A Quick Travel Guide to Rwanda

Travel, Travel Tips
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Are you thinking of traveling to Rwanda? My recent 3-part series on Rwanda spurred questions about traveling to this charming scenic country… Here is a quick Travel Guide, with a few insights I picked up, that may help in planning your next trip to this beautiful destination. 🙂

How to Get There

Rwanda,the captivating land of a thousand hills, is located in East and Central Africa, bordering Uganda and Congo.

Rwanda

 

You can get to Rwanda by road, or by air. Traveling by air is most convenient as it saves you time to savor the place. The more affordable options are Rwanda Air or Kenya Airways. For those travelling from beyond the western yonder, there are also KLM and Qatar Airways flights to Kigali, with stop overs in Entebbe or Nairobi.

My experience on the road was unpleasant, thanks to a disappointing bus company, and a landslide that delayed us on the road by a day. 🙁 However, if you are a die-hard road trips’ fan, it can still be done 😀

It take about 25 hours, if you are travelling from Nairobi, with stops in Kisumu, and Kampala. The beauty of going by road is that you get to travel through the expanse of Uganda. You may even choose to  stop-over in Uganda to rest and do some exploration.

Wanjiku Thuo used Kampala Coach recently, and spent 48 frustrating hours on the road. I would recommend taking either of these two bus companies- Modern Coast or Mash East Africa. They currently provide the most reliable services for direct trips to Kigali from Nairobi, and the probability of delays is low.

Cheap is certainly expensive-so choose wisely. 😉

 

How to Get Around

There are a number of options: buses, cars for hire, cabs, motorbikes and PSV vans that are referred to as ‘Taxis’. Having a local to take you around helps because Rwandans mostly speak ‘Kinyarwanda’ and ‘French’.

Walking is a great option too, as Kigali is safe and clean. It affords such delightful views, because you are almost always at a high point, thanks to the hilly terrain.

Rwanda

 

Should you opt to use a cab, then be sure to ask the driver to ‘Run the Meter.’ It is a government requirement for the drivers to have a meter installed in their cars. However, not all of them are willing to do it.

Rwandans are generally kind people, but you will not miss a con wherever you go. I encountered a crafty cab guy who seemed friendly at first. He declined to run the meter giving some excuse about the government, and I was naïve enough to buy the excuse. I paid for my naivety later on, when he charged me three times the cost! I did not realize I had been overcharged until some local friends told me that he’d made a killing out of me.

Find out in advance whether they have a functional meter and insist on it!

Where to Stay and Eat

An ever-growing  and vibrant city, there are many options of places to stay in Kigali.  Depending on your need, you can easily find hotels, lodgings or self-catered apartments for rent. The self-catering apartments’ rates are quite pricey and may not be feasible for a short-term stay.

Rwanda

 

I would recommend a stay at Select Hotel or City Blue Hotels-both reputable and cozy. You can read my experience at City Blue Hotel here, and my review of Select Hotel here.

City-Blue-Hotel

Select_Hotel

 

Harry’s restaurant, at City Blue is a great place to stop over for lunch. The creative menu at Select hotel is also quite enticing.

Select_Hotel

Select_Hotel

Select_Hotel

 

We grabbed a quick Frozen yogurt at a Milk bar, and went out for bowling and dinner on one night. I  noticed many promising restaurants and coffee shops around Kigali. I would have loved to visit more places to get a taste of Rwandan cultural foods.

Things to Do in Rwanda

Rwanda is the kind of place you want to visit when you are not in a hurry. It is rich with activities and you will not fail to find something amazing to do.

Kigali Genocide Memorial 

Visiting the Genocide Memorial sites is a popular tourists activity. The site was established to commemorate the people who were massacred during the Rwanda genocide in 1994. It is a sobering, key part of Rwanda’s history, while also giving insight into what the country has evolved to.

The entrance fee costs $15 for adults, and $5 for students.

There are about 8 more Memorial sites in Kigali and its environs: Gisenyi, Murambi, Nyamata, Musozi, Nyanza Bisesero, Ntarama, Nyarubuye.

