Hard being an independent traveller in Rwanda!!!

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brtata
brtata

Well,

Just returned from a trip in Kenya, DRC, Burundi and Rwanda and wanted to share our travelling experience with Rwanda.

As a part of the trip, our intention was to cross to DRC and spend a few days in Rwanda in the way back. Being a Brazilian citizen, I got information from the US Embassady, since thy are the responsible for my Country. I got given the information that I could apply online for any visas and would have no problem to come in.So I did, applied for a Transit Visa, and although didn't get any answer back for 2 weeks, had no problem to get into the country after aying US$ 60 dollars at Kigali Airport (as so, my Australian boyfriend).

After crossing to DRC our new Visa to return would be a Tourism one. Then our problems started... We received several emails demanding to know which tour Operator would we use, if we had reservations at all, each time the answers took almost 1 day and we almost got stuck in DRC because Rwanda wouldn't authorize us. At one point we managed to reach a tour operator who could book for us - apparently they do not understand there are people that can do bookings by themselves!!!! and we got a call back from the operator that said the Immigration had phoned them saying we weren't spending eough money, only our reservations was not enough to justify our visas and they wouldn't give it to us. NO JOKE. So, we decided to go to Burundi instead, where we were received all smiles at the border and given a 3 days visa in Uvira/Bujumbura border. Since we had a flight booked and paid leaving from Kigali, we still had to go to Rwanda and we had to apply in Bujumbura - which was not in our 1st itinerary plans- and got given an exception. Next morning we get the Visa - 1 month, 2 entries, US$ 60 dollars (the embassy in Burundi will not take Rwanda Currency - don't ask me why).

Finally we take a busBujumbura-Kigali, and when at the border the nice lady asks why we will only stay 1 day in Rwanda if we had 1 month Visa (we had one day left because we lost 5 days trying to get into te country and our flight was booked next night). Very sadly I replied that we REALLY wanted to go to Rwanda, but never got the visa beforehand, and so, now we had lost our chance to visit the country... She still took 10 minutes to ask questions and all and tried to make life hard, but it wouldn't get any harder....

Anyway, so, for those one who want to be an Independent Traveller to Rwanda, be aware that it's not so easy and that you should try to use an operator. Also, don't attempt to spend less than US$ 200 for accomodation, it does not seem feasable.... I hope they understand not everyone has a millionaire budget and can afford to pay expensive hotels. We just wanted to have a low-key few days in rwanda, visit one of the NPs and Kigali, staying in simple guest houses to get in touch with people. Stil the impression that I get is that they really wanna control everything and be sure of your plans (top-end plans).

We did manage to see a bit of Kigali and the Memorial, which was really impressive. Kigali seems a nice city, full of mzungus and people in the safari vehicles everywhere.... Hope they open up more.

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kigalilongwe
kigalilongwe

hi,

sorry to read your bad experience.

Can you clarify why did you apply for a transit visa?

thanks

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brtata
brtata

the first time, because we were only staying 1 night, we had to fly to Kamembe. The second time, we wanted to apply for the Tourist visa, that's when we had problems!!!

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vlad22
vlad22

Hi

I am a bit surprised to hear about your experience - although not about the visa issue. I am Romanian and is not always easy to get visas at entry points, therefore I always try to get it in advance. I got my Rwandan visa in London (by post - it took about 4-5 days to arrive).

I planned my trip around Rwanda independently - including the gorilla trek. I also found public transport good and reliable; the people were also very helpfull. Accommodation was't great, but having visited other African contries I did not find it too bad.

My week in Rwanda was amazing, I do not doubt that you had a bad experience, I just don't think people should be put off doing Rwanda independently, especially when operator prices are so high.

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greatescape
greatescape

I'll second Vlad. I did have some troubles at the border with getting a visa too, but that was my own fault cause I didn't apply it online in advance. When in the country everything was smooth and easy. Based on my experience, Rwanda was a very easy country to travel independently.

If you wanna avoid problems with visas, would be best to get it before entering the country. There's no real reason to use tour operators to arrange your trip, Rwanda is expensive enough even without paying for the travel arrangements.

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brtata
brtata

hey guys, I understand your reviews. I just shared what happened to us!!! No joke, we received 8 different e-mails from the Online Immigration Department, and in my country there is no Rwandan embassy, so with my short schedule I couldn't have the visa in advance. I believed it was all going to be fine. For the first Transit visa - the one we just had the tracking number, we had no problems when getting into the country, the guy at the airport didn't give a real hard time.

The problems happened in the return, when we had to apply online from DRC. I am not sure wether it was because we had a transit visa in the first requirement or what. I just tell you that we didn't get the online permission for 5 days!!! And all that happened above, really happened! They emailed us, and later called the operator we decided to use to inquire about their clients (us). And, no joke, they REALLY told her that we were not spending enough money!!!! When we were in Bujumbura we had no problem to get the tourist visa at the Embassy! So maybe in person they have a different atittude, but all the online hassling was very stressful at the time. Plus, at the border we were asked so many questions again. Hadn't we got the flight departuring from Kigali, I think i'd have skipped the country.

I do recommend people to visit Rwanda, don't get me wrong. Just, get the schedules in advance and have a Plan B. If something like this happens to you when you are in a country like DRC and need to leave, then it can really ruin your humours!

Our original plan was to avoid the operators and do like the other countries, and I do believe it is possible and doable travelling independently in Rwanda. But, it's HARD!!! The best way would be having some reservations and attaching it to your online visa (they do have an online camp that allows you to attach documents to prove your itinerary).

greatesscape, yes, Rwanda can be damn expensive . Vlad, I agree on the public transportation and people beeing reliable and helpful.

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kigalilongwe
kigalