Travelling to Rwanda

Despite the 1994 genocide, Rwanda has a growing population and booming tourism trade. The growing nation provides the opportunity to see mountain gorillas, bamboo forests and amazing volcanoes.

Antimalarials

You will need to take prescription medicine before, during, and after your trip to prevent malaria. Your doctor can help you decide which medicine is right for you, and also talk to you about other steps you can take to prevent malaria.

Hepatitis A vaccine

This vaccine is recommended because you can get hepatitis A through contaminated food or water , regardless of where you are eating or staying.

Tetanus vaccine

Make sure you are up-to-date on routine vaccines before every trip. These vaccines include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot.

Yellow fever vaccination

Yellow fever vaccination is required for arriving travelers from all countries if traveler is ≥1 year of age.

Typhoid

You can get typhoid through contaminated food or water . This vaccine is recommended for most travellers, especially if you are staying with friends or relatives, visiting smaller cities or rural areas, or if you are an adventurous eater.

Routine Vaccines

Make sure you are up-to-date on routine vaccines before every trip. These vaccines include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot.

Stay Healthy and Safe

Eat and drink safely

The restaurants of Kigali and other towns will generally serve grilled meat with french fries and sometimes rice with spicy stews. Also, other choices of European dishes, while there are Chinese, Greek, Indian, Italian and Middle Eastern restaurants. Some restaurants also serve Franco-Belgian cuisine and African dishes.

Eat

  • Food of your choice either raw or cooked
  • Fruits and vegetables, you have washed in clean water or peeled yourself
  • Pasteurized dairy products

Don't Eat

  • Food which is not well prepared
  • Eat food without washing hands
  • Unwashed or unpeeled fruits or vegetables

Don’t Drink

  • Water which has not been boiled or disinfected
  • Unpasteurized milk

Take Medicine

Talk with your doctor about taking prescription or over-the-counter drugs with you on your trip in case you get sick.

Avoid sharing body fluids

Diseases can be spread through body fluids, such as saliva, blood, vomit, and semen. Protect yourself;

  • Use latex condoms correctly.
  • Do not inject drugs.
  • Limit alcohol consumption. People take more risks when intoxicated.
  • Do not share needles or any devices that can break the skin. That includes needles for tattoos, piercings, and acupuncture.
  • If you receive medical or dental care, make sure the equipment is disinfected or sanitized.

Know how to get medical care while travelling

Plan for how you will get health care during your trip, should the need arise:

  • Carry a list of local doctors and hospitals at your destination.
  • Review your health insurance plan to determine what medical services it would cover during your trip. Consider purchasing travel health and medical evacuation insurance.
  • Carry a card that identifies, in the local language, your blood type, chronic conditions or serious allergies, and the generic names of any medications you take.
  • Some prescription drugs may be illegal in other countries. Call Rwanda embassy to verify that all of your prescription(s) are legal to bring with you.
  • Bring all the medicines (including over-the-counter medicines) you think you might need during your trip, including extra in case of travel delays. Ask your doctor to help you get prescriptions filled early if you need to.

Many foreign hospitals and clinics are accredited by the Joint Commission International. A list of accredited facilities is available on their website (www.jointcommissioninternational.org).

Malaria is a risk in Rwanda. Fill your malaria prescription before you leave and take enough with you for the entire length of your trip. Follow your doctor’s instructions for taking the pills and some need to be started before you leave.

Rwanda: Officially the Republic of Rwanda (Kinyarwanda: Repubulika y'u Rwanda; French: République du Rwanda), is a sovereign state in Central and East Africa and one of the smallest countries on the African mainland. Located a few degrees south of the Equator, Rwanda is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its geography is dominated by mountains in the west and savanna to the east, with numerous great lakes throughout the country.

Joined EAC: July 2007

The Country hosts the East African Science and Technology Commission (EASTC), an institution of the Community with the objective of promoting and coordinating of the development, management and application of science and technology in the Partner States.