Inema Art Centre

Art is a big part of Rwanda’s social culture. There are a couple of art galleries in Kigali that you can explore : Ivuka Arts Studio, Inema Arts Centre, Tongo Art Gallery.

Our time at Inema Art Centre was a delight. It is a place of  unique creativity and artistic expression. You can visit at any time and there are no entrance fees.

ADITED (Copy)

Rwanda

 PHOTOGRAPHY BY: WANJIKU THUO & MARION MITHAMO

Rwanda

 

Mountain Gorilla Trekking

Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda, is one of the only three places with Mountain Gorillas in the world. It is part of the Virunga Volcanic Mountains that extend across the borders of Uganda, Congo and Rwanda.

The Gorilla Trekking Safaris, are organized in small group tours of about 3 days. The best times of year to go Mountain Gorillas’ trekking is in the dry months of December to February, and June to Mid-September.

If you love hiking, the outdoors and engaging with nature, then this is ideal for you.

Helpful Tips: Do’s and Don’ts

Do’s

Convert. Convert. Convert!

Be sure to research on the money conversion rates in advance. The dollar is widely accepted in Rwanda, but they mostly transact in Rwandan Francs. You will need Francs for small shops and kiosks, where they do not accept foreign currencies.

If going by road, convert some money into Uganda shillings at the Kenyan border, in case of delays. If traveling by air, you can convert some money at Kigali International Airport.

Learn the Language Basics

Rwandans mainly speak French and Kinyarwanda.  The most useful word I learned during my stay was ‘Oya’ which means ‘No’. Apparently it is better to say No, than to walk away rudely because you don’t understand.

English is not commonly spoken in Rwanda, hence it is a good idea to learn the basic Kinyarwanda phrases:–

Thank you- Urakoze

Hello- Muraho

Sorry- Mbabarira

No-Oya

Yes-Yego

Don’ts

Rwanda happens to be one of the cleanest and safest countries in Africa, thus the environment is high on their priority list. To this end, non-biodegradable plastic bags are banned in Rwanda.

Rwanda

 

When traveling to Rwanda, particularly by road, any non-biodegradable plastic bags in your possession will be confiscated. Do not hide them in your luggage, because they search through everything. They are less severe at the airport, but it is better to be safe than sorry.

Rwandans use small sacks and brown bags for groceries at the market. You can pack brown bags or newspapers to wrap such things as dirty shoes, on your trip back home.

Ranking highly on security, Rwanda is strict on adherence to the law. If you are found in violation of the law, you may be arrested and imprisoned for 2 weeks, before a court hearing is held. Do not litter, and ensure you always put on the seat belt in both public and private vehicles, to avoid arrest.


I hope this quick guide has been insightful to you. 😀 If you have any questions or comments, share them on the Comments’ Section below 🙂

If you are interested in a trip to Rwanda, you can send me an email on my Contact Form.

Stay Inspired Always. 🙂

 

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24 Comments

  • Reply
    RENO
    July 17, 2019 at 12:14 pm

    Hi!!
    I’m reading this piece more than 3 years later, and it is definitely very helpful. I hope to visit Rwanda later this year, so I’m glad I’ve stumbled upon this great article!
    Cheers!!

    • Reply
      Scrapbook Journeys
      July 23, 2019 at 12:34 pm

      Hi Reno! This has definitely made me smile today! I am glad you found it useful! That’s awesome to hear! And enjoy your trip to Rwanda!! 😀

  • Reply
    Marie
    November 1, 2016 at 11:24 am

    I love love your travel posts. You should open a travel agency some day!

    • Reply
      Scrapbook Journeys
      November 7, 2016 at 4:52 pm

      Oh wow thank you! Amen to that! 🙂 🙂 Thanks for reading Marie! Great to have you here!

