Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about what NOT to do when you visit Rwanda. While many travel blogs will tell you all the fun things to do in Rwanda, we want to be sure you know about the things you should NOT do when you plan a Rwanda tour.
Don’t Litter
You will notice that the streets of Rwanda are impeccably clean. They have a lot of pride in their clean communities. In fact, the last Saturday of every month is a day set aside for everyone to pitch in and clean up their communities. In fact, plastic bags (the kind you get at the grocery store) are actually illegal in Rwanda. So, don’t plan to bring any, even if you are just using them for storing dirty clothes. Also, don’t plan on having a lot of trash bins around, so you will have to carry your trash with you.
Don’t Be Flippant About the Genocide
In 1994, over one million Rwandans were murdered in a mass genocide over the course of 100 days. This is a very recent event and painful history for the Rwandans. You’ll see a lot of memorials around the country, and will likely visit a few of them. Don’t be disrespectful when visiting the monuments or even when discussing the genocide. The Genocide Memorial in Kigali is very moving, but it’s only for 12 and older. Children are not allowed to visit.
Ten Shocks to Expect When Visiting Rwanda
In general, politics are not a polite topic of conversation. Don’t disparage the President, or make jokes about him. Additionally, Don’t ask if someone is Hutu or Tutsi; it’s not a polite topic of conversation.
Don’t Drink the Tap Water
The tap water in Rwanda is not safe to drink. It’s not even safe to brush your teeth with it. Use bottled water for eating and brushing your teeth. It’s easy to find bottled water everywhere you go. Most hotels and guest houses will supply you with bottled water.
Don’t Miss out on the Moto-Taxis
Wherever you go in Rwanda, you’ll see these little motorcycle taxis. You may be tempted to pass it up for a regular car, but don’t! They can really come in handy, especially when you’re walking around. Rwanda is super hilly, so you’ll be glad to have help when walking uphill. They will have a helmet for you to wear, too.
Don’t Photograph Anyone Without Permission
The culture and dress in Rwanda are so different from our own, and it’s natural to want to capture a photo to remember them by. But remember, these are real people, not exhibits, so you should ask permission before photographing anyone. This goes especially for children; make sure you have their parents’ permission before snapping away. And if they do give permission, they may be expecting a small tip.
Don’t Forget to Bring Crisp US Dollars
Although the Rwanda Franc is the official currency of Rwanda, US dollars are accepted in many places. However, you have to have very crisp, new bills. They will not accept older, faded, or folded bills. Additionally, don’t expect to use your credit card very often in Rwanda. You’ll need cash for most purchases.
Don’t Wear Safari Clothes Unless You’re on Safari
The quickest way to spot a tourist in Rwandan cities is to look for the people wearing safari clothes in town. The entire country of Rwanda is not a safari, so make sure you have other clothes to wear when you are visiting cities in Rwanda. Dress in Rwanda is a bit more conservative, so keep that in mind when packing for Rwanda.
Don’t Forget to Tip!
When you visit Rwanda, you’ll likely have a driver, tour guide, and hotel staff. Make sure you are tipping them, as tips make up most of their income.
- For drivers to and from the airport, or around Kigali, a $5 tip is recommended.
- For taxis and moto-taxis, tipping is not expected as you will negotiate the price before the ride
- Your Rwanda tour guide may also be your driver, or you may have one of each. It’s recommended to tip $5-$10 per day per person. If you’ll have the same guide for several days in a row, you can tip them at the end of the trip; you don’t need to worry about tipping every day.
- Lodging Staff will often have a box near the front desk so you can tip everyone all at once at the end of your stay. It will be split up amongst the staff afterward. I recommend tipping around $10 per day for your room attendants. Of course, that will vary by the kind of places you are staying.
- If you are trekking in Rwanda, you will likely have porters that assist you with your bags. Plan to tip them $10-$15 for the day.
- When visiting restaurants in Rwanda, you can round up the bill or tip 10%. Tipping isn’t a Rwandan custom when dining out, but with tourism, it’s become pretty commonplace.
Don’t Forget to Pre-Book Your Gorilla Experience
Many people visit Rwanda to trek with the gorillas in Volcano National Park. But you can’t just show up and go on a gorilla trek. There are a limited number of spots each day, so make sure you are booking your plans ahead of time. It would be a shame to travel all the way there and miss out on that experience. Keep these rules in mind when you go to see the gorillas:
- Don’t wear bright clothes
- Don’t use flash photography
- Don’t approach the gorillas
- Don’t bring your kids; you have to be 15 or older to join a gorilla trek
Don’t Think Rwanda is Just Gorilla Treks
While gorillas are the most popular thing to see in Rwanda, there are many other cool things to do in Rwanda. You can see the “Big Five” on safari in Rwanda, or visit the capital city, Kigali, where they have the Kigali Genocide Memorial. The Gorilla Guardians Village is also really cool; former poachers are now employed in the tourism industry, and you can visit to learn about their culture. Our kids learned how to shoot a bow and arrow, and we learned how they cook some of their specialties.
Don’t Forget Your Vaccines
The CDC recommends extra vaccines for visitors to Rwanda. Check with your doctor or a nearby travel health clinic to determine which vaccines you should get before you go. You might also need boosters for some of your previous vaccines. Don’t let this scare you; Rwanda is super clean and safe; the vaccines are just preventative measures to keep you healthy while traveling.
Don’t Worry if You are a Vegetarian
The cuisine in Rwanda is very vegetarian-friendly. Most of the lodges we stayed at offered multiple vegetarian options for dinner, in addition to options that included meat. We found some of the vegetarian meals to be better than the other options. Plus, there’s lots of fresh fruit in Rwanda.
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Don’t be surprised if you fall in love with Rwanda! It’s a fantastic country, and our kids loved it, too! Our time in Rwanda was so rewarding and touching, and we can’t recommend it enough for a family vacation. Want more Rwanda tour tips? Check out some of our other blog posts: