Contents
Summary
Entry and exit requirements
Safety and security
Local travel
Laws that apply to you
Health issues
Where to get help
Additional information
Summary
- We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution in Rwanda because of the risk of rebel and criminal activity.
- Pay close attention to your personal security at all times and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks.
- Grenade attacks have occurred in Kigali and Southern Province. See Civil Unrest/Political Tension for more details.
- We advise you to reconsider your need to travel to the areas bordering Burundi because of the high risk of conflict between government forces and rebels and banditry. These areas include the Nyungwe Forest.
- We strongly advise you not to travel to the areas bordering the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with the exception of the towns of Gisenyi, Kibuye and Cyangugu, because of the volatile and unpredictable security situation in this region.
- Australia does not have an Embassy or Consulate in Rwanda. The Australian High Commission in Kenya provides consular assistance to Australians in Rwanda.
- Be a smart traveller. Before heading overseas:
- organise comprehensive travel insurance and check what circumstances and activities are not covered by your policy
- register your travel and contact details, so we can contact you in an emergency
- subscribe to this travel advice to receive free email updates each time it's reissued.
Entry and exit
Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Rwanda for the most up to date information.
A Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate is required for entry into Rwanda.
Rwanda is listed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as endemic for yellow fever. Some airlines may require passengers to present a valid Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate before being allowed to board flights out of the country. If in doubt, check with your airline.
If you have visited Rwanda in the last six days prior to your date of return to Australia, Australian Customs officials will ask you to present a valid Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate on entry into Australia.
Make sure your passport has at least six months' validity from your planned date of return to Australia. You should carry copies of a recent passport photo with you in case you need a replacement passport while overseas.
Safety and security
Terrorism
Terrorism is a threat throughout the world. You can find more information about this threat in our General Advice to Australian Travellers.
Civil unrest/political tension
We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution in Rwanda because of the risk of rebel and criminal activity.
Grenade attacks and other incidents of violence have occurred during 2010 and 2011, including in the capital Kigali and Southern Province. On 28 January, 1 March and 12 July 2011 police reported that fatal grenade attacks had occurred in Kigali. Genocide memorial sites, markets and taxi and bus stops have been targeted in such attacks. People have been killed and injured in these attacks.
You should avoid all protests, rallies and demonstrations as they may turn violent.
Border with Burundi: We advise you to reconsider your need to travel to the areas bordering Burundi because of the unsettled security environment, the high risk of conflict between government forces and rebels in Burundi, and the risk of cross-border incursions by armed groups, including bandits. The border can close without notice.
Border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo We strongly advise you not to travel to the rural areas bordering the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), except the towns of Gisenyi, Kibuye and Cyangugu, due to the volatile and unpredictable security situation in this region. Since October 2008, heavy fighting has occurred in the DRC, close to the border with Rwanda, particularly in North Kivu Province, DRC. The situation remains volatile and could deteriorate without warning. Closure of the border could occur without notice. There is a risk of cross-border incursions by armed guerrillas operating from the Kivu provinces in the DRC. There have been no recent reports of violence in the towns of Gisenyi, Kibuye and Cyangugu.
If you are planning to visit the gorillas or climb volcanoes in the Volcanoes National Park (Parc National des Volcans), you should seek local advice before visiting this area. It is also advised that you book with a reputable travel agent. Permission from the Rwanda Office of Tourism and National Parks (ORTPN) is required before visiting the parks. The ORTPN may provide military escorts to these areas because of the risk of rebel attack. We strongly recommend that you only visit as part of an organised tour group.
Crime
Petty crime targeting foreigners and tourists, including bag snatching, pickpocketing and robbery, is common in Rwanda. You should avoid walking or travelling after dark and remain vigilant during daylight hours. Theft from hotel rooms and vehicles occurs. Incidents of armed robbery have been reported in the capital, Kigali. When driving you should ensure that windows are closed, doors locked and valuables out of sight. Residential theft is reportedly increasing within Kigali.
Money and valuables
Before you go, organise a variety of ways to access your money in Rwanda, such as credit cards, travellers' cheques, cash, debit cards or cash cards. Consult with your bank to find out which is the most appropriate currency to carry and whether your ATM card will work overseas.
Rwanda is a cash-based society. Credit cards are only accepted at large hotels (check with your intended hotel before travelling to determine which credit cards they accept). Travellers' cheques can only be cashed at commercial banks. International ATMs are scarce in Rwanda.
Make two photocopies of valuable documents such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers' cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.
While travelling, don't carry too much cash and remember that expensive watches, jewellery and cameras may be tempting targets for thieves.
As a sensible precaution against luggage tampering, including theft, lock your luggage. Information on luggage safety is available from Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to criminals who may try to use your identity to commit crimes. It should always be kept in a safe place. You are required by Australian law to report a lost or stolen passport. If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, report it online or contact the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate as soon as possible.
You are required to pay an additional fee to have a lost or stolen passport replaced. In some cases, the Government may also restrict the length of validity or type of replacement passports.
Local travel
While the main roads between Kigali and other major towns are generally in good condition, many secondary roads are only accessible by four-wheel drive vehicles, particularly during the rainy season. You should avoid driving at night as roads are unlit outside of major towns. Poorly maintained vehicles, poor driving standards, speeding drivers and roaming animals pose additional safety risks. For further advice, see our bulletin on Overseas Road Safety.
We recommend that you use only licensed auto taxis, which are orange-striped, and confirm the fare before departure. Minivans (shared taxis) and motorbikes should be avoided, especially at night, due to reckless driving and poor maintenance.
