Things to know before visiting Rwanda – Travel Guide to Rwanda
Things to know before visiting Rwanda, for a traveler who plans a tour, or journey to Rwanda, should at least be aware of the following.
Rwanda, the “Land of a thousand hills” is the smallest African country covering an area of about 26,338 square kilometers, is one of peaceful countries and voted the cleanest in Africa.
Rwanda is a landlocked country and it is bordered by Uganda in the North, Tanzania in the East, Burundi in the South and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the West. Rwanda features among the most popular safari destinations and the rare mountain gorillas are the prime and the most sought after tourist attractions by most trekkers on safari in Africa. If Rwanda is your dream destination, below are some of the things for you to take note of before making your holiday to Rwanda, for a great Rwanda Safari. The following are things to know before visiting Rwanda.
Getting around.
The roads are well planned and maintained. From the city center across the country, you will be driving on paved roads, and in good condition. Most safaris in Rwanda are run by Tour Company, who offer to you great packages that cover the entire attraction of Rwanda. You can as well hire a car and have a self-drive around.
Taxi cabs are available for those who wish to use a taxi to get around the city. Motor bikes are also famous, and they are safe, though the majority of bike riders do not speak English. The taxi drivers too, few speak English and majority may speak some French. In case you’re driving yourself, respect the road signs and speed limit, you may easily get a penalty for it. Driving is on the right hand side, which is among things to know before visiting Rwanda
Hospitality
The local residents are very welcome, and they pay less attention to visitors as they mind their business. You will always get help from any one, whether asking for help for a direction, or would need to know about something. They are free to share, with genuine information.
Law and Order
Rwanda is among one of the very strict countries, with strong law enforcement. Make sure you observe the law, and do not try to bribe, as the police are very strict. Have helmets when using a motorist, and make sure your seat belt is on.
Dress code.
You will need to dress descent and observe the community consent. Rwandans dress very decently and they avoid clothes that expose your body parts. It is one of the things to know before visiting Rwanda, as you will need to look smart, and this gives respect to the community and their culture.
Religion.
Both Christianity and Islam are welcome to the country, including other religion. The biggest percentage of the country are Christians, followed by the Muslims.
Attractions.
The country has three National parks, thus Volcanoes National Park, which leads with gorilla trekking safaris, Nyungwe National Park, known for canopy walk and chimpanzee trekking, and Akagera National Park, for the wildlife safari.
In addition, you can as well visit Lake Kivu, and Kigali city, including a number of museums and memorial sites across the country.
Money and ATM machines
Across major city centers of the country, there are ATM machine access, where you can use your visa card to withdraw money. In Kigali, there are forex bureaus, in case you wish to make some exchange as well as in Musanze. You can carry enough cash with you, make exchanges in Kigali city, such that it’s easy for you.
Other areas may not have the service of the forex bureau.
Internet connection.
Most hotels and lodges supply internet, though not always very strongly. In case you would wish to buy a sim card for your connection, MTN and Airtel are the major service providers in the country as well for phone calls. Try to buy a sim card in Kigali, before you commence with your journey to the countryside.
Safety
The security in Rwanda is safe, and feel free to take a walk around the country as you tour. You can easily join in by jogging around as there are not many cases of robbery in Rwanda. Street lights are almost everywhere in major parts of the country and road side.
Plastic and Rubbish
No plastics are allowed at the airport, and plastic bags are being banned. Be careful with how you handle your waste. Make sure you make good use of the waste bins, as the country is very clean and very well taken care of.
Communication.
Kinyarwanda is the local language, majorly used around, spoken by everyone. At a point you may have a communication challenge as the majority of the locals only speak Kinyarwanda.
English and French are the international languages with Kiswahili also being spoken by quite a number of people, across Rwanda and the entire East Africa region.
Things to know before visiting Rwanda, are quite much, however the above, will give you a picture of the country, about what you expect to find. For a great memorial Rwanda Safari, kindly get in touch with us!
