Known as the land of a thousand hills, Rwanda is a very scenic country, its rolling hills are covered with bright green tea plantations and rice paddies form interesting puzzles in the valleys below. This small country is highly cultivated and highly populated, yet remarkably clean. Neat brick houses with red tiled roofs dot a landscape covered in banana trees, coffee bushes, sugar cane and other crops.

Lake Kivu with its convoluted shoreline, clear green waters and myriad peninsulas and islands is one of the most charming lakes in Africa. But equally beautiful are the smaller and more accessible twin lakes - Burera and Ruhondo.

Rwanda has a lot to offer to nature lovers. The Nyungwe National Park is covered in pristine virgin forest and is easily accessible as the main road winds its way through the park for about 50 km. The park is home to 13 species of primate, rare mammals and some 300 bird species.

The Volcanoes National Park features the Virunga Mountains, a chain of six extinct and three active volcanoes. The park is focused on conserving the endangered mountain gorilla. Although gorilla trekking in this park is more expensive than in Uganda, the hikes are reputedly easier, with close-up contact and better sightings more likely because of the bamboo forest habitat.

The capital, Kigali, is modern and organised and thus rather unique in the African context. There is no littering, informal trading or shacks and the public areas are well manicured.

Given the friendliness of the people, the overall tidiness of the country and the level of development in Kigali, it is hard to believe that genocide could have taken place there. Yet, this horrific chapter in the country’s history is well documented at the Kigali Genocide Memorial where 250 000 individuals lie buried in mass graves, as well as at various smaller memorials all over the country.

DRIVING IN RWANDA:
Drive on the right-hand side of the road. In Kigali the highways are well constructed, traffic lights work and are respected, vehicles stop at pedestrian crossings and taxis don’t speed. Although there is a strong police presence there are very few speed traps. However, as you leave the inner city there are very few traffic lights at intersections and driving is more chaotic.

The main roads are paved and in good condition but driving is slow as the narrow roads seem to be one long continuous mountain pass that winds through the entire country, with very few straight or flat sections. Combine this with pedestrians, cyclists, motorbike taxis and other vehicles and you quickly realise that driving over 50 km/h would be completely irresponsible. Don’t be fooled by distances, leave enough time for your journey as driving in Rwanda is very slow with many interruptions. The most dangerous vehicles on the road are the speeding 20-seater intertown buses.

VISAS:
All visitors are issued with visas on arrival at Kigali International Airport and all land borders.

Nationals of the following countries are issued 30 day visas free of charge: Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Australia, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Belgium, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Cambodia, Comoros, Congo, Cyprus, Dominica, Djibouti, Egypt, Eswatini, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, France, Gabon, Grenada, Greece, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, India, Kiribati, Jamaica, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritania, Maldives, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Principality of Andorra, Romania, Republic of Macedonia, Saharawi Republic, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Switzerland, Togo, Tunisia, The Bahamas, The Gambia, Tonga, Tuvalu, Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and The Grenadines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, United Kingdom, Vietnam, Vanuatu, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Citizens of Burundi, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and South Sudan are issued with free visas for six months.

Nationals of the following countries will be granted 90 days visas free of charge: Angola, Benin, Central African Republic, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, The Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis, Ghana, Guinea, Indonesia, Haiti, Mauritius, Philippines, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Sao Tome and Principe, Singapore and the state Qatar.

Visitors can also apply at the Rwanda Diplomatic Missions of their country of residence before departure or online at https://irembo.gov.rw/home/citizen/all_services.

Visitors who wish to visit Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda can apply online for an East Africa Tourist Visa at https://irembo.gov.rw/rolportal/web/dgie/east-africa-tourist-visa. You can also get this 90 day multiple entry visa upon arrival or from Rwanda Diplomatic missions abroad.

“According to Gerhard Lotz who visited Rwanda recently, it is a beautiful and developing country. They are currently installing 4G. Plastic bags are banned, therefore it is a clean country. The best: they have zero tolerance for bribery. One can go to jail for trying to bribe an official. ” - Karin Theron, 2013/10/21

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TOP ATTRACTION: Lake Ruhondo
TOP ATTRACTION: Volcanoes National Park
TOP ATTRACTION: Nyungwe Forest National Park
TOP ATTRACTION: Akagera National Park
TOP ATTRACTION: Lake Kivu
TOP ATTRACTION: Musanze Caves
TOP ATTRACTION: The Congo Nile Trail
TOP ATTRACTION: Kigali Genocide Memorial & Museum