Documents | Passport and Visas | Air Tickets | Aircraft seats & special needs | Baggage Allowances | Health | Clothing on Safari | Gorilla, Chimp traking and Forest Walks | What to pack | Technology | Medicine | Emergency Info | Money Matters

 

Before Departure to Rwanda:

Insurance:

It is generally a condition of carriage and essential that all visitors have comprehensive and cancellation insurance. We recommend that the policy should include emergency repatriation to your country of residence, and a 24 hour emergency telephone number should be provided. (This emergency number must be announced to the Tour operator/leader)
Some credit card companies provide automatic travel insurance if you pay your holiday by credit card. Please check with your card company on the extent of the cover provided. We have experienced that cover for medical expenses or loss of luggage and cancellation charges is not always adequate.
We recommend that you arrange a separate insurance cover for valuable items like cameras and intimate personal items prior to your departure. You may be able to extend your household insurance for this purpose.

Documents:

When you travel, carry your insurance policy with you. Leave photocopies of this document, your passport and a note of the numbers of any traveller's cheques with a reliable contact back home, in case the originals are lost or stolen. It is a good idea to keep a photocopy of your passport and your airline tickets with you.

Passport and Visas.

Your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond your stay in Rwanda. Currently British, American, Canadian and South African passport holders do not require a visa for entry to Rwanda for tourism purposes. We must emphasize that you are responsible for ensuring that your passport is in order.
Should you overnight in Nairobi on your return leg, you will need to pay $20 cash on arrival for a transit visa (valid for 72 hours).

Air Tickets:

You will normally be travelling on 'inclusive tour' air tickets and these tickets are not flexible. Under certain circumstances, it may be possible to change the return date of your ticket though any permissible alteration will usually incur substantial cancellation/amendment charges. In an emergency (eg: illness), new tickets may have to be obtained and the extra cost claimed on insurance.

Aircraft seats and Special needs:

Your travel agent can request seats in specific positions for you, but without guarantees due to technical reasons such as change of aircraft at the last moment etc. Seats by the 'emergency exit ' cannot be pre-booked. Please advise your travel agent for special meals on your flight (vegetarian, vegan, kosher, halal etc) at least a week in advance. Wheelchair assistance requires at least 2 weeks notice prior to departure. Women who will be 28 weeks or more pregnant on their date of their intended return will need a medical certificate of their fitness to travel. NB: Some airlines have their own regulations regarding this and Kiboko can assist you with the exact regulations.
It is essential to check-in early for both International and Domestic flights. Allow a minimum of 2 hours for international and 1.25 hours for domestic flights. Please remember that airlines often overbook their flights and that the earlier you check-in, the less likely you are to suffer the consequences. If the airline cannot accommodate you due to late check-in you may have to amend your flight and stay at extra cost. Once in Rwanda we shall be happy reconfirm your flight 72 hours prior to departure.

Baggage allowances:

Please check with Kiboko about free baggage allowances and hand baggage rules and limitations. The baggage allowances vary from airlines, they can be
20 - 30 kg (44-66 lbs) - economy class
30-40 kg (66-88 lbs) - business class.

Health:

There is a risk of malaria and precautions, including anti-malaria tablets and insect repellents, recommended by your doctor are imperative. Some mosquitoes are resistant to certain prophylactics and you are strongly advised to take precautions (a good mosquito repellent, long sleeve shirts, trousers etc).
Inoculation against tetanus and cholera are recommended, but not compulsory.
Hepatitis inoculations are at the traveller's discretion.
Rwandan health regulations state that a yellow fever vaccination is required for entry, but in practice, this certificate is generally not requested from international traveller's arriving by air from Kenya and travelling on British passports. Yellow fever vaccination should be taken at least 10 days before travel.
NB: Should you be transiting in Nairobi, Kenyan airport authorities may ask for the yellow fever vaccination.
We strongly recommend taking wet-wipes and using them after handling currency to reduce risks of digestive upsets.
Never drink un-purified water. Bottled mineral water is available almost everywhere, including in our tour vehicles.
People planning prolonged camping trips should take water purification tablets.
We recommend peeling all fruits before consumption.
The strong rays of the African sun can cause severe burns and sunstroke in a few hours. Please take necessary precautions (light clothing, hat, sunglasses UV protected, and sun creams).
AIDS exists in Rwanda, but is not nearly as widespread an in other parts of Africa, thanks to effective educational campaigns.

