+250 788316607 info@gokigalitours.com

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Planning a trip to Rwanda? Got a ton of questions? Here’s some basic info for pre-travel planning, but as always, we’re here for your questions. 

 

Visa

  • Some travelers can receive a visa upon arrival. More country specific visa info linked here.
  • The tourist visa is $30 USD for one month, single entry.
  • The East African Tourist Visa, which is $100 USD grants you 90-day multiple entry access to Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda.
  • You can pay in cash or by credit card.

Money

  • Credit cards are widely accepted in Kigali.
  • The maximum amount of Rwandan Francs you can withdraw per transaction at an ATM is 200,000 RWF (about $240 USD) and most machines will allow two withdrawals of 200,000 RWF.
  • You can withdraw USD from KCB ATMs scattered around town ($500 USD maximum per withdrawal).
  • If you bring USD to use during travel make sure all bills are newer than 2006.

Phone & Internet

  • There are three main telecom companies in Rwanda: MTN, Tigo and Airtel. Consensus seems to be that MTN is the best; however, expect connections to be weaker especially for data.
  • You can purchase a 3g sim card for 1,000 RWF ($1.25 USD) as well as airtime scratch cards from street vendors all over town.
  • You can also set up monthly post-paid plans to get data packages – for 1.5GB of data per day you pay around $25 USD per month; however, you’ll need to bring your passport with you to the telecoms shop.

Health

  • Malaria is present, but not common in Kigali.
  • Tap water is not safe to drink.
  • It is best to travel with all of the medicines you need. However, most medications can be purchased over the counter from the city’s many pharmacies.

Safety

  • Kigali is a safe city but it is best to take some precautions. Please be aware of your belongings, especially when in public transportation, markets or in more downtown areas.

Weather

  • The weather in Kigali is remarkably constant throughout the year. Days hover around 70 Fahrenheit (20 Celsius) and nighttime temperatures are only slightly colder.
  • There is a rainy season from March until the end of May though the weather can certainly be beautiful during this time.

Transportation

  • The most common transportation in Kigali is motorcycle taxis (locally known as motos). If you plan to travel by moto, we strongly recommend using SafeMotos – they have apps for Android and iOS where you can order a safe driver right to your door and also provide better helmets for their riders. That being said, we don’t recommend taking motos for safety reasons.
  • The easiest place to find a taxi is in a hotel. Don’t rely on hailing a cab from the street if you’re in a hurry.
  • For a taxi to or from the airport expect to pay between 10,000 and 15,000 RWF ($12 to $18 USD).

Basic Facts

  • Kigali is about 5,000 ft (1,500 m) above sea level.
  • The national language is Kinyarwanda. However, many people also speak English (younger generations) or French (older generations).
  • The 2014 census estimates the population of Rwanda at 12.1 million.
  • The president of the country is His Excellency President Paul Kagame.

Go Kigali Tours

  • All tours must be booked in advance, either directly through our website using the “Book Now” or by visiting our Boutique in the Kigali Marriott Hotel.
  • Once you book a tour you will automatically receive a booking confirmation email with directions and a map of the exact meeting place for the tour.
  • Tours go rain or shine.
  • We know that unexpected things come up when traveling, so there is no penalty and a full refund for cancellations made more than 7 days in advance. For cancellations made 7 days to 72 hours in advance there is a 50% cancellation fee. There are no refunds for cancellations made less than 72 hours in advance.

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