Rwanda

Understand

Rwanda has come a long way since the civil war and the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi devastated this small country. Shake off your memories of tragic history and expect a warm and friendly welcome to the beautiful country now that this country is modernizing. It is a fast-growing country in Africa in terms of a lot of categories. It is sometimes called "The Singapore of Africa", due to both countries' similarities in geography, politics and modern history.

Get around

thumb|Countryside road in Rwanda

See

thumb|Genocide Memorial site in Kigali

Eat

thumb|Filled plate at a buffet restaurant in Kigali

The local "Brochettes" (skewers) are delicious and are available in most bars and restaurants, as well as ubiquitous vendors along the roads. Small bars will primarily serve goat brochettes, and goat liver brochettes are often of higher quality to the locals. Zingalo is goat intestine, sometimes also served as a brochette. Some locals prefer this and it could be brought to you without asking at very "local" places. So, if you prefer not to eat zingalo, try to see whether other diners seem to be enjoying the spiral looking treat and specify you do not want it when you order ("OYA zingalo"). Some restaurants also serve beef and fish brochettes, and a few will serve chicken. Brochettes are usually served with french fries ("frites") or fried or grilled ibitoke.

If Rwanda has a staple food, it is ibitoke (sing. igitoke). Ibitoke are starchy, potato-like bananas, which are not sweet like plantains. While plantains are available in Rwanda, they are not seen as particularly Rwandan food. Igitoke/banana are served boiled in sauce, grilled, or even fried. You can also refer to them as matoke, which is usually easier for foreigners to pronounce. The sweet bananas in Rwanda are delicious but considerably smaller than the matoke bananas. If you want this type of banana, ask for small banana or sweet banana.

In urban areas a local buffet known as "Melange" is sold at lunchtime. This consists of a buffet of mostly carbohydrates such as…

Drink

In most shops you will find milk, water, juices and soft drinks. In most bars the choice is limited to their offering of about 5 soft drinks and 4 beers, Turbo King, Primus, Mützig and Amstel. Primus and Mützig are available in small and large sizes, whereas Amstel is available only in 330 ml bottles. Rwandans are known for their fondness for large beers and when you order Amstel, it is common for a server to bring out 2 bottles at a time. Bralirwa in the west of the Rwanda produces most of the beer and soft drinks available in Rwanda. Inyange produces juices and soft drinks.

There are also local banana beer preparations called Urwagwa, normally brewed at home and available only in plastic containers but now also sold in bottles at some shops and bars. You can also buy a canned version on this drink under the brand Akarusho, produced by the Rwandan enterpreneur Sina Gérard.

Milk is extremely popular in Rwanda, to the point where people often go to dedicated milk bars to grab a glass. Besides fresh milk, you can also get a type of fermented milk called ikivuguto, which is thick and tangy.

Sleep

thumb|Ubumwe Grande Hotel

Kigali has a wide range of accommodation, from international chains to budget guesthouses. At the top end, the Kigali Marriott Hotel, Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Centre, Mövenpick Hotel Kigali, and The Retreat by Heaven offer international standard rooms. The Hotel des Mille Collines and Chez Lando are long established Kigali favourites (though film buffs should note that Hotel Rwanda was filmed in South Africa, not at the Mille Collines).

Mid-range hotels and boutique guesthouses are plentiful in neighbourhoods like Kimihurura, Kacyiru, and Remera, typically costing US$50–100 per night.

Budget accommodation is available from around US$15–30 for a basic but clean room. Hostels and guesthouses can be found across the city. Airbnb is also widely used in Kigali.

Outside Kigali, accommodation options are more limited. The national park areas (Musanze for gorilla trekking, Huye for the south, and the Lake Kivu towns) have a mix of lodges and guesthouses. Lodges near Volcanoes National Park tend to be at the higher end, catering to gorilla trekking visitors. Along Lake Kivu, there are options at every budget level.

