How To Prepare For A Rwanda Safari

Let’s assume that you have already booked your Rwanda safari with a reputable and licensed tour operator, set your travel date, and in the next few months or days, you have to prepare for your Rwanda Safari. In that case, we will help you out with the things you need to look at to help you prepare for an unforgettable holiday adventure in Rwanda.

Rwanda is a popular destination for gorilla trekking, and there’s no doubt that your Rwanda safari includes an unforgettable adventure with mountain gorillas on the slopes of the Virunga Mountains in Volcanoes National Park. Therefore, preparing for a Rwanda Safari will primarily involve getting ready physically and mentally for trekking the Virunga volcanoes, searching for the elusive mountain gorillas.

Check with your travel planner.

The first thing on your list is to keep the communication channels with your travel planner for any unexpected changes in your itinerary. Because we live in unprecedented times, your flights, Rwanda’s travel restrictions, and health status could change anytime, and either you or your travel planner should receive first-hand information to make the necessary adjustments in the itinerary.

Your travel planner will also feed you information about your destination to prepare you for expectations during the Rwanda safari. Subscribing to their newsletter or regular emails would be a great idea.

Health & Safety Check

Health and Safety are a considerable concern during travel, especially of the prevalence of infectious diseases and terrorism. Knowing that it will be safe to visit destinations during your planned holiday is essential in preparing for an overseas trip.

If you’re planning to trek gorillas in the Virunga mountains, your physical fitness will be a big question when you hit the jungle trails. Forest trails are uneven, muddy, steep, and would require some physical fitness to navigate. It’s a great idea to regularly visit the gym or engage in some short walking and hiking challenges a few weeks or months before your trip. That will prepare you for the undetermined hours you’ll spend searching for the gorillas in the thick misty forests.

Check Rwanda’s latest health and entry requirements and ensure that you’ll be able to meet the criteria during your Rwanda safari. Currently, Rwanda requires that you take a PCR Covid-19 test 72 hours before your arrival and present a negative certificate on entry. You may be required to take another test on arrival and help up for some hours at a hotel before you’re allowed to tour Rwanda. Do not rule out the possibility.

Rwanda is considered one of the safest destinations to visit, and the country has seen progressive growth because of its security. Therefore, you shouldn’t be held up in preparing for a Rwanda safari because of security. However, it would be very assuring by knowing the latest security concerns directly from your travel planner, other than reading old online articles written by random websites.

Clothing & Luggage

Your clothing and luggage should be a significant concern at this stage in preparing for a Rwanda safari. Given that you’re traveling miles away from home and into a less developed country and spending most of your holiday time in the remotest parts of Rwanda, don’t overpack for the trip.

Pack a few essentials, especially casual clothing that will make you feel comfortable during those lazy evenings at the hotel. Rwanda has a tropical climate with moderate temperatures that most travelers find agreeable. Daytime temperatures in Rwanda’s lower mountains, where you may spend most of your time, average around 75^oF and are much cooler at about 55^oF along the higher mountains. Nighttime temperatures average in the 60s. Additionally, tropical rains could come down any time, especially during the rainy seasons.

Therefore, pack clothing that would keep you warm during the cold hours, dry during the wet season, and comfortable during your trekking adventures. Most travelers pack a sweater, scarf, and warm trousers for the chilly evenings. Carry waterproof hiking boots to keep your food dry on the muddy, uneven forest trails for gorilla hiking. Take a long-sleeved shirt and trousers to protect you from the thorny bushes and forest bugs. A lightweight rain jacket and waterproof backpack will keep you and your gadgets dry from the rainforest mist and downpour.

For casual afternoons, figure out your style and carry a few to make you blend into the Rwanda holiday environment; Rwanda culture is not too keen on how tourists dress up during their safaris.

Choosing to pack your luggage in hardshell cases is a bad idea; weight is a significant factor to consider while you prepare for a Rwanda Safari. Your luggage should be something you can easily squeeze in a corner or carry with your two hands; keep it light and simple.

What Else To Pack

Shampoo and conditioner are provided at most decent hotels in Rwanda, especially the forest lodges; there’s no need to carry your unless you want to avoid unknown brands. Pack lotion, sunscreen with a good SPF rating, insect repellent, medical first aid kit, toothpaste, toothbrush, and shaving essentials.

If you’re traveling with a camera, ensure that you have an extra battery and charger that would fit the types C and J plugs. C plugs have two round pins, and J type has three round pins. Carry a universal plug-adaptor to avoid confusion. Rwanda operates electricity on a 230 voltage supply and 50Hz.

Get Informed About Rwanda, The People & Culture

Connecting with the destination’s people and cultures is essential in creating lasting memories when traveling to far-off places. A morning greeting, a gesture, an invite, social cultures, and taboos are some of the things you should consider knowing before you head into the remote Rwanda safari attractions. Knowing about them beforehand will help you quickly connect when during light moments.

Rwandans use Kinyarwanda as their first language, and it’s widely spoken across the country. Othe official languages widely used are English, French, and Swahili. On your Rwanda safari, you’re most likely to interact with locals in English or French. If you speak neither of these two, we highly recommend you hire the services of an interpreter to prepare for a Rwanda Safari.

Rwanda has a high reputation for cleanliness and sustainability. You’ll face big trouble if you carry a plastic bag into Rwanda, litter the environment, or disrespect their sustainable programs. A decade-long ban on single-use plastic bags and the public’s high regard for clean environments is something to watch out for during your safari in Rwanda.

While staying at most lodges in Rwanda, it’s typical for the hosts to entertain you with Rwanda’s cultural songs, dance, and folklore in public areas, at dinner or evening campfires. Otherwise, you can visit their cultural centers, communities, or villages to immerse yourself in deep  Rwanda cultures. Kigali city’s genocide memorial museums are a great place to find history about the gruesome 1990s.

Prepare For a Rwanda Safari

Start preparing your Rwanda safari with a trusted and licensed operator. We will ensure that you get first-hand information and details about your trip during your preparations and supply you with the latest health and security updates up to d-day.

Planning your trip involves the best of our teams in getting you the perfect accommodation, comfortable transfers, booking your entry tickets and permits, and making sure your meals meet your requirements. Send us an email at info@gorilla-tracking-uganda.com to start preparing your Rwanda safari.