ORTPN
- RWANDA OFFICE OF TOURISM AND NATIONAL PARKS
Contact Details
Office Rwandaise du Tourisme et des Parcs Nationaux
(ORTPN)/
The Rwanda Office of Tourism and National Parks
Boulevard de la Révolution n° 1
PO Box 905
Kigali, Rwanda
Tel (250) 576514 or 573396
Fax (250) 576515
Email: reservation@rwandatourism.com
GETTING
THERE:
All international flights arrive at Kigali International
Airport, just 10 Km from central Kigali. International flights arriving in Kigali are with
SN Brussels, Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Air Burundi
and Rwandair Express.
There are two direct flights from Brussels by SN
Brussels Airlines. Rwandair Express has introduced
two flights a day from Nairobi (Kenya) and Entebbe
(Uganda), and two per week from Johannesburg. Rwandair
also has daily flights to Bujumbura and 3 flights
weekly to Kilimanjaro.With effect from January 9th
2009, Rwandair Express will fly thrice a week to Rubavu
(Gisenyi-Rwanda) every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday.
For more information
Please contact RWANDAIR EXPRESS
on reservations@rwandair.com or call on (+250) 575757
or (+250) 503691 www.rwandair.com
PASSPORT AND VISAS:
A valid passport with visa is mandatory. In view of the bilateral agreements, nationals of the following countries may visit Rwanda without visa for a period up to 90 days: USA, UK, Germany,
Canada, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi, Democratic
Republic of Congo, Sweden, Mauritius, South Africa
and Hong Kong. Visas can be applied for
online
or bought upon arrival.
MONEY:
The unit of currency is the Rwanda franc. The US dollar
is the hard currency of preference. It may be impossible
to exchange travellers' cheques away from the capital.
Credit cards are usually only accepted at the major
hotels in Kigali.
LANGUAGE:
In addition to the indigenous language of Kinyarwanda,
French and English are official languages. French is
widely spoken throughout the country. In the capital
and other tourist centres, many people speak English.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS:
Good Friday and Easter Monday, which fall on variable
dates, are recognised in Rwanda. Other public holidays
are :
1 January (New Year's Day);
1 February (National Heroes Day);
7 April (Genocide Memorial Day);
1 May (Labour Day);
1 July (Independance Day);
4 July (National Liberation Day);
15 August (Assumption Day);
1 October (Patriotism Day);
25 December (Christmas Day), and
26 December(Boxing Day).
WHEN TO VISIT:
Rwanda can be visited throughout the year. Gorilla
trekking and other forest walks are less demanding
during the drier months. The European winter is the
best time for birds, as Palaearctic migrants supplement
resident species.
WHAT TO WEAR:
Dress codes are informal. Daytime temperatures are generally
warm, so bring lots of light clothing, supplemented
by light sweaters for the cool evenings and heavier
clothing for the Parc des Volcans and Nyungwe. When
tracking gorillas, wear sturdier clothing to protect
against stinging nettles, and solid walking shoes. A
hat and sunglasses provide protection against the sun,
and a waterproof jacket may come in handy in the moist
mountains.
WHAT TO BRING:
Binoculars will greatly enhance game drives and forest
walks, as will a good field guide to East African birds.
Bring a camera and an adequate stock of film. Print
film is available but transparency film is not. Toiletries
and other essentials can be bought in the cities.
COMMUNICATIONS:
Rwanda has an excellent cell phone network covering
almost the entire country.
International phone calls can be made easily. Appropriate SIM cards
for the network are readily available everywhere, even
in remote towns, and cell phones can be purchased or
rented from major shops in Kigali. Most towns of any
size will have several Internet cafes and computer centres.
GETTING AROUND:
Rwanda has possibly the best roads in East Africa.
Most visitors who have booked through a tour company
will be provided with good private vehicles, usually
4-wheel drive. All of the major centres are connected
with local and luxury bus services. Air charter services
are available anywhere in the country.
HIKING
AND BIKING:
The fine road network, with little traffic, offers wonderful
opportunities for long bicycle trips across the verdant
hills and valleys. Mountain biking and hiking can be
enjoyed on the thousands of kilometres of fine rural
trails linking remote villages, criss-crossing the entire
country.
GORILLA PERMITS:
Gorilla Permits can be arranged by a travel operator,
or can be purchased directly through the Office Rwandaise
du Tourisme et des Parcs Nationaux (ORTPN) / The Rwanda
Office of Tourism and National Parks, at the headquarters
in Kigali, or at their office in Musanze.
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