Accommodation across Rwanda is generally more expensive than neighbouring Uganda and Tanzania.

Stay safe

thumb|Giraffes in Akagera National Park

Rwanda is generally a safe country for visitors. It ranks among the safest in Africa according to both the Gallup Global Safety Report and the Numbeo Safety Index. Violent crime against tourists is extremely rare, and Kigali is safe to walk around at night in most neighbourhoods, with main roads well lit.

The possible exceptions are certain places along the Congolese and Burundian borders, where the security situation can change. Gisenyi and Kibuye are considered safe, but check travel advisories and local sources before travelling to border areas. Gorilla trekking near the DRC border is generally considered safe due to the continuous Rwandan security presence.

Visitors should follow typical precautions: avoid flaunting expensive jewellery, keep a close eye on wallets and bags in crowded markets and bus stations. The Rwandan police maintain a visible presence throughout the country. If you need assistance, dial 112.

Begging and aggressive panhandling is fairly rare. Usually a firm but polite "no thank you" is enough to be left alone. Raising your voice even slightly will almost certainly end the conversation.

When travelling by bus or car in the countryside, expect to pass through several police checkpoints. These are routine checks of vehicle registration and insurance, not passenger IDs. However, it is still wise to carry your passport (or a copy) with you at all times.

Photography near certain high-level government buildings su…

Stay healthy

Despite being close to the equator, Rwanda's high altitude (Kigali sits at around 1,500 m) keeps the climate temperate rather than tropical hot. Precautions should still be taken against sunburn due to the strong equatorial sun, and dehydration when hiking at higher elevations. Sunscreen may be difficult to find outside of larger supermarkets and pharmacies; fair skinned visitors should bring their own.

Tap water is not drinkable. Bottled water is widely available for around FRw500–1,000. Pay attention when purchasing bottled water from smaller kiosks, as they may "recycle" old bottles by filling them with tap water. Always make sure the seal around the bottle cap is unbroken. Avoid drinks with ice, as the ice is almost certainly made from tap water.

Pharmacies stocked with over-the-counter medications, Band-Aids, etc. are found throughout the country. The staff are well-trained, though English may not be spoken to a high proficiency. Bring your own supplies of any specialist or prescription medication.

If you do need medical attention, Kigali has decent facilities. King Faisal Hospital in Kacyiru (+250 788 123 200, or dial 3939 locally) is the main referral hospital, and CHUK ( University Teaching Hospital of Kigali) is in the city centre. Outside Kigali, district hospitals exist in major towns but are more basic. Travel insurance with medical evacuation cover is strongly recommended.

Malaria risk in Kigali is low thanks to the altitude, but increases in lower lying area…

Respect

thumb|Skulls in Nyamata Memorial Site Rwanda is a very conservative society, and most people dress modestly, especially women. Wearing shorts or tight skirts and skimpy tops is likely to get you stared at twice as much as normal.

It is unusual for a couple to make public displays of affection, even though many men walk hand in hand with male friends. Also, Rwandans will generally never eat or drink in public, apart from restaurants. Rwandan women are rarely seen smoking in public or out in bars unaccompanied.

Although there is no smoking ban in most public places like bars and restaurants, generally it's not encouraged. Sometimes people may complain of being disturbed with people's smoking.

Rwandans are very private, reserved people and loud public confrontations (shouting matches) or obvious displays of emotion (such as crying) are also frowned upon. If you feel you are being overcharged by a trader, quietly persisting with the negotiation (or your complaint!) is likely to produce results much faster than an angry outburst.

It is also impolite to make eye contact with an elder.

Rwanda is still recovering from a civil war and genocide in which over 800,000 people, perhaps a million, mostly Tutsi, were killed. Many Rwandans lost relatives and friends. Remember to be sensitive to this sad fact when dealing with Rwandans. Most people today are trying to forget the tribal divisions and would rather be referred to as Rwandans than Hutu or Tutsi. It is considered impolite to a…