Travel advisory · RwandaSome governments advise against travel to parts of Rwanda.The warnings cover only these areas: Border regions with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Rusizi district border areas.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice

Areas with warnings

Border regions with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) · avoid non-essential travel · Germany, Spain, New Zealand
Rusizi district border areas · avoid non-essential travel · Italy, UK

Also named by one government: Rubavu district (New Zealand), Bugesera district border areas (Italy), Gisagara district border areas (Italy), Karongi district border areas (Italy), Kirehe district border areas (Italy), Musanze district border areas (Italy), Ngoma district border areas (Italy), Nyabihu district border areas (Italy), Nyamasheke district border areas (Italy), Nyanza district border areas (Italy), Rubavu district border areas (Italy), Rutsiro district border areas (Italy)

Government	Advice	Updated	Read the advice
United Kingdom (FCDO)	No advice against the whole country (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice
United States (State Dept)	Reconsider travel	Jun 4, 2026	Read the advice
Canada (Global Affairs)	Take normal security precautions	–	Read the advice
Germany (Auswärtiges Amt)	No advice against the whole country (regional advisories)	Oct 13, 2026	Read the advice
New Zealand (SafeTravel)	Exercise normal safety and security precautions (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice
France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs)	Vigilance renforcée (en jaune) pour l'ensemble du pays	–	Read the advice

Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.

Africa

Rwanda

Rwanda is a small, hilly country in East Africa where travelers track mountain gorillas, see chimpanzees in forest reserves and visit Kigali, one of Africa's cleanest capitals.

Start with the essentials Plan a trip to Rwanda

Rwanda is a landlocked country in East Africa, bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is nicknamed the Land of a Thousand Hills. Its highest point, Mount Karisimbi at 4,519 meters, lies in the Virunga volcano chain in the northwest. Kigali, the capital and largest city, sits near the center of the country at about 1,567 meters and is widely described as one of the cleanest cities in Africa.

Many visitors come for wildlife. Volcanoes National Park holds about one-third of the world's mountain gorillas, and tracking them is the main draw. Permits cost US$1,500 per foreigner and only a small number are issued each day, so permit dates often set the rest of the trip. Nyungwe Forest National Park has chimpanzees, and Akagera National Park in the east has elephants, giraffes and zebras. The main dry season runs June to September. Memorial sites across the country record the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

Five things to know before Rwanda

Get your visa on arrival
Citizens of every country can get a visa on arrival. African Union, Commonwealth and Francophonie citizens, UK included, pay no fee for 30 days; others pay up to $50 for a single entry. Visa on arrival
Leave plastic bags at home
Rwanda bans plastic bags, and any found at arrival are confiscated. Pack in cloth or zip bags instead. UK travel advice
Book gorilla permits months ahead
Permits for Volcanoes National Park are limited each day and sell out in peak dry months. Book through the Rwanda Development Board or a licensed operator before flights.
Plan around Umuganda on the last Saturday
The last Saturday of each month is a national day of community work. Most services close from 7am to 11am, so plan transfers for the afternoon.
Check entry rules for Uganda and Kenya
Adding Uganda or Kenya means separate entry rules. Kenya requires an eTA applied for online before travel; check Uganda's rule for your passport on its official immigration site.

Rwanda travel guides

Practical guides from writers who live there.

Visas and entry

Visa on arrival and fee waivers by country group.

Read the guide Travel insurance

Medical and evacuation cover, and what policies exclude.

Read the guide Phones and eSIM

Getting data in Rwanda from the day you land.

Read the guide Money and costs

Cash, cards, ATMs and what to carry for rural stretches.

Read the guide Getting around

Domestic flights, long-distance buses and hiring a driver.

Read the guide

Top places to visit in Rwanda

See all attractions in Rwanda

Museum · KigaliKigali Genocide Memorial

Sight · RwandaPresidential Palace Museum

Sight · RwandaHotel des Mille Collines

a blue and yellow bridge over a dirt road

Sight · RwandaMurambi Genocide Memorial

Destinations in Rwanda

the sun is setting over a city with tall buildings

CityKigaliExplore

What a day costs in Rwanda

Per person, in RWF

Work out your trip

BudgetRWF 23,000a day≈ $16 · per person

Hostel beds, cheap eats, buses and free sights.

