Rwanda travel advisory
General information about Rwanda
- Time zone: Central Africa Time (UTC +2)
- Prefix: +250
- Voltage: 230 V / 50 Hz
- Capital: Kigali
- Official language: Kinyarwanda, French, English, and Swahili
- Currency: Rwandan Franc (RWF)
- Climate: temperate tropical highland
- Average temperature: 16ºC – 28ºC, but lower as the altitude rises
National holidays
- New Year’s Day (1/1)
- Day after New Year’s Day (2/1)
- National Heroes Day (1/2)
- Good friday
- Genocide against the Tutsi Memorial Day (7/4)
- Easter Monday
- Labor Day (1/5)
- Independence Day (1/7)
- Liberation Day (4/7)
- Umuganura Day (4/8)
- Assumption Day (15/8)
- Christmas Day (25/12)
- Boxing Day (26/12)
Currency details
- Official currency: Rwandan Franc (RWF)
- Banknotes: 500, 1.000, 2.000 and 5.000 francs
- Coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 francs
- Exchange rate: check the current rate here.
Currency and customs information for Rwanda
Official currency
The currency in use is the Rwandan franc (RWF). You’ll be able to use banknotes of 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000 and 5000 RWF. The coins in circulation are of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 RWF.
In specific circumstances, you will also be able to pay in US Dollars. The bigger the amount owed is, the most likely it is that USD and other foreign currencies will be accepted. Make sure the USD bills you use have been issued after 2006.
Credit cards
Visa bank cards are easily accepted in most tourist centers and activities. MasterCard is also accepted, but to a lesser degree.
However, you will mostly be paying in cash, so make exchanging currencies a priority once you arrive in Rwanda.
ATMs
ATMs are easily found in Kigali and all major cities. If you plan on spending time in rural Rwanda, make sure you exchange enough currency before heading out of the big cities.
Banks
Rwanda’s banks open from 8:00 to 17:00, from Monday to Saturday. They close on Sundays and national holidays.
The Bank of Kigali is regarded as the best bank in the country so, if you can, prioritize it for your use.
Currency restrictions
There are no currency restrictions for Rwanda, no matter if you’re entering or leaving the country.
Restricted imports and exports
You can find a complete list of all prohibited goods in Rwanda here.
Discovering the local culture
- The people of Rwanda are divided into three big ethnic groups: 85% are Hutu, 14% are Tutsi and 1% are Twa.
- It’s mostly a rural population: more than 70% of Rwandans live in rural areas instead of cities.
- Rwandans are seen as extremely polite people. Greet appropriately every local you come into contact with for a pleasant travel experience.
- In terms of religion, the one with the most followers is Catholicism (39,9% of the population). In order of importance it’s followed by: Pentecostal (21,3%). Protestant (14,6%), Adventist (12,2%) and Muslim (2%).
- There’s a ban of plastic bags in place in Rwanda. This means that you’re not allowed to travel to Rwanda with plastic bags of any sort.
- A distinct aspect of the culture of Rwanda is Umuganda (which translates to “coming together in common purpose to achieve an outcome”). The last Saturday of every month is Umuganda day, when the people come together for volunteer work (cleaning, repairing and building, etc.). It became more important after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, as a way to rebuild community ties that were severed in all the horror.
Safety advice
- These are all the recommended vaccines for foreign travelers: Chickenpox (Varicella), Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis, Flu (influenza), Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR), Polio, Shingles, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Rabies and Typhoid.
- It’s also advisable to protect yourself against malaria when traveling to Rwanda. Get the appropriate medication from your doctor, and use other preventive measures such as insect repellent, long-sleeved shirts and pants, and bed nets. These measures will also help you against Dengue, Chikungunya and African Tick-Bite Fever.
- Tourists are to avoid tap water and only drink bottled water. Make sure the seal is intact before opening the bottle so you know it’s completely safe.
- If you have to go to the hospital, the best one is King Faisal Hospital in Kigali.
- Photographing public buildings (military and government buildings and border points) is forbidden by law.
- In terms of your personal safety, there are no special security concerns: Rwanda is one of the safest destinations in all of Africa. Just take the same basic precautions as you would anywhere else.
- Homosexuality, even though it’s not illegal, is still taboo. Try to be as discreet as possible to avoid making the locals uncomfortable.