Current COVID Guidelines for Travel to Rwanda

Are you planning and interested in traveling to Rwanda soon during covid-19, Current COVID Guidelines for Travel to Rwanda here below is some of the important information to take note of for you to plan well for your travel to Rwanda for a great and better experience during your stay in Rwanda. This information is important for Tourists, local and international tour operators, regional and international travel agents.  Rwanda is known for many activities of which Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park is the highlight of all activities in the country with a thousand hills.

The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) recognizes that in the context of the current global emergency, travel partners, tourists, and all industry stakeholders may find it necessary to reschedule their travel itineraries due to international travel restrictions or covid-19 related travel concerns. As a result, cancellation/postponement rules and Current COVID Guidelines for Travel to Rwanda are hereby revised as follows;

• Removal of the 7 day limit for all tourists to postpone their park permits
• Removal of 30 day limit for tour operators to submit the final payment of affected permits
• Tourists who wish to postpone their park permits because of flight cancellations or travel ban or being infected with COVID-19 or other related COVID-19 related concerns including low season, personalized packages, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Events ) can postpone their bookings at no extra cost (Subject to submission of official documentation) until May 31^st 2022.
• Tour operators whose clients have cancelled will be offered future permit credit that maybe used by other clients.

This offer unless modified will be valid from 25^th January 2021 up to 31^st May 2022 and such permit modifications will be conducted twice within the mentioned period. We will keep you posted accordingly as per the update modifications made. Feel free to contact us here for more details.

What is the current COVID-19 testing procedure while on a safari in Kigali

The Rwanda Development Board has put in place the following measures to facilitate the movement of tourists and operators to tourism entities between Kigali and other provinces in Rwanda. This is in line with the Rwanda Cabinet on the measures to contain the spread of COVID-19. Current COVID Guidelines for Travel to Rwanda include;

• Travelers including drivers are required to fill and submit movement requests here together with the copies of negative COVID-19 test results to domestictourism@rdb.rw atleast 24 hours prior the trip.
• The only accepted test for tourist visiting Volcanoes, Nyungwe and Gishwati-Mukura National Parks is the SARS-CoV 2 Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) taken within 72 hours.
• A negative a Rapid Antigen test (RDT) taken within 72 hours will be accepted for Akagera National Park.
• All other tourism destinations including hotel stays will accept either a Rapid Antigen test (RDT) or the SARS-CoV 2 Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) taken within 120 hours.

As things stand, the only accepted tests for tourists visiting Volcanoes Park and Nyungwe Forest are the PCR test which costs $50 per person and must have been done within 72 hours.  Say, for example, if you arrive at the Airport and you do the required covid test on arrival and then after results you travel to Volcanoes Park, you won’t be required to do another test as the arrival test will still be valid (note-if it’s within 72 hrs). If it has expired, another test will need to be done.  There are testing centers near Volcanoes National park and it is where you will do the covid test. 

The driver guides are also required to do the tests for them to guide tourists during their safari in Rwanda.

Where to do COVID-19 testing in Rwanda

For the all travelers entering Rwanda COVID-19 testing is done at Amahoro stadium in Gasabo.

• Travelers will be tested for COVID-19 upon arrival at Kigali International Airport. The payment for the test at the airport is $60 ($50 for the test and $10 for specific logistics at the airport). The payment is to be made online or by cash upon arrival.
• All travelers are required to wait 24 hours  for the results of their COVID-19 test in a designated transit hotel. The Government of Rwanda has negotiated special rates at designated transit hotels for the 24 hour waiting period. A list of the designated transit hotels is here.
• All travelers transiting/connecting through Kigali International Airport will be screened and tested for COVID-19 with all other arriving passengers.
• If a traveler’s test result is positive for COVID-19 (even if asymptomatic) while in Rwanda, they will be treated as indicated in the National COVID-19 Management Guidelines until they have fully recovered. All treatment is at the expense of the traveler.
• Travelers departing Rwanda must test negative for COVID-19. The only accepted test is a SARS-CoV 2 Real Time Chain Polymerase (RT-PCR) performed within 120 hours before departure. All other tests are not permitted. Travelers are encouraged to book and pay for their tests at least two days prior to departure through the online platform

Our Popular Safaris and Tours to Rwanda include

3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Tour in Volcanoes National Park

4 Days Luxury Rwanda Gorilla and Cultural Tour

5 Days Chimpanzee Trekking and Culture in Rwanda

6 Days Rwanda Primate Safari

7 Days Rwanda Gorilla and Game Safari

8 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari

Why book with Eco Adventure Safaris your travel to Rwanda

Eco Adventure Safaris offers amazing safari and gorilla trekking experiences in Rwanda.  Contact us for our discounted packages and also tailor-made tours in Rwanda. Our professionalism in organizing authentic experience stems from the fact that we have over time assembled a team mixed with young and energetic staff guided by well-experienced mature managers and directors who are Ugandans and passionate about what they do. Eco Adventure Safaris is highly rated and reviewed on trip Advisor and safari bookings to help you learn on the experiences of the other travelers who have traveled with us and we are ready to follow all the set SOPs to ensure safety and health of our clients. Rwanda is one of the best places in the world to see primates up-close in their natural habitat. Rwanda is home to Mountains Gorillas, Golden monkeys and Chimpanzees among other unique primates. Primate tourism activities in Rwanda include Mountain Gorilla tracking only done in Volcanoes National Park, Golden Monkey tracking done in Volcanoes National and Gishwati Mukura National Park, and Chimpanzee tracking done in Gishwati Mukura National park and Nyungwe National Park. It is also great for adventure travelers offering you great hiking ideas such as hiking Bisoke and Karismbi Volcanoes.