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Hi,

I'm thinking of going to Rwanda around June time and have a few questions.

-.Will I meet other travellers? I'm travelling alone but would really like to bump into a few people along the way.

  • What will the weather be like around June?

  • Is a day trip to Goma (DRC) an OK (safe-ish) idea? Or can it be done OK. I've read about it and would like to visit.

Thankyou!

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1
  1. In 2009 I couldn't find a backpackers-hostel-ish thing in Kigali. That may have changed. Lots of bazungu, but very few independent travellers, in my experience.
  2. Warm enough during the the day. A bit chilly at night. Jeans and a sweater should be sufficient.
  3. YES. Check the safety situation once you are there, and dubbel check.

Have fun.

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2

When you get to the park, of course you will meet other 7 trekkers to give you company. It is always 8 people trek a gorilla family per day.So no need to worry about that.

Move with both worm and light clothes

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3

I travelled around Rwanda in June 2010:

1: You will be kinda lonely. There's no backpackerstyle-dorm-hostels, and not many young independend tourist.
However in Rwanda there's a lot of 20-30s that volunteer or work for NGOs, and they do the touristy stuff in the weekends (I did gorillatrekking with 4 25-year old dutch girls). Therefore try to coachsurf in Rwanda or try to be in a chatty mode at Bourbon cafe (local expat hangout in Kigali)

2: Not too cold, but sometimes rains. Anyway I think I used jeans in the evenings each day.

3: Don't know

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4

You can hang out in Bourbon café, but be careful of what you order.
A simple mango smoothy might set you back at 4 or 5 USD (twice the daily salary of many ordinary Rwandese citizens).

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5

You will meet people along the way. In fact Rwanda is small and you will probably meet the same people over and over and over...

June is the dry season. I have been in Rwanda a total of 80 days in the past 3 years (all in June and July) and it rained maybe 2-4 times.

Shorts are not really acceptable to wear in Rwanda. Light pants are fine for everywhere and I found jeans very nice in Ruhengeri and the surrounding places. Long sleeve shirt would be fine but a light jacket is not a bad idea.

Congo is a mess, has been a mess, and will continue to be a mess. Goma made me nervous. If you go you will "need" a guide.

Very interesting to see but they don't mess around. Do not take photos and do not go alone.

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6

Bukavu is far nicer than Goma.

No rain in June.

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