Bed a night: RWF 15,000
Food: RWF 6,000
Transport: RWF 2,000
Sights: Free

Mid-rangeRWF 90,000a day≈ $61 · per person

A 3-star room, casual restaurants, public transport and one paid sight a day.

Bed a night: RWF 40,000
Food: RWF 25,000
Transport: RWF 10,000
Sights: RWF 15,000

ComfortRWF 235,000a day≈ $159 · per person

A 4-star room, good restaurants, taxis and a guided tour.

Bed a night: RWF 100,000
Food: RWF 60,000
Transport: RWF 25,000
Sights: RWF 50,000

Checked Oct 3, 2026 by Amara NwosuA source for every line on the trip cost page. Flights not included. Rates By Exchange Rate APIWork out your trip

When to go

Rainy days

Best

JanuaryRain14 rainy daysHigh26°Low16°Short dry spell
FebruaryRain13 rainy daysHigh27°Low16°Short dry spell
MarchRain19 rainy daysHigh26°Low16°Long rains
AprilRain24 rainy daysHigh25°Low15°Wettest
MayRain15 rainy daysHigh24°Low15°Rains ease
JunePartly cloudy3 rainy daysHigh25°Low15°Dry season
JulyClear1 rainy dayHigh27°Low16°Dry, busy
AugustClear5 rainy daysHigh28°Low17°Dry, busy
SeptemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh28°Low17°Dry, warm
OctoberRain16 rainy daysHigh27°Low16°Short rains
NovemberRain21 rainy daysHigh25°Low15°Rainy
DecemberRain19 rainy daysHigh26°Low15°Drier, green

Average daily high and low in Kigali, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to RwandaPut the places you like in Rwanda on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Right now in Rwanda

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 22°
Humidity: 74%
Wind: 4 km/h
Chance of rain: 89%

Rwanda

10:36 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+2

Today25°14°89%Monday: Rain. High 25°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 89%.
Tue25°15°100%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 25°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 100%.
Wed25°14°75%Wednesday: Rain. High 25°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 75%.
Thu25°15°96%Thursday: Rain. High 25°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 96%.
Fri25°15°95%Friday: Drizzle. High 25°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 95%.
Sat24°15°96%Saturday: Rain. High 24°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 96%.
Sun25°15°88%Sunday: Drizzle. High 25°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 88%.

Updated 06:18 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 1,476 RWF

Amount

Converted to

RWF · Rwandan Franc

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Rwanda

Big events, festivals and concert tours

Events calendar

a group of women standing next to each other

JanuaryTimkatJan 19, 2027

Before you go to Rwanda

eSIM for RwandaData from the day you landRead the guide Travel insuranceMedical and evacuation coverRead the guide Money in RwandaCash, cards and ATMsRead the guide Visas and entryRules for your passportRead the guide

Rules for Rwanda, checked

Every nationality can get a visa on arrival; AU, Commonwealth and Francophonie citizens pay nothing for 30 days, others up to $50 single entry.Checked Oct 1, 2026 · Read more Plastic bags are banned in Rwanda and are confiscated on arrivalChecked Oct 1, 2026 · Read more Drones must be declared on arrival and may be confiscated or held until you leave the country.Checked Oct 1, 2026 · Read more Carry a yellow fever certificate if you arrive from a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission.Checked Oct 1, 2026 · Read more

Rwanda FAQ

Do I need a visa for Rwanda?

You can get one on arrival whatever your nationality. UK and other Commonwealth citizens get 30 days free; most other visitors pay up to $50 for a single entry.

When is the best time to see gorillas in Rwanda?

June to September and December to February are drier, so trails are easier. Tracking runs all year, and permits sell out first in the dry months.

How many days do I need in Rwanda?

Five to seven days covers Kigali, gorillas in Volcanoes and either Nyungwe or Akagera. Distances are short but roads are hilly and slow.

Can I combine Rwanda with Uganda?

Yes. The border crossings to southwest Uganda are a few hours from Volcanoes. Check Uganda's entry rule for your passport first, because it is separate from Rwanda's.

What is Umuganda?

A national day of community work on the last Saturday of each month. Most shops and transport pause from 7am to 11am.