If you wear contact lenses bring enough solution incase your eyes get irritated

Photographic and optics advice

  • A good camera plus plenty of film/memory cards.
  • A pair of binoculars will enh6ance your game viewing
  • Please do not take photographs of the local people without asking permission first.
  • A small flashlight or headlamp

Climate

Rwanda is located just south of the equator and as a result the temperate tropical climate does
not change much throughout the year. However, the temperatures are lower than typical
equatorial countries due to its high elevation.
Rwanda experiences frequent rains throughout the year with an average annual rainfall of about
40 inches. The heavy rain seasons are from January through April and from October through
December. Average daytime temperatures are about 75 degrees Fahrenheit while nighttime
temperatures can drop in to the low 50s.
Rwanda has a temperate tropical highland climate, with lower temperatures than are typical for
equatorial countries due to its high elevation. Kigali, in the centre of the country, has a typical daily temperature range between 12 °C (54 °F) and 27 °C (81 °F), with little variation through the year.

Currency

The local currency is the Rwandan Franc. You can either change money at a Bureau de
Change or bank which you will find at the major airports & towns. ATMs are available there too
but note that you can only draw Rwandan Franc and but not all ATMs accept foreign cards. US
Dollars are widely accepted in sites frequented by tourists. We advise our guests to take
spending money in the form of US Dollars cash, bring some small denominations too for tipping
purposes.
Note that USD bills must be newer than 2009. Credit cards are accepted at larger shops &
restaurants but note that often a surcharge is levied.

Visa & Passports

A valid passport with at least six months validity, as well as a valid visa for those not exempted.
Most nationalities can obtain their Rwandan visa upon arrival at a fee. Make sure you bring US
Dollars in cash in US $20 and US $50 bills to pay for your visa. However, some Rwandan
Embassies recommend that you obtain your visa before arrival. Occasionally there are long
queues at Immigration upon arrival so obtaining a visa beforehand might speed up your entry
into Rwanda. Note that obtaining the correct visa is every traveler’s own responsibility so we
advise you strongly to check with your local Rwandan Embassy for the latest regulations before
arriving.

Health

We advise against drinking water from the faucets whilst in the country. Mineral water is
available in all shops and restaurants and in all lodges and vehicles. We recommend that you use
mineral water too for brushing teeth. Dehydration can sneak up on you and spoil your trip, so do
remember to try and drink 1.5-2ltrs of water a day in order to avoid it. Symptoms of dehydration
can arrive in the form of headaches and nausea.

Dietary Requirement

The most common dietary requirements can be accommodated (vegetarianism, gluten or
lactose free), and we will do our best to accommodate any requirement given sufficient notice.
Supplies often come from far away and without enough prior notice to pre-plan, we won’t be
able to meet your requirements, so please do let us know as soon as possible.

Yellow fever certificate

A yellow fever vaccination is required for all travelers over one year old – please check with your
local travel clinic or physician for up-to-date advice.

Malaria and Required Vaccinations

Malaria is prevalent in many parts of Rwanda and we advise you to consult your GP before you
depart about taking prophylactics. It’s also important to cover up in the evenings when the
malaria-carrying Anopheles mosquito usually feeds. All the camps located in malaria areas that we use will provide mosquito nets and/or insect-proof tents. It is advisable to bring some insect
repellent with you, although it may be provided in the camps too. Please be sure to contact your physician or travel clinic well in advance of travel to obtain
professional medical advice and discuss up to date vaccination requirements for the areas you are visiting.

Travel Insurance and Flying doctor

We strongly recommend that you take out a comprehensive travel and health insurance before
travelling, not least to cover yourself in the event of cancellation charges should your plans
change. In addition, we include medical evacuation cover with Flying Doctors in all our
itineraries.

Electricity

In Rwanda 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 – 240V supply voltage and 50Hz. All properties have adapters for use in each room but
visitors are advised to bring5 th6eir own adapters. The lodges run on either generator or solar
power which allows for 24-hour electricity. However please note that these systems are often
not able to support the use of a hairdryer or hair straightener etc

Internet and cell

Rwanda has an excellent mobile phone network covering almost the entire country, and
international calls can be made easily. It 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. In most camps, WiFi access is available but is not
guaranteed.

Tipping

You should tip as you wish, with no obligation whatsoever. What we do say is that tipping is very
much welcomed and is normal here in Africa, and it is very much appreciate. We’re often asked
for a guideline and while this depends on how you feel, we’d suggest around US$10 per guest
per night at each camp. Most properties have a ‘tipping box’ for a discrete contribution to your
camp, lodge or hotel staff. Any staff member more deserving for excellent service may be tipped
individually/separately and as for tipping your driver guide, we suggest that this is done
separately.

Wild Animals

  • No animal is tame and must at all times be treated with respect and not approached
    unless with an authorised professional guide.Please
  • do not get too close to the animals, this may distress them
  • Please do not get out of the vehicle without consulting your guide