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Travel & Tourism in Rwanda
ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: A passport is required and evidence of yellow fever immunization is recommended. Visas are not required for American citizens entering Rwanda for less than 90 days.
State Department Information:
For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs’ website, where the current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts, as well as the Worldwide Caution, can be found. Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. and Canada, or for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
The Department of State urges American citizens to take responsibility for their own personal security while traveling overseas. For general information about appropriate measures travelers can take to protect themselves in an overseas environment, see the Department of State’s information on A Safe Trip Abroad.
Important “Do’s” and “Don’ts” for Rwanda:
• Do not ask any Rwandan their tribal affiliation- it is illegal to do so. Please be very careful about this issue both for the legal consequences, and in consideration of person you are speaking to. Ethnic identity cards were used to identify people to kill during the Genocide. Rwanda has made ethnic identification illegal to remove this particular mechanism of prejudice.
• Plastic bags (such as grocery bags) are not allowed in Rwanda. If you have any in your luggage, the authorities may confiscate them. Please be prepared and bring cloth or other reusable bags if you need this type of bag.
Resources:
1. Travel Guides:
a. Rwanda, 3rd: The Brant Travel Guide by Philip Briggs (Paperback- 2006.) Available on Amazon.com, price range $8.99 (used) to $16.29 (new.)
b. East Africa (Multi Country Guide) by Mary Fitzpatrick, Tim Bewer and Matthew Firestone (Paperback, 2009.) Available on Amazon.com, price range $17.30 to $21.11.
2. United States Department of State, Travel Information
a. United States Department of State, International Travel Information, including travel warnings by country, tips for traveling abroad, and international travel information : in http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis_pa_tw_1168.html
b. United States Department of State, Country Specific Information- Rwanda: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1007.html 3.
Tourism in Rwanda:
The Mountain Gorillas: Rwanda is home to some of the last remaining Mountain Gorillas in the world. Rwanda has worked diligently to protect the Mountain Gorillas and their dwindling habitat. One way to support this effort is to visit the Gorillas. If you’d like to visit the Gorillas, you will buy a permit in Kigali, book a tour (some tour groups will buy the permit for you), then you must travel to the Northern mountains of Rwanda, about 3 hours by car from Kigali. You would meet your guides in the morning at the Park Offices, where you will be oriented by Park Rangers about the program, your responsibilities while visiting the Gorillas and the particulars of the visits. Park Rangers speak English and French. Then you will break off into groups, make your way to the base of the mountains and begin your trek into the rain forest. Each group (groups are comprised of 8 tourists, a Park Ranger, trackers and usually several soldiers) will trek into the forest for one to four hours and spend an hour with the Gorillas. Kigali Tourism Board (ORTPN) sells permits to visit the Gorillas. ORTPN is located in Kigali or Musanze. Office Rwandaise du Tourisme et des Parcs Nationaux (ORTPN) The Rwanda Tourism Board Boulevard de la Révolution n° 1 PO Box 905 Kigali, Rwanda Tel (250) 576514 or 573396 Fax (250) 576515 Email: reservation@rwandatourism.com
National Parks: More information can be found at rwandatourism.com
Akagera National Parks: On the border of Tanzania, this park is located on the most remote source of the Nile, the Akagera River. The park contains many lakes, swamps and beautiful African savannah and grass land. Herds of elephants and buffalo roam, and you may see leopards, hyenas and lions. Giraffes, zebras and a dozen different types of antelope also live in this protected park.
Nyungwe National Park: This thousand square kilometer park is in the hills of Southeastern Rwanda. It is the largest block of mountain forest in East or Central Africa and is home to more than 200 different types of trees, hundreds of different flowering plants including the rare giant lobelia. This park is also known for the 13 species of primates living within its borders, including the chimpanzee. Nyungwe is also home to more than 300 bird species, beautiful waterfalls and walking trails.
Genocide Memorials: Many important memorials are located outside of Kigali. Many sites are funded entirely with donations, many of the guides are survivors. Some of the memorials include the remains of people slain during the Genocide. Most sites exhibit artifacts of the Genocide. If you have time, visiting the memorials is a way to meet Rwandans profoundly affected by the Genocide, and to honor those who lost their lives in the violence. There are many sites throughout Rwanda, this is a short list of examples:
The Church at Nyamata, approximately 30km from Kigali. This village church was the sanctuary many Tutsi community members ran to during the opening days of the Genocide. Churches in Rwanda traditionally were respected as sanctuaries for those in danger. The 1994 Genocide dispelled this long tradition. Thousands of people, men women and children were killed at Nyamata and the survivors, their families and the community have maintained this Church in much the same condition it was left after the massacre. A burial chamber is located in the back of the church.
The Ntarama Church is approximately 20km from Kigali. (Both the Nyamata and Ntarama memorials may be visited in one day) Approximately 5000 people died in this small village church compound. The buildings have been maintained, empty, as they were left after the Genocide.
The Murambi Genocide Memorial: Located in the Nyamagabe District, South of Kigali (approximately a 2-3 hour drive.) This is one of the most haunting memorials to visit. Approximately 45,000 Rwandans were killed in this school during the Genocide. Guides at this site are often survivors, both Hutu and Tutsi. An interpreter is advised as many guides do not speak English. Some 850 bodies of Genocide victims have been interred in the class rooms of the school. Visitors may visit the rooms with the bodies of victims. This is a powerful and haunting memorial.
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