Travel Information for Visitors to Rwanda amidst Covid 19
Travel Information for visitors to Rwanda amidst Covid 19 keeps changing from time to time with new updated Covid 19 measures put in place by the Government of Rwanda as part of curbing down the spread of Covid 19 in the country.
Rwanda famously known as the land of a thousand hills is now the top ranking number one Africa destination to think of when planning for your adventure travel in Africa, it has been listed among the top most recommended, hottest and safe travel destinations to travel to by the world’s leading travel websites, and featured on the bucket list countries to visit even after the breakout of this Covid 19 pandemic.
Rwanda is popularly known to many travelers as an interesting destination for Remarkable Gorilla trekking safaris – having magical encounters with the mountain Gorillas in its only dense tropical and mist covered Volcanoes National Park, it’s well-known for other primate safaris such as Chimpanzees, Golden Monkeys and other monkey primates, Wildlife safaris in its only savannah Akagera National Park, hiking adventures, historical and cultural tours among other interesting adventures.
Since the outbreak of Covid 19 pandemic, The Government of Rwanda has introduced various control health and safety measures to enhance the Covid 19 situation and prevent its further spread within the country, including spread to the incredible wildlife species and primates especially Chimpanzees and Mountain Gorillas which are the main draw of tourists within the country and share 98%of their DNA with us humans.
With the mandatory preventive measures and Covid 19 management guidelines set by the ministry of health in Rwanda to be followed by everybody within the country which include Frequent hand washing and sanitizing, proper wearing of face masks in public and safe maintaining of physical social distancing from others at least one meter apart put in place, There are still more measures and travel information for visitors to Rwanda amidst Covid 19 that must be followed by everyone entering into the country.
Despite curbing down the Covid 19 situation and spread of this virus within the country through several Lockdowns, the above preventive measures, Covid 19 testing and vaccinations that have been taken by millions of people in Rwanda currently, there is still a high risk of importation of Covid 19 and new variants into the country by arriving passengers through the main entry which is Kigali International Airport and thus the control measures put in place for all visitors to Rwanda.
All passengers arriving in Rwanda at Kigali International Airport must present a negative PCR (a SARS-CoV 2 Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction) Covid 19 test certificate taken within 72 hours prior to departure from their country of travel origin, other tests such as Rapid Diagnostic Tests are not accepted on arrival in Rwanda, accompanied Children below 5 Years are also not mandated to Covid 19 test in Rwanda.
It is also mandatory for all visitors to Rwanda and transiting through Kigali Airport to complete the online Passenger Locator Form and upload the Covid 19 test certificate and Vaccination certificate (if applicable) before boarding their plane to Rwanda, however Children under 5 Years travelling with a parent or guardian may not need to complete this Passenger Locator form of their own provided they will arrive and leave together with the parent/Guardian, stay in the same address while in Rwanda and the details of the child have to be added to the parent/guardian’s Locator Form.
Currently with the updated new control measures and travel information for visitors to Rwanda amidst Covid 19, there is a mandatory second arrival PCR Covid test taken upon arrival at Kigali International airport and is done in the airport premises before exiting the airport, and visitors are required to wait for their results at their booked designated hotel or at home. The cost of Covid testing upon arrival at the airport is 60 USD and can be paid online using your visa card or else you can pay on arrival.
Recently the Government of Rwanda exempted fully vaccinated travelers to Rwanda and children below 18 years from the mandatory hotel quarantine upon arrival they will no longer be required to quarantine at designated hotels on arrival in Rwanda, will proceed to their final destination after going through the PCR Covid 19 testing at the airport, but will be required to self-quarantine and wait for results taken from the airport for the second Covid 19 test from their respective homes or booked hotel. These must present a valid vaccination certificate showing that they are fully vaccinated to be able to proceed.
For visitors to Rwanda who are not fully vaccinated, they are required to book a designated hotel where they will wait for their results taken from the airport upon arrival for not more than 24 hours, once they receive their results they will be allowed to check out of the hotel and proceed to their final destination. There is a list of designated hotels that non – fully vaccinated travelers can book from the Rwanda Biomedical Center website (RBC) under a section of information for passengers arriving in Rwanda.
With all these measures put in place at Kigali International Airport, the usual health and safety measures are still in place such as screening, sanitizing and hand washing, physical social distancing among other airport arrival procedures.
In the case where a traveler tests positive on arrival in Rwanda, or shows symptoms of Covid 19 virus, they will be treated as according to the National Covid 19 guidelines at their own cost until they are fully recovered, so it’s advisable to travel with your health Insurance or additional expenses.
Further travel information for visitors to Rwanda amidst Covid 19 especially for those coming for adventure safaris in the beautiful National Parks of Rwanda, the country has two primate parks i.e. the Volcanoes National Park, Nyungwe National Park and Gishwati- Mukura National Park and thus tourists visiting these parks irrespective of your vaccination status, are required to have a valid Negative PCR Covid 19 test taken within 72 hours to be able to enjoy tourist activities within any of these parks. On the other hand however, tourists visiting the only savannah Akagera National Park in Rwanda for Wildlife safaris, are required each to have a valid negative Rapid Diagnostic test (RDT) to be able to enter into the park.
Other adventure destinations across Rwanda apart from the major National Parks can be visited without a Covid 19 test but control measures such as proper wearing of mask, hand washing and sanitizing and physical social distancing are to be followed and respected.
Also to note is that all travelers departing from Rwanda must test negative from Covid 19 and therefore they must present a valid Negative PCR Covid 19 test taken within 72 hours before departure, travelers/tourists are advised to take their departure Covid test within 48hours prior to departure to avoid delays of results that may lead to missing of their flights. The cost of departure PCR Covid 19 test is 50 USD or 47200 RWF. Rapid Diagnostic test is not allowed for anyone departing from Rwanda.
Rwanda is safe for your travel and is the right and hottest destination for your next adventure trip, you can inquire with us on email at info@rwandaecocompany.com about Rwanda safaris and we will be able to customize it according to your interests and budget.