  • Reply
    patricia
    July 12, 2016 at 4:16 pm

    i love the insights on Rwanda id really love to travell over there one of this days the paper bags thing, oops

    • Reply
      Scrapbook Journeys
      July 13, 2016 at 8:24 am

      Wow, I am glad to hear the insights are helpful…and can’t wait for you travel-you will totally love it! Yes, no paper bags…haha 😀 Thanks for reading! 😀

  • Reply
    Lavender
    July 11, 2016 at 10:27 pm

    Thank you for the insight. Super useful.
    And ofcourse, great article.

    • Reply
      Scrapbook Journeys
      July 13, 2016 at 8:24 am

      Thanks dear for reading and for the comment 😀 I hope you get to use the insights soon 😉

  • Reply
    Eric
    July 11, 2016 at 10:26 pm

    Wow, Rwanda looks like a beautiful place. My girlfriend is from Rwanda and I hope to be able to take her on a trip back there in the near future.
    As an American it seems like I usually only see two types pictures of Africa: either the wild savannah or the very poor slums. I know that there is much more to it than that so it’s great to be able to see some of the beauty it has to offer. Thanks!

    • Reply
      Scrapbook Journeys
      July 13, 2016 at 8:28 am

      Thanks Eric for reading, and Yes Rwanda is a really beautiful country. I certainly hope you get to visit soon-you’ll love it! I am happy to be able to show the parts of Africa that do not make it to the ‘news’ and that the rest of the world may not realize actually exists 😀 I hope you will stay tuned, as we discover more and more of this part of the world 😀 All the best on your future travels to Rwanda.

  • Reply
    Lornah
    July 2, 2016 at 5:14 pm

    Wow wow, this article is very important to me one of this fine days, very informative, enticing and great read!!
    http://www.cherriesvineyard.com

  • Reply
    MS. mithamo
    July 1, 2016 at 12:57 pm

    Wow. I don’t think I’ve read something as precise as this was. Very useful tips for people planning on going to Rwanda. Good job

    • Reply
      Scrapbook Journeys
      July 4, 2016 at 11:01 am

      Thanks for reading dear 🙂 Now you are all set for Rwanda 😉 😀

  • Reply
    Fenny
    July 1, 2016 at 7:20 am

    I have always wanted to go to one of the francophone countries in Africa, to sharpen my French skills! Now I am convinced Rwanda is the first on my list. Very useful tips Scrapbook journeys

    • Reply
      Scrapbook Journeys
      July 1, 2016 at 12:50 pm

      Yaay! Fenny I am sure you will love it, and blend right in! You have always had a knack for French, this should be a walk in the park for you! 😀 Not to mention it’s beautiful, so Win-Win! 😀

  • Reply
    Wanjiku
    July 1, 2016 at 1:27 am

    I can not wait to visit the city with a thousands hills again.
    Of course am wiser on the means of transport!
    I have a list of unvisited places.
    ….and a passport.
    Let’s do this again

    • Reply
      Scrapbook Journeys
      July 1, 2016 at 12:49 pm

      Hahaha, yes we are now both wiser for it 😀 And, Yes! a Round Two is in order!! 😀

  • Reply
    vivian
    June 30, 2016 at 6:38 pm

    Very informative thank you. You have made me fall in love with Rwanda even without visiting

    • Reply
      Scrapbook Journeys
      June 30, 2016 at 8:39 pm

      Oh wow! Thanks a lot Vivian for reading! And it’s great to hear you have fallen for Rwanda-Yaay! It is worth it 🙂 Do visit and share your experiences 😀

  • Reply
    Nesh Kanja
    June 30, 2016 at 4:12 pm

    Hi Scrapbook Journeys,

    Great read and insight there. That is a well done guide for one visiting the great East African country that is Rwanda. Wish i had such a guide on my first two trips to Rwanda. Would have really come in handy. Keep up the good work and thanks for sharing.

    • Reply
      Scrapbook Journeys
      June 30, 2016 at 6:30 pm

      Thanks Kanja for reading! I am glad to hear the article was insightful..hopefully your next trip will go even more smoothly. Many thanks dear 🙂

  • Reply
    DAVE
    June 30, 2016 at 3:45 pm

    wow wow! This is a special one.Great insights indeed.

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