BootsnAll Travel Community

Has anyone been to Rwanda? I'm thinking of going, but I'm curious about what past travellers have to say.

I have to admit that after seeing "Hotel Rwanda" my curiosity has increased on this country!

I was in Rwanda about a year ago for about a week. I'm not quite sure what to say about it in general. Hmm... I though that it was perfectly safe, I didn't have any problems there. It was interesting that its the only country I've been to where they are way more concerned about who gets out than who gets in because they want to make sure none of the genocidaires escape. The people were friendly and it didn't seem like a place that had so recently gone through a civil war/ genocide, but again, I was only there for about a week.

Getting between the major cities in Rwanda is fairly easily. Some of their mini-busses have schedules!!!!! Getting outside of the main areas (such as to the parks) is rather difficult though.

Let me know if you have any more questions,
Jill

Thanks Jill! The country intrigues me, and I'd like to learn more about the people and culture. I'm not sure how long I'll be staying there just yet, but I'll definitely let you know if I have any questions.

I have been thinking about Rawanda myself. Anyone know how easy it is to get from tanzania to Rawanda overland?

Spazza

Hi Spazza,

I'm sure its possible to go directly from Rwanda to Tanzania, but from what I've read its rather difficult. (Never met anyone who did it though, so maybe its not too hard.)

Anyway it is really easy to just go through Uganda. You can take a bus straight from Kigali to Kampala. You'd probably want to spend the night in Kampala (well, you should spend a few there -- Kampala is nice) and then you can go from Kampala to Bukoba (Tanzania). Its really not a long or difficult journey (unless you get stuck in Kampala 'cause you like it so much.)

Jill

Great advice Jill, thanks.

I also spent a week there last summer and loved it. The landscape is incredible, green and lush. The roads are in pretty bad shape, but it's easy to get from town to town (major ones anyway). I did meet one cat who travelled from Tanzania to Rwanda and said he'd never do it again. Apparently he had to hitch-hike for 3 days in the middle of nowhere, but the situation may have improved (or he may have been exaggerating). Anyway, I too was intrigued by Hotel Rwanda and made a point of visiting the Hotel MilleCollines while I was there for lunch. It has no resemblance to the hotel in the movie whatsoever, but has great cheeseburgers. In a lot of ways it was a very rewarding place to travel too, but it was also really screwed up (where in Africa isn't screwed up!?). It was strange to go to the bus stops and see like.. half of the people missing an arm or leg or hand or eye. It's disturbing, but very intersting. I'm really glad I went, its such a colorful country, the people are quiet, but beautiful. I hope that you can spend more time than I did there, it would be really rewarding and educational. Let me know if you have any questions and have fun.

I am traveling to Africa on November 2006. I was going to make it by car between Kilimanjaro and Kigali, but I got the information that some roads are in terrible condition and is very slow to drive, which would be a waist for my travel time. I was informed that Rwanda Express Airlines flies from Kilimanjaro to Kigali on Mondays and Fridays for $250 including taxes. Earlier today I sent an email to Rwanda Tourism asking for an email address to contact Rwanda Express. I would be making that fly on Monday Nov 13th.
I plan to go by land from Rwanda to Uganda for my fly back to the US.
Before it, I will visit Ghana and Ethiopia in this 21 days trip starting in Halloween from Phoenix, AZ.
JoeJoe

So I just arrived in Dar es Salaam from Kigali. The trip from Rwanda to Tanzania isn't hard at all, it's just slow.
I took at minibus from Kigali to Rusumo, the Rwanda-Tanza border town. It left the centre of Kigali at 6 am. It also leaves at 9 am and 2 pm. A three hour ride got us to the border. At the Tanzania border post I took a taxi to Benako, a tiny village where I spent the night. The bus to Mwanza left at 6 in the morning the next day. You have to stay in Benako one night, all the buses leave early in the morning. It's no problem staying there, it's interesting and friendly. A couple of hours later I was in Mwanza. From there I took the train to Dodoma, 30 hours. And from Dodoma a bus to Dar.
As I said, not difficult...just slow. You should do it this way instead of going through Uganda. Not that Uganda isn't fantastic. It is, it's my favourite country but you need time there. Otherwise it's like smelling a really nice steak but to eating it.

Rwanda and Kigali is fantastic. It's funny how it's the most civilized country in East Africa when you think about what happened 12 years ago.
If you go there, visit Gikongoro. During the Genocide thousands of people hid at the College in Gikongoro. The militia go the news and within hours everyone were dead. If you visit the School today you find it exactly the way it was left by the militia. The bodies were conserved with lemon powder. The rooms are filled with dead people and their wounds are still clearly visible.
Maybe that's a deterrent, I don't know. But what I do know is that Rwanda is beautiful and the people very friendly.

