In shortRwanda is a small, mountainous country in East Africa, best known for mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park. It also offers Big Five safaris in Akagera, chimpanzees and a canopy walk in Nyungwe, beaches on Lake Kivu and a clean, safe capital, Kigali. Distances are short: no major park is more than about six hours' drive from Kigali.
Why Rwanda?
Rwanda packs an extraordinary range of landscapes into a country of 26,338 km²: volcanoes over 4,500 m, ancient rainforest, savanna and a vast lake. It is one of Africa's safest and most organised destinations, with excellent roads, a ban on plastic bags since 2008 and a capital, Kigali, famous for its cleanliness.
Getting there
Fly into Kigali International Airport (KGL). From Europe and North America, common routes go via Brussels, Amsterdam, Doha, Istanbul, Dubai, Addis Ababa or Nairobi. Most nationalities can get a visa on arrival or online.
Getting around
Self-drive is possible on Rwanda's good roads (drive on the right), but most visitors prefer a private 4x4 with a driver-guide, who also handles park logistics. See our car hire options.
Essentials
- Language: Kinyarwanda, English, French and Swahili
- Currency: Rwandan franc (RWF); US dollars widely accepted for tourism
- Time zone: Central Africa Time, UTC+2, no daylight saving
- Plugs: Types C and J, 230 V
- Umuganda: monthly community work on the last Saturday morning; traffic is limited until about 11:00
