What you need to know before you go on a Rwanda safari : As in any country, basic safety steps should be taken and common sense should be used on a safari. Don’t take around too much money or jewelry or leave them lying around.
Use safe deposit boxes when you can, and keep your travel papers and valuables in a safe place. Don’t walk around at night without a guide. If you’re not sure what to do, ask your guide.
Currency.
There are banks and places to change money in capital towns. Visa and MasterCard are accepted at most hotels and lodges. Cash in US dollars should also be brought along with credit cards. It’s best to use small amounts. Most places accept US dollars, but some may not take older bills or ones with a high value.
Travel Insurance.
Before leaving, it is very important to get the right travel insurance. This should cover any kind of medical problem, like being hospitalized, as well as cancellations, changes to plans, and lost or damaged luggage. When you travel with &BEYOND, our emergency evacuation insurance takes care of you instantly. This makes sure that you will be taken to the nearest hospital in an emergency if you get very sick or hurt. This doesn’t pay for care once you’re in the hospital, and it doesn’t replace your regular travel insurance in any way. There are some physical reasons why they can’t. Please let us know ahead of time about any current conditions so that, if our insurer agrees, we can set up coverage. For more information, please get in touch with us.
Safety.
Check with your guide. They will know if there are any places you should avoid because they could be dangerous. Avoid places that are empty, especially at night. Dress down (don’t wear a lot of bling) when you’re walking around the city. Travel wallets that can be hidden are a good idea. Rwandans are very friendly and willing to help, so don’t be afraid to ask for help at any time. Don’t take pictures of anything that has to do with the government or the military. This includes army barracks, land or people near army barracks, government offices, post offices, banks, ports, train stops, and airports.
Health.
Before you go to Africa safari, you should talk to your doctor about how to avoid getting malaria.
Uganda and Rwanda are in the part of Africa that has yellow fever. You must get vaccinated against Yellow Fever at least 10 days before you journey. If you’ve been to a country with Yellow Fever, your home country and other African countries may not let you back in without a vaccine. Anyone who needs special medicine should bring enough to last the whole safari.
Gratuity Guidelines.
At restaurants, 10% of the bill is the standard tip, and 10% of the fare is the standard tip for taxi drivers. It is also common to tip guides and vehicles in the area.
Ranger/Guide – $10 per couple per day.
Tracker – $10 per couple per day.
Butler – $10 per couple per day.
Camp/Lodge Staff – $10 per couple per day.
Photography.
Please bring enough memory cards and batteries with you, as these things are hard to find in Uganda and Rwanda. Before taking a picture of a person, please ask for permission first.
Please be aware that you can’t use Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (also called “drones”) in any of the protected areas we look after until we can figure out how they affect wildlife and anti-poaching efforts. This rule will be followed all over Africa safari, because our partners in different countries and areas have taken the same position.
Passport & Visa Requirements.
All visitors from outside the country need passports, which must be good for at least six months after the length of their stay. Please make sure that your passport has at least 2 blank visa pages (not stamp pages) that are next to each other. If you are going to be in more than one country, we think you should have 3 or even 4 blank pages. If there isn’t enough room in the visa, the person could be turned away.
It is very important to check with the Ugandan and Rwandan embassies about visa rules, as they may be different for different countries.
Where visas can be gotten at the port of entry, fees must be paid in US dollars in cash only, and small bills are best because officials can’t make change.
It’s best for travelers to get their visas before they arrive, since there may be big lines at all airports.
What experts have to say.
People in Rwanda and Uganda like people who dress simply. During the day, cotton clothes are the most comfortable to wear. For gorilla trekking safari, there are special rules about what to pack. Each gorilla park only gives out a certain number of permits. So, it’s important to book well in advance.
