What you need to know about travelling to Rwanda

Unusually for Africa, Rwanda is essentially a mono-linguistic state. The first language spoken in Rwanda is Kinyarwanda. In addition, most Rwandans speak a little of at least one international language. Historically, French was the most widely recognised European language due to almost 50 years of Belgian colonisation. These days, English probably has the greater presence,...

It’s highly recommended that visitors to Rwanda take anti-malarial drugs. Seek advice a few weeks before you travel to determine the most suitable regime, and bear in mind you may need to start on the course a couple of weeks before you arrive in Rwanda. At the same time, check whether any vaccinations require updating....

A Rwanda safari offers several attractions not found in Kenya or indeed in most other safari destinations other than Uganda. Foremost among these is the opportunity for gorilla trekking safaris in the Virunga mountains and chimpanzee trekking in the Nyungwe National Park. Rwanda offers far greater diversity than Kenya when it comes to forest primates....

Both Rwanda and Uganda are renowned for their gorilla trekking safari experiences. Neither country could be said to offer a definitively better tracking experience than the other. However, it can be said that the open nature of Volcanoes National Park’s forest in Rwanda makes it slightly more reliable for photography than Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National...

From a tourist’s perspective, Rwanda ranks as one of the safest countries in Africa. Kigali, the capital city, is very safe, even at night, provided you follow the same kind of commonsense rules – avoid walking alone in unlit dark alleys, or overt displays of wealth – you would in any large city. Ideally, you...

Rwanda wildlife safaris mainly take place in three destinations: Volcanoes National Park, Nyungwe Forest National Park, and Akagera National Park, each of which hosts quite different fauna from the others. Birdwatching aside, wildlife viewing opportunities outside these national parks are limited. Wildlife in Volcanoes National Park Volcanoes National Park is best known for its population...