PS. If you go there, stay at Auberge la Caverne. It has the most amazing food I ever had in East Africa for the price of nothing. Very very very cheap good food.
There rooms are good too.

Fantastic advice from everyone. I think I will go through Tanzania one way and back through Uganda the other way. In my case I will have all the time in the world but not so much money as it will be my end of university trip.

@Kotte: That College sounds disturbing but a necessary visit. Toul Sleng in Cambodia was pretty depressing for me. Still if you don't see these things you will never be able to imagine the horrors of the world when you are sitting in the comfort of your lounge room. Thanks for the tip I will definitely go there.

Also Kotte when you stay in these villages where do you stay. Do you sleep under the stars or is there accomodation, do you stay with a family?

@Cuban Joe. Thanks for the advice but seeing as I will have time I will try to avoid flights. I prefer land travel.

I do have another question Jasmyne. What sort of costs are we looking at over there. I.e Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania. I would love to hear from anyone else regarding this also.

Finally, what about the DRC did anyone go here (besides a Gorilla trek)? Anyone have any reports? Is it a little bit to much to go there? In particular since my only experience of Africa is Morocco and I know they are worlds apart.

Thanks everyone

Spazza

My mother just spent nearly a week in Rwanda with a Heifer International group, and LOVED it. Can't stop raving about it. She also went from there to Tanzania, but she flew.

I was getting by on about $20 a day and that included everything (even a few beers). But I was really scraping by (I was nearly out of cash), so a more realistic budget would be $25-$35 to make sure you can get by and to avoid bedbugs. If you stay in dorms as often as possible (very few in Rwanda unfortunatley, but the hotels are cheap), then you'll really cut costs. There are a few things you can put on your credit card, like rafting for instance. Where you save money in Uganda you'll use it in Rwanda, so the budget will all balance out. Haven't been to Tanzania. Good luck and have fun!

You will not have trouble finding a place to stay in Africa. Most villages have guesthouses, some with more rooms than a small hotel, others with just two. Though I have not stayed with locals in their own homr, I hear all the time people who does.
And it's Africa. You can get anything or anywhere with some cash. I'm not saying you should bribe yourself into peoples homes but if you find yourself stuck in the middle of nowhere at night (unlikely) there's no trouble hitching to the nearest town.

There are no rules in Africa - cash is king!

PS. If you visit DRC - remember dollars, new crisp unfolded billd 1-20. I had a hard time with a 50 a folded in my pocket.

Kotte,
sorry if i asked you before but i cant remember. Where did you go in DRC? I will be going to Rwanda on the 23rd of oct and was thinking of going over for a bit probobly in goma or gisyengi. Any tips besides what youve said about $? what about lodging, visa, etc? Anything would be great. Thanks.

Jason

JJ, I think it's great that you're going to DRC. The country needs investment more than anything (money, positive attention, smiles, anything).
If you're going to Congo, enter from Rwanda (Gisenyi), it's a short drive from the border to Goma (I did not enter this route but I've heard only good things about it). From Goma you can get to Djomba, another eastern city. And from Djomba it's fairly easy to cross into Uganda.

You know, people say alot of things about Lonely Planet but the latest 7th edition of East Africa covers Goma-Djomba in DRC. You should definitely get it. It has some solid stuff about transportation and lodging.
Remember, the only westerners in Congo are UN-people which equals expensive.

And as I said...$ $ $ nothing else but new crisp unfolded 1-20 dollar bills are good.

Visa you can get at the border (remember yellow fever card).

And ofcourse, Safety. The first democratic election in 40 years was held in DRC just a few weeks ago. The result is not yet settled and the EU just decided to keep troops in the country well beyond November. They believe the final results might cause violence...nobody knows.
Use common sense and things should be alright.

PS. Goma was covered in lava 4 years ago.

Heading to Rwanda for a week with 6 others over Christmas. Spending a few days in Kigali and then going to Volcanoes Nat'l Park for Gorilla Trekking and to hike Mt Bisoke. Really looking forward to it!!! We're on our own in Kigali, then using Crystal Safaris as our guide in PNV.

you will love it there! rwanda is absolutely beautiful.

don't forget to bring USD printed after 2005!

how difficult was it to obtain a tanzania visa at the border from Kigali via land? I've read that you'd require photos etc. given that it's just a posting junction, is it still possible to obtain an entry's visa

well, when i first arrived into dar in january 2007, they took a pic for me with a webcam at the airport. so i'd expect that you'd need to bring photos in case the border office doesn't have a webcam. when we flew back into dar from kigali, we though we were going to get our pic taken again but they just stuck this green sticker in there and signed it. but to be safe, i'd probably bring like 3 or 4 pics.. after, of course, checking if the land crossing between rwanda and tanzania is ok.