Tips and recommendations for healthy travel to top destinations
Learn more about your flu vaccine options
Learn more about the travel visa requirements for top destinations
Despite the 1994 genocide, Rwanda has a growing population and booming tourism trade.
The growing nation provides the opportunity to see mountain gorillas, bamboo forests and amazing volcanoes.
Rwanda is a must-visit for Africa-bound travelers.
Yes, some vaccines are recommended or required for Rwanda. The CDC and WHO recommend the following vaccines for Rwanda: typhoid, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, cholera, yellow fever, rabies, and influenza.
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.
Rwanda has had multiple reports of cholera in recent years. Some of its neighboring countries have had large cholera outbreaks as well.
Cholera vaccination is recommended for travelers to Rwanda. Vaccination is the best protection against the disease. Passport Health clinics offer Vaxchora, the only cholera vaccine available in the United States. Book your cholera vaccination appointment today!
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.
Proof of yellow fever vaccination is also required for entry.
For more information, see our Rwanda visa page. Or contact a Passport Health Passport and Visa specialist by calling 1-844-366-8472 or by filling out our online form.
Rwanda has a temperate tropical highland climate due to its high elevation. Rwanda’s temperatures vary throughout the year, with average temperatures ranging from the mid-50’s to low-80’s.
The rainy seasons are from March-April and October-December. During the rainy season, downpours occur daily and are heavier in the mountains.
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:
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 2657 Avenue de la Gendarmerie (Kacyiru) P.O. Box 28 Kigali, Rwanda Telephone: (250) 252 596 400 Fax: (250) 252 580 325
Stay safe abroad with Passport Health. Call or book online now and start traveling safely today!
