Rwanda Travel Forum

Hallo,
we ( 2 person) are visiting the north of the country in Oktober and would like to stay in Kinigi. We found to places were we would like to stay ( Mountain Gorilla Nest or the Kinigi Guest house) Could you give us mor information about them and tell as the prices for two weeks.

Thanks

kind regards
Elli

My husband and I (Canadians in our early 30's) are going to Rwanda for about 6 days as the first part of a 4 week trip to Africa. We will land in Kigali and spend a couple of days there first (exploring the city, memorials, etc.), and would then like to take a couple of days (1-2 nights) and go up to Ruhengeri and Gisenyi. We aren't planning to do the gorillas... I'm sure they are spectacular, but we are not interested enough in them to pay the price... but really just want to get a sense of the countryside - I hear the area around the Kivu is some of the most beautiful on the continent. I have also read a fantastic book by an American woman who started an orphanage in Gisenyi, and I would love to visit it.

So my questions are:
- What is the best way to do this (e.g., rent a car? bus? taxi/driver?)
- Any recommendations of specific things to see?
- Obviously "safe" is a relative term when visiting Africa, and we are prepared to use caution, but how concerned do we need to be about visiting an area so close to Goma & the Congolese border? I have heard from other visitors that they had no problems, but want to check...

Any thoughts are welcome! Thanks.

Isaro- Is any one able to tell me if this is a Kinyarwandan word? And, if so, what it means?

Much thanks to you!

Hey Everyone,

I am planning a trip to Kigali for 6 months or so.

I am also trying to learn french, and was wondering if they speak french there on a day to day basis, in the markets, shops etc? If I spoke to them in French, would I get a french response? I need volunteer work in an NGO, and people are telling me Kigali would be good for this, but if they don't speak french, I'll need to look elsewhere! But I love East Africa!

Thanks in advance, I'm so stuck, any vague information you have would be great!

Kate

I have one day to in Kigali and was wondering if someone could tell what needs to be on my list of to see and do...How far is Ntarama Church from kigali is it easliy accesible? Any help thanks

What is escort services scene in Kigali?Any contact Nos,and the going rates.I should be there in nov08.

We are arriving in Tanzania Oct 19th - we have until the end of November - does anyone know the best time to go gorilla trekking in this time frame. I understand Oct - Nov is the rainy season - is it still possible to get good photographs is this season?
We will arrange our own travel to Kigali - any advice on the best local agency for gorilla trekking.
Looking forward to your advice.

I have finalized my itinerary in Rwanda.

Now I am on the process to pay deposit for reservation.

How would I know that the compaqny I searched on the web is a real company, not a spam?

I don't want to lose a bit sum of money to a spam!

Do anyone heard of this company:
Rwanda Eco Tours
http://www.rwandaecotours.com/tours/tours.shtml

OR

do anyone has a way to verify a company?

Hi,

I will be 6 days in Rwanda early feb next year. Any advise on what to see and where to go around ?

Thx for feedback.

L

Hello,

I live in Washington, DC, and I am going to spend a month in Kigali, Rwanda. Any advice about accomodation, restaurants, night clubs? Anyone else plan to be there during that period? Thanks! Michel.

What is the price of a suite at the Novotel/Rwanda. thanks. ebarad@attglobal.net

For a first time traveler to Rwanda, is it safe to bring your own computer or would you be better off relying on paying for internet access? Also, what kind of electrical plug adapter would I need for recharging phone, computer?
Thank you

Thank for all respons to answer in the title:)

Does anyone know if is possible to obtain visa to Rwanda on the boarder? We are Czech citizin and on pages of our ambassy is written that it isnīt possible but we have some information that may is possible to get visa on arrival.

Hi,
I am planning a trip for 6 days to Kigali in the end of June. I need accomodation advice from the experienced explorers. Staying with locals would be the best for me. How can I reach them?? Do you have any friends living there who can host me? Also I'd like to learn if any of you is planning to be at that time in Kigali. Meeting would be fine.
Hope to hear from you soon.

All the best
Oya

I'm visiting Kigali for a few weeks and wanted to get some suggestions on where to visit in town. Are their some restaurants I should know about? What souvenirs is the area known for?

Need to rent house for family of five in or around Kigali Rwanda

does anyone have any pointers/contacts about the local arts scene, music (esp hiphop/rap)? i will need some diversions from my research! and looking forward to getting 'in' with local life. any other hany hints are welcome too. thanks, tamara

Hi there I will be travelling to Kigali in about 3weeks and I'd like a decent place to stay($80-100). I would also like to find a church preferably Anglican or Pentecostal and English speaking. Also if anyone can tell me where I can find great souvenirs I'd be most grateful.Any other general advice would be great!

