Tipping isn’t expected of you in Rwanda. It's up to the individual whether to tip. Rounding up a bill for good service at restaurants is a good idea.

Internet access has recently improved in Rwanda. Travelers will be able to access the internet in large cities like Kigali, but expect limited to no access in regional and rural areas.

Cell phone coverage is quite good in Rwanda’s larger towns, but less so in rural and mountainous areas. Ensure global roaming is activated before leaving home if you wish to use your cell phone.

Drinking tap water isn't recommended in Rwanda. For environmental reasons, try to avoid buying bottled water. Fill a reusable water bottle or canteen with filtered water. Ask your leader where filtered water can be found; some hotels we stay in may have drinking water available. It's also advisable to avoid ice in drinks and to peel fruit and vegetables before eating.

Credit cards are usually accepted by large hotels and western-style restaurants, but not by smaller vendors. Ensure you have adequate cash to cover purchases that cannot be made on credit.

Absolutely. All passengers traveling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. It's important to understand that each country you visit may have its own specific entry requirements, and some destinations mandate travel health insurance for all foreign travelers, regardless of their nationality.
We require that, at a minimum, you are covered for medical expenses, including emergency repatriation, but minimum coverage may differ from trip to trip, so make sure you check the Travel Insurance section in your Essential Trip Information. You will not be permitted to join the group until your leader has sighted your insurance policy number and the insurance company's 24-hour emergency contact number, and these details will be recorded on the first day of your trip. Due to the varying nature, availability, and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is an essential part of every journey.
For travelers who reside within the European Union, Switzerland, or the USA, the requirement to purchase travel insurance cannot be compulsory. However, the purchase of travel insurance is still highly recommended, and travelers from these regions who decline travel insurance when travelling outside their home region must sign a Travel Insurance Waiver Form, recognizing personal responsibility for emergency medical and repatriation costs should they arise.

Visas are required by all nationalities and need to be obtained in advance. You must apply for this visa online.

You'll need to apply for an Entry Visa on their website (Services tab, Visa), which should take approximately 2-5 days to come through. You must print this Entry Facility out to present at the border.

Nationals of Australia, Israel, New Zealand, the USA, Germany, South Africa, Kenya, Great Britain, Sweden, and Singapore are not required to pre-register; however, they must pay the visa fee upon arrival at the border post.

The visa costs approximately US$60, payable at the border, except for nationals of Australia, Israel, New Zealand, the USA, Germany, South Africa, Kenya, Great Britain, Sweden, and Singapore, for whom the visa fee is US$30.

If you are asked to provide an address in Rwanda on your visa form, please use the address below -

Centre Pastoral Notre Dame De Fatima, Avenue de la Nutrition, Ruhengeri, Rwanda

Supporting Documents may also be required - the embassy will contact you if they require these

Note: Rwanda is constantly updating its visa information; therefore, we recommend that you check the website carefully for the latest up-to-date information

We take the health and safety of our travelers seriously and take every measure to ensure that trips are safe, fun, and inclusive for everyone. When you travel with us, you have access to our global support network and local on‑ground leadership, and you can rest easy knowing we have a zero-tolerance policy on discrimination.

We recommend that all travelers check with their government or national travel advisory organization for the latest information before departure. If traveling from the US, you can find helpful information from the US Department of State and the World Health Organization.