To ensure you have the best possible holiday experience, please read the following information carefully. If you have any questions, discuss them with us before you depart.
Hand Luggage – pack essential items for a day or two in your hand luggage, in case your bags go astray & take a few days to catch up with you, especially if you have any tight connecting flights.
Baggage – if you are flying on a light aircraft, your luggage must be packed in soft sports bags, usually restricted to 15 kg. Rigid suitcases will not fit into the luggage pods & will be left behind.
Documents – take a copy of your travel insurance policy with you & leave a copy of your passport with a reliable contact at home, in case the originals are lost or stolen.
Electronic Devices – ensure these are all fully charge before travel, as you may be required to switch them on at airport security.
Mobile Phones – make sure they are set up for international calls and if you plan to use travel apps such as Google Translate or Google Maps, ensure you check your data package with your provider in advance. Alternatively turn off date roaming to avoid large phone bills. Be aware that some rural areas may not have mobile or WiFi coverage.
Clothing – pack in layers according to the season, including lightweight but long sleeved shirts & long trousers to protect against mosquitos (safari clothing is ideal for this). Neutral colours are best – khaki, green & brown. Avoid white & bright colours, as these increase your visibility to the animals, dark blue which attracts tsetse fly, & black which can get very hot. Take a generous supply of insect repellent to spray on your neck, wrists & ankles & avoid using perfume, as this attracts insects. Take a day pack, T-shirts, shorts, jeans, light fleece, sunhat, swimming costume, sunglasses, biodegradable sunscreen & flip flops. Sanitising hand cleaner & eye drops can be handy, especially if you wear contact lenses & a 'shewee' is invaluable for ladies in the bush. Free laundry is offered by many lodges, but you are expected to wash your own underwear.
For gorilla trekking, proper walking shoes with a good tread are essential, as well as a backpack with decent rain gear, including a rain jacket & lightweight waterproof trousers with zip sides. Pack long socks (so you can tuck in your trouser legs & keep out biting ants) & gardening gloves to protect your hands, as you scramble through the rainforest.
Medicines - if you travel with prescription drugs, carry an adequate supply in their original bottles/packaging & keep in your hand luggage, as if lost they may be difficult to replace.
Accessories – pack a phone & charger, camera (with spare memory cards & batteries - a 200 mm zoom lens is good for wildlife photography), torch & binoculars (large 8x40 is best). We suggest one pair per person, as it can be frustrating to share. Drones are not permitted in any national park.
Plastic Bags - thin plastic bags including duty free bags, bin liners & dry-cleaning bags, are banned in Rwanda for environmental reasons. You will need to surrender any in your possession on your arrival. Only durable 'bags for life', paper bags, cloth & woven bags are permitted.
Plugs – type C (European 2-prong) and J. Pack a universal adapter as well as a hand basin plug/stopper, as these are not always provided.
Books – pack a good travel guide, with information on the wildlife & birds of the region. Also a good supply of English reading material for quiet evenings and when waiting for flights, as these can be hard to come by.
Water – tap water is safe to brush your teeth, but drink only bottled water.
Food – European food is served throughout the country. Vegetarians & food allergies are well catered for.
Taxis – in cities only use regulated taxis, which are best ordered through your hotel.
Self-Drive – driving is on the right (unlike their neighbouring countries of Uganda & Kenya), although we do not recommend self-driving in Rwanda.
Safety – take all sensible precautions. Leave valuable jewellery/watches at home, wear a money belt & be alert when outside your hotel. In particular avoid taking out large wads of cash in public view & keep spare cash, passport & a spare credit card in your hotel safe.
Wild Animals – attacks by wild animals are rare, but we cannot guarantee that attacks will not occur so observe all sensible precautions. We cannot be held responsible for injuries caused during an incident with a wild animal.
Indemnities - please be aware it is likely you will be required to sign indemnities for safaris & any other potentially hazardous activities.
Drones - it is illegal to use a drone in East Africa. Doing so can lead to criminal charges with heavy fines and/or imprisonment.
Pack for a Purpose - if you have a little space in your suitcase, local schools & communities always appreciate gifts of English reading books, pens & pencils, stationery, deflated footballs etc. Specific requests from communities can be seen on the 'Pack for a Purpose' website.
Tipping – this is not compulsory, but if you wish to tip because you have received good service, we suggest the following per adult:
- driver/guide: $10 per day (can be reduced for longer stays).
- rangers: $5 per game drive
- waiters: 10% (if not already added to your bill)
- porters: $1 per bag.
- housekeeping: often a discretionary tipping box.
It is not necessary to tip drivers doing short transfers (eg to the airport).
Displays of affection - Rwanda is one of the more LBGT-friendly African nations, but we advise all our clients, gay and heterosexual, to be sensitive to cultural differences.
FCO Travel Advice - consult the UK Foreign Office website for the latest travel advice www.fco.gov.uk.