I am planning a gorilla trek next June and am trying to decide between Uganda and Rwanda. I saw similar posts several months ago and wondered if anyone had more insight. Particularly, I would like information oo opinions on whether you are more or less likely to see the gorillas in one country or the other and whether the other wildlife/scenery is better in one country or the other.

Any information is appreciated.

Hi,
I will travel to Rwanda in early September, and I am planning to visit the mountain gorillas near Ruhengeri. I have already read something about the trek itself, but I still have some questions about the organization. I have already contacted the Rwanda Office of Tourism and they made a trek reservation for me at the 4th of September. Now they wrote my that I would have to pay the fee (375 US$) ASAP. Is it common to pay this amount in advance? The problem is that my bank charges about 17€ for a money transfer to Rwanda, which is a lot, and I don't know how long it takes. The other problem is how to get to the start point of the trek, as I only can start from Kigali at 6 p.m. the day before. Is there a bus?
Thanks for your answers, Michael, Germany

I was wondering if anyone has made the trip across the border into the DRC from Gisenyi to Goma for a day trip? Any stories to share about hassles? I know currently the situation is a big too troubling to attempt it but i'm considering making the trip in the end of January next year so things could be different. Aside from the fact that most governments advise against all travel to the DRC and aside from the fact that the political situation can change at anytime, what are the logistics of going through? Find that it was worth it in the end?

I was wondering what people's opinions on travel to Rwanda without the plan of doing any gorilla trekking. It isn't that I don't want to see the gorillas it is just that it is a bit expensive right now. I still would like to see part of the rainforest and i'll already be in East Africa so it isn't like i'm specifically going to Rwanda.

Is access to Volcanos National Park pretty easy? Will there be opportunities to get to see the spectacular scenery in Rwanda without paying for a trek or tour?

Thank you

How to organize the gorilla trekking myself? If it is possible or if it is obligatory organize this with travel agency? I and my friend would like to visit rwanda and uganda at the beginning of october.

Hello all,
as of August I will be living in Kigali for 6 months. I must say that I have been somewhat dissapointed to see the dismal amount of people here on VT that have been to Rwanda. The Gorilla's look great but I am sure it has much more to offer! If you could only do one thing in Rwanda...what would that be???
Cheers....

PS- I will be making a page about Kigali for sure!

My husband and I have just finished a learning guide to Hotel Rwanda and sometimes in April for our web site. We've heard Mr. Rusesabagina speak, and were really looking forward to staying at the Mille Collines, but have read awful things. Hotel Intercon. sounds too international/luxe. Can anybody recommend a hotel that is small, charming, clean, where we can really talk to Rwandans? How about Gorillas or Okapi (Sp?)
Thanks much.
Debbie

I will be traveling to Rwanda in June for four days of gorilla trekking. I read where there are rangers, guides, porter, and military escort. Do you tip all of them? What is the suggested tip for each day of gorilla trekking? While on safari in Kenya and Tanzania last summer, the suggested tip for the guide was $7-10/day and the driver received between $5-7/day. I understand that the average wage for a person in Rwanda is around $3/day, so it would seem that the tipping guide for Kenya and Tanzania would be pretty high if you applied it to people in Rwanda. Would appreciate guildelines from anyone who has tracked gorillas in Rwanda and what they found to be appropriate for tipping.

Hi There,

I'm planning on doing a Gorilla Trek in July/August. Does anyone know of any decent safaris/companies with fare prices to take you out? Also will July/August be a good month to go?

much appreciated.
al.

Please be aware that the road from the Rwanda border toward Mwanza, Tanzania, is potentialy extreamly dangerous. Bandits are active in the area, most recently (around 6 days ago)about 15km east of Ngara. If you are planning to cross between the two countries I would suggest perhaps returning north and taking the ferry from Bukoba (Uganda)to Mwanza or travelling through Burundi, though check the security before crossing the border there. It was fine up to a few days ago at least. These options may incure further visa fees unfortunately.
Travel safe.
C.

Hallo all there,
me and my wife would like to go to Rwanda on holiday,but we dont know much about the country.
Please let us know which hotels are good and not too expensive.
Any help will be highly appreciated,
Sincerely Falko and Nancy Jahn.