Clothing on Safari:

None of the hotels in Rwanda insists on formal dress and the norm is casual wear. In town and cities long trousers or shorts with golf shirts are acceptable and women may wear skirts with a top. On safari, casual wear is recommended with a hat and sun cream. NB: Please refrain from wearing camouflage patterns in Rwanda. Avoid dark colours (especially blue and black) as they attract "tsetse" flies.

Gorilla, Chimpanzee Tracking and Forest walks:

Greens, khaki and neutral colours are recommended. Avoid bright colours and camouflage patterns. You may expect diverse weather conditions. Pack warm items like a tracksuit, pullover or sweater and a light rain gear for mountainous areas (Volcanoes & Nyungwe National Parks).
For the Gorilla and Chimpanzee tracking you will need a comfortable pair of walking shoes or boots. Conditions can be muddy and slippery. Uphill sections can be quite steep and strenuous. It is advisable to wear long sleeve cotton shirt and long trousers tucked in your socks to protect yourself against the undergrowth, stinging nettles and safari ants. Tracksuit bottoms often get caught on bushes, thorns, etc and jeans can get heavy when wet. Best bet for tracking are comfortable cotton slacks. A cheap pair of gardening gloves will protect you from thorns, stinging nettles. Take a bottle or two of water, some wet wipes and a small day pack for camera gear. During your briefing at the park HQ, you will be introduced to porters who charge a small amount (around $ 5) to carry your day pack and extras for you. Your clothes may get muddy and wet so you may want to pack some old clothes for this tracking.

What to pack:

Lightweight, long clothing (long sleeved shirts, long trousers/slacks) T-shirts, Polos/Skirts. Fleece/jersey/sweater for evenings, especially for high-lying places. Day bag/pack, good hiking boots with a good grip for steep trails (Gorilla tracking), walking shoes.
Rainwear for forest walks, flip-flops for lake areas, swimming gear, Bush hat/cap, U/V protected sun glasses. Comb, brush, shampoo, soap, deodorant, tooth brush & tooth paste, hand sanitizer, sunscreen (30+) Rwanda is just off the equator and this is very important (Some now have DEET in them, a nice option for packing light), insect repellent - If you have an allergic reaction to DEET there are many good organic options out there (Cooking vanilla works well and it smells good too- try some in a plastic spray bottle), feminine products - not readily available in Rwanda.

Other things that might be handy:

Alarm clock, camera (film, batteries, chargers, extra scan discs.), binoculars, notebook and writing tools, refillable water bottle, flashlight or headlight.

Technology:

If you bring a laptop or other electronics you will need the EU plug as an adaptor with a 220V. There is good coverage for cell phones if you have the correct phone.
There is Internet access in a few hotels and Internet Cafés.

Medicine:

Bring not only your prescriptive medicines but also others you may need. Benadryl, Tylenol, etc.

Emergency Info

A list of emergency numbers and an itinerary- include phone numbers for your family as well as the U.S. Embassy phone number.

Money Matters:

US Dollars cash is the preferred option, however EUROS and GBP are also well accepted. The unit of currency is the Rwanda franc. To change money in Kigali, bring USD $100 Bills issued in 2000 or later (older bills are usually not accepted or will receive an inferior exchange rate), which can be exchanged for Rwandan francs at any FOREX foreign exchange. It may be impossible to exchange travellers' cheques away from the capital. Credit cards are usually only accepted at the major hotels in Kigali.