Travel Vaccines and Advice for Rwanda

Yes, some vaccines are recommended or required for Rwanda. The CDC and WHO recommend the following vaccinations for Rwanda: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, yellow fever, rabies, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), chickenpox, shingles, pneumonia and influenza.

COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for travel to all regions, both foreign and domestic. Check with your local Passport Health clinic if immunization is offered in your area.

Malaria is endemic in Rwanda. Antimalarials are the best protection against infection. Be sure to use mosquito repellents as a second barrier against the disease.

Medical facilities are common throughout Rwanda, with the best services provided in Kigali. Some medicines and prescriptions may be hard to find here.

Visit our vaccinations page to learn more. Travel safely with Passport Health and schedule your appointment today by calling or book online now.

A passport and visa are required for entry to Rwanda. While the visa can be obtained at entry, it is best to receive on ahead of travel through the Rwandan embassy.

Rwanda Entry Requirements
Do I Need A…	For My Trip to Rwanda?
Passport
Tourist Visa
Business Visa
Vaccinations

Sources: Embassy of Rwanda and U.S. State Department

Proof of yellow fever vaccination is also required for entry.

Rwanda’s weather is tropical and doesn’t change much throughout the year. The temperature is usually warm, but it can be cooler in some areas due to the high altitude. The weather in Rwanda’s most popular tourist destinations varies slightly. Kigali has a temperate climate with two rainy seasons, from March to May and October to December.

Volcanoes National Park has cooler weather due to its high altitude and rainy seasons in March to May and October to November. Nyungwe Forest National Park is a rainforest with temperatures ranging from 50 to 75 degrees and rainy seasons from September to May. Lake Kivu is a popular tourist destination with a tropical climate, and temperatures ranging from 70 to 85 degrees throughout the year.

It’s important to note that weather can be unpredictable, so it’s always good to check the forecast before going on a trip.

Travelers should be cautious around border areas. An armed militant group (The Democratic Forces of the Liberation of Rwanda) operate in the Democratic Republic of Congo and are near the border. Rape, pillaging and kidnapping can occur in the North and South Kivu provinces.

Also be cautious at Volcanoes National Park, for DRC militant groups also operate on the DRC border, though sometimes the borders are not marked.

The most common crimes that are reported are robbery. Don’t display cash, avoid walking at night, and drive with your doors and windows locked.

In 1994, one million Tutsis and Hutus were murdered in the span of 100 days by the Interahamwe. A memorial to the victims of this genocide can is in the capital city of Kigali.

The memorial honors the 250,000 victims that were buried in a mass grave where the memorial is now placed. The memorial tells the history of colonization in Rwanda and the events that led up to the genocide. A particular section of the memorial is dedicated to the murdered children. The section showcases children’s stories using life-sized photographs and biographies of the children. The memorial also calls for justice through the court system.

This memorial not only remembers the genocide that occurred in Rwanda, but also takes a look at other genocides that have occurred throughout the world.

Here are some essential items to consider for your trip to Rwanda:

• Bring light layers of clothing. It can be hot during the day, but it can get cooler at night.
• Sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun. Sunscreen is available here, but it may be quite expensive.
• Insect repellent and mosquito nets are important to have. Practice all precautions against mosquito bites to avoid malaria and zika.
• Comfortable walking shoes make exploring much easier. Roads can be muddy and uneven. Simple sandals won’t cut it.

All Americans visiting Rwanda should register online with the U.S. Department of State before departure. This will inform the office of your travel plans within the country and will allow them to reach out in the case of an emergency or evacuation.

Once in Rwanda, the information for the U.S. Embassy is:

U.S. Embassy Kigali
30 KG 7 Avenue
Kigali, Rwanda
Telephone: +250-252-596-400-7000 (Monday through Thursday, 8:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Friday from 8:15 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.)
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +250-252-596-400, and dial 1
Fax: +250-252-596-591

Stay safe abroad with Passport Health. Call or book online now and start traveling safely today!