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Rwanda is small, green and startlingly well organised, known as the land of a thousand hills for the terraced ridges that run across almost the whole country. Mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park is the headline experience and among the most regulated and expensive wildlife encounters anywhere, but Nyungwe Forest adds chimpanzees and a canopy walkway, Akagera has been restored to a full Big Five park, and Lake Kivu offers a genuinely relaxed shoreline. Kigali is clean, safe and confident, and the Genocide Memorial there is essential and difficult.
Capital
Kigali
Population
~14 million
Area
26,338 km²
Time Zone
CAT (UTC+2), no daylight saving
Currency
Rwandan Franc (RWF)
Languages
Kinyarwanda, English, French and Swahili are all official
Main Airports
KGL (Kigali International)
Visa
Visa on arrival for all nationalities, 30 days; free for African Union, Commonwealth and Francophonie citizens
Best For
Mountain gorillas, chimpanzee tracking, Lake Kivu, Kigali
Typical Cost Level
Mid-range, with gorilla permits at USD 1,500 per person
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Entry rules, stay length and passport validity by nationality.
Rwanda grants a visa on arrival to every nationality, with no advance application needed. The standard 30-day tourist visa costs around USD 50, while citizens of African Union, Commonwealth and Francophonie member states enter free of charge. An East Africa Tourist Visa covering Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya costs USD 100 and is worth it if you are combining countries. You can also apply online in advance through the Irembo portal.
June to September is the long dry season and the best time for gorilla trekking, when forest trails are firmer and less punishing. December to February is a shorter dry period and also good. The rainy seasons, March to May and October to November, make the steep Volcanoes National Park trails muddy and hard going, though gorillas are easier to find at lower altitudes and permits are sometimes discounted. Rwanda sits at altitude, so it is cooler than the equator suggests.
A gorilla permit in Rwanda costs USD 1,500 per person for a single trek, one of the highest wildlife fees in the world. Only 96 permits are issued per day across eight habituated families, so book months ahead for peak season. The price funds conservation and community projects, and Rwanda's population of mountain gorillas has grown steadily as a result. Uganda offers the same experience at USD 800 if budget is the deciding factor.
Rwanda is among the safest countries in Africa for visitors, with very low crime and Kigali frequently described as one of the cleanest and most orderly capitals on the continent. Walking at night in Kigali is generally comfortable. Note two local rules: plastic bags are banned and confiscated at the airport, and photographing government buildings or military personnel is prohibited. Check current advice regarding the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo before travelling west.
Five to seven days covers the country well, as Rwanda is small and roads are good. Allow one to two days in Kigali including the Genocide Memorial, two nights near Volcanoes National Park for a gorilla trek and possibly golden monkeys, and two or three more for Lake Kivu or Nyungwe Forest. Akagera in the east adds a Big Five safari day. A three-day gorilla-focused trip is entirely feasible if time is short.
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