Rwanda Pre-travel information

This information is intended as a guideline only. It is accurate to the best of our knowledge. Please note that we are providing links to external websites as guidelines only, Karell Travel is not responsible for the content thereof.

Visa Information
Citizens of all countries will be granted a visa upon arrival without prior application.
 
Passports must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the travel date and must have a clean and full visa page for endorsement.
 
Visa Fees
Citizens of all countries are able to:
 
If paying for a visa on arrival, please have this amount in exact cash for ease of transaction.
 
  • Transit visa US $ 30 per person
  • Tourist visa US $ 50 per person
  • Tourist Group visa (4 to 10 people) US $ 100
  • Multiple entry visas US $ 100 per person
 
Note: The above-quoted fees are subject to change.
Entry & Pre-Departure Requirements
BEFORE ARRIVAL
  • All passengers are no longer required to present COVID-19 test results or vaccination certificates, however, vaccination and regular testing is encouraged
BEFORE DEPARTURE FROM RWANDA
  • Departing passengers whose airlines or destination country requires a negative COVID-19 test certificate, require testing prior to departure. This can be facilitated by the Rwanda Biometrical Center, Government health centers, and other designated testing sites
  • Passengers whose airline or destination country do not require a negative COVID-19 test certificate are able to depart Rwanda without testing.
Medical Suggestions
  • Passengers arriving from Yellow Fever endemic countries and any country with active Yellow Fever transmission outbreaks are required to present a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate.
  • These passengers will be required to:
    • undergo temperature screening on arrival
    • consent to self-report any symptoms that they may experience in the 6 days following arrival in Rwanda
    • Passengers with a temperature above 38.5C (101F) will be granted entry into Rwanda but are required to isolate and undergo further investigation for Yellow Fever.
Electricity & Plugs
All electrical appliances in East Africa run on between 220V – 240v (in the U.S. we run on 110v). Although adapters are generally available at hotels, we highly recommend taking your own adapter. Most modern electronics (smartphones, tablets, laptops etc) have dual voltage capability and can be safely used with a plug adapter. Any devices that do not support dual voltage should only be used with a voltage converter adapter.
For Rwanda you need Type C / J Adapters
Packing Suggestions
As a general guideline, comfortable, casual wash-and-wear clothes are recommended.
If you are going on safari, the less you take the better as most lodges and hotels do offer laundry service if you are staying at least two days.
Muted colors such as stone, khaki, beige or brown are recommended when you are on safari.
Game drives in the early morning and evenings can be quite cold, especially in winter, so you should pack accordingly.
The key is to dress in layers in the early morning and strip down layer by layer as it gets warmer as the sun rises. Vice versa for evening game drives.
General Clothing
  • Light-weight shirts/blouses with long sleeves as protection from the sun and mosquitoes
  • T-shirts
  • Shorts
  • Jeans or safari trousers
  • Pajamas
  • Socks
  • Underwear
  • Light-weight waterproof jacket
  • Comfortable walking shoes/sneakers
  • Comfortable walking sandals or flip flops for warmer days
  • Wide-brimmed hat with under-chin tie to prevent it from flying away
  • Swimsuit
  • Warm windproof jacket (winter)
  • Fleece (winter)
  • Warm turtle neck shirt (winter)
  • Beanie (winter)
 Gloves (winter) Warm scarf (winter)

Gorilla Trekking Clothing/Equipment

  • Good quality, water-proof hiking boots
  • Gardening gloves
  • Lightweight waterproof windbreaker
  • Moisture-wicking socks
  • Long waterproof hiking pants

General Equipment & Accessories

  • Sunglasses
  • Spare prescription eye glasses/contact lenses
  • Binoculars
  • Cameras and related paraphernalia, like lenses, etc and plenty of memory cards and spare batteries
  • Small powerful flashlight and extra batteries

  • Light pack-able backpack or tote to carry equipment and stuff on game vehicles
  • Chargers for cell phones, iPad, cameras, computers and you may want to invest in a mini travel charger
  • First aid kit (Band-aids, pain relievers, eye drops, sunscreen, hand sanitizer, tissues, chapstick, any prescription medications etc)
Gratuities

Tipping is completely discretionary. If you have received good service, and would like to show your appreciation by tipping, we have enclosed a brief guideline to assist you.

Transfer Driver: $5 US per person

Your Guide: $25 US per person per day

General Lodge  Staff: $25 US per person per day

Gorilla Park Guide: $25 US per person per day

Gorilla Trackers: $10 US per person per day

Restaurants / Hotels 10-15% is customary on meal accounts if you are satisfied with the service

Weather/Climate

Rwanda is located just south of the equator and as a result the tropical climate does not change much throughout the year. 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 into the low 50s.