Police road blocks are common throughout the country. Travellers may be stopped and vehicles and luggage searched.
Access to the Volcanoes National Park (Parc National des Volcans, also known as the Virunga National Park) and Nyungwe Forest requires permission from the ORTPN (see also Civil Unrest/Political Tension above). You will be required to purchase a permit from the Rwandan Tourism Board before entering the parks.
Airline safety
Please refer to our travel bulletin for information about Aviation Safety and Security.
Laws
When you are in Rwanda, be aware that local laws and penalties, including ones that appear harsh by Australian standards, do apply to you. If you are arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you but we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.
Information on what Australian consular officers can and cannot do to help Australians in trouble overseas is available from the Consular Services Charter.
Penalties for the possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs are severe and convicted offenders can expect lengthy prison sentences and heavy fines.
Photographing government buildings is prohibited.
Plastic bags are prohibited in Rwanda. You may be fined and the plastic bags confiscated on entry at the international airport and in public places.
Some Australian criminal laws, such as those relating to money, laundering, bribery of foreign public officials, terrorism, child pornography, and child sex tourism, apply to Australians overseas. Australians who commit these offences while overseas may be prosecuted in Australia.
Australian authorities are committed to combating sexual exploitation of children by Australians overseas. Australians may be prosecuted at home under Australian child sex tourism and child pornography laws. These laws provide severe penalties for up to 25 years imprisonment for Australians who engage in child sexual exploitation while outside of Australia.
Information for dual nationals
Our Dual Nationals brochure provides further information.
Health
On 10 August 2010, the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced it had moved to a post-pandemic period in response to pandemic (H1N1) 2009. The virus is expected to remain as a seasonal influenza virus and local outbreaks may occur. For more information see the WHO website.
We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance that will cover any overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation, before you depart. Confirm that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away and check what circumstances and activities are not included in your policy. Remember, regardless of how healthy and fit you are, if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. The Australian Government will not pay for a traveller's medical expenses overseas or medical evacuation costs.
Medical facilities are very limited throughout the country. In the case of an accident or illness, medical evacuation by air ambulance to Nairobi would be necessary and, if serious, a medical evacuation from Kenya to a destination with the required facilities would be recommended. A medical evacuation from Rwanda could cost tens of thousands of dollars.
Malaria occurs widely and throughout the year in Rwanda. Other insect-borne diseases (including yellow fever) also occur. We encourage you to take prophylaxis against malaria and take measures to avoid insect bites, including using insect repellent at all times, wearing long, loose-fitting, light coloured clothing and ensuring your accommodation is mosquito proof.
Water-borne, food-borne and other infectious diseases (including HIV/AIDS, meningitis, meningococcal, tuberculosis and rabies) are prevalent with more serious outbreaks occurring from time to time. We encourage you to consider having vaccinations before travelling. We advise you to boil all drinking water or drink bottled water, avoid ice cubes and raw and undercooked food. Do not swim in fresh water to avoid exposure to certain water-borne diseases such as bilharzia (schistosomiasis). Seek medical advice if you have a fever or are suffering from diarrhoea.
The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has confirmed cases of avian influenza in birds in a number of countries throughout the world. For a list of these countries, visit the OIE website. For information on our advice to Australians on how to reduce the risk of infection and on Australian Government precautions see our travel bulletin on avian influenza.
Your doctor or travel clinic is the best source of information about preventive measures, immunisations (including booster doses of childhood vaccinations) and disease outbreaks overseas. The World Health Organization provides information for travellers and our Travelling Well brochure also provides useful tips for travelling with medicines and staying healthy while travelling overseas.
Where to get help
Australia does not have an Embassy or Consulate in Rwanda. You can obtain consular assistance from the nearest Australian High Commission which is in Kenya:
Australian High Commission
Riverside Drive (400 metres off Chiromo Road)
Nairobi, Kenya
Telephone: (+254 20) 427 7100
Facsimile: (+254 20) 427 7139
Website: www.kenya.embassy.gov.au
If you are travelling to Rwanda, whatever the reason and however long you'll be there, we encourage you to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. You can register online or in person at any Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate. The information you provide will help us to contact you in an emergency - whether it is a natural disaster, civil disturbance or a family issue.
In a consular emergency, if you are unable to contact the above High Commission you can contact the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or 1300 555 135 within Australia.
In Australia, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra may be contacted on (02) 6261 3305.
Additional information
Wildlife
Australians are advised to respect wildlife laws and to maintain a safe and legal distance when observing wildlife. You should only use reputable and professional guides or tour operators and closely follow park regulations and wardens' advice.
Natural disasters, severe weather and climate
The rainy seasons are February to May and September to December. Heavy rains can occur during these months and have the potential to cause flooding and mudslides throughout Rwanda. Damage caused by heavy rain may inhibit the delivery of essential services and the ability to travel around Rwanda, as roads may be impassable.
Northwestern Rwanda is in an active seismic zone and is subject to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The most recent earthquake occurred in 2008 on the border with the DRC and a volcanic eruption occurred in 2002. Information on natural disasters can be obtained from the Humanitarian Early Warning Service. If a natural disaster occurs, follow the advice of local authorities.
For parents
For general information and tips on travelling with children see our Travelling with Children brochure.
If you are planning on placing your children in schools or childcare facilities overseas we encourage you to research the standards of security, care and staff training within those establishments. You should exercise the same precautions you would take before placing children into schools or childcare facilities in Australia.
Ideas on how to select childcare providers are available from the smartraveller Children's Issues page, Child Wise and the National Childcare Accreditation Council.