Rwanda Reopens August 1, 2020

Rwanda is open and welcomes back its first international commercial flights on August 1.

These are the current travel protocols for Rwanda as of July 30, 2020

PRE-ARRIVAL

• All travelers to type: entry-hyperlink id: 3Fhf1dFbsCy0Map36vTlNh will be required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test (Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction from an ISO-certified laboratory), taken within 72 hours of departure for Rwanda. The results of this test must be submitted to the Rwanda Development Board (lab@rbc.gov.rw) before departing the country of origin and needs to be shown on arrival in the country.
• The results of COVID-19 tests done before departure will be uploaded onto a passenger location page online. This page will issue a reference number that will be given to health authorities on arrival. All traveler information will be available on this page, including the hotel they will be staying at on arrival.

ARRIVAL

• A second mandatory RT-PCR test will be conducted upon arrival in Kigali. Note that this will require a minimum of one overnight in Kigali while awaiting results.
• If travelers are unable to get the first test prior to departure from their country of origin, they will be required to take two tests in Rwanda, allowing for a 48 hour period between tests. The cost of these is US$ 50 per person per test.
• Sanitary protocols are followed at the airport, and travellers will be accompanied through baggage collection all the way to the vehicle for their transfer to the hotel.
• COVID-19 tests will conducted at the hotel by the health authorities, where a dedicated COVID-19 desk will be occupied 24/7.
• On check-in at the hotel, travellers will be allocated rooms on a quarantined floor. While travelers wait for the result of the test, they will have to stay in their rooms, including for meals. We have been assured that the tests results will be available within 8 hours of taking the swab, irrespective of time of arrival.
• There is no quarantine period if both tests are negative.
• All hotels in Kigali will have a quarantine area.
• Should the traveler test positive on arrival, they will be transferred by the health authorities and taken to designated quarantine hospitals to receive immediate medical attention. If you have travel insurance and the health authorities and your insurance company agree to medivac protocols, you will be able to fly back to your country of origin.
• A test on departure is compulsory and will cost US$ 50. We are investigating the possibility of having tests done as close to the lodges as possible, to avoid having to wait 8 hours in Kigali.
• The results for all the tests will be communicated by email using the original reference number.
• All travelers are required to carry comprehensive travel insurance in the event that they require medical care.

Specific protocol recommendations for the National Parks:

• Wearing a mask while gorilla trekking is mandatory.
• Tourists are required to maintain a distance of at least 10 meters at all times while visiting primates in Nyungwe and Volcanoes National Park.
• For gorilla visits, a group of 6 (six) tourists will be permitted for a maximum of 1 (one) hour for every visitation. For golden monkeys, a group of 12 (twelve) tourists will be permitted for a maximum of 1 (one) hour for every visitation. For chimpanzees, a group of 8 (eight) tourists will be permitted for a maximum of 1 (one) hour for every visitation.
• Whilst at Volcanoes National Park HQ, visitors will be briefed on the safety and health measures that are to be followed in order to ensure the wellbeing of oneself and the Endangered mountain gorillas.
• Temperatures will also be tested prior to the trek to ensure all visitors are in the recommended temperature range advised by the ministry of health.
• To date, if visitors are turned back by park authorities for ‘medical’ reasons, their permits will be refunded.

Flight information 

At this time, scheduled commercial air will commence operation as follows:

• RwandAir – August 1 – daily flights will commence to continental destinations that are open for travel like Nairobi, Dubai, Dar es Salaam
• Kenya Airways – August 6 – daily flights between Nairobi – Kigali
• Qatar – August 3 – 3 times a week from Doha – Kigali
• Ethiopian Airlines – August 1 – daily
• Emirates, KLM, British Airways, Air France & Lufthansa – resuming flights to Nairobi during first week of August, connect via Nairobi onto Kigali

Rwanda COVID 19 statistics as of July 30, 2020

LocationConfirmed casesRecoveredDeathsRwanda1,92610055

For more information about the arrival protocols for Rwanda, details can be found at Visit Rwanda

To start planning your Rwanda trip, contact us at welcome@roarafrica.com or +1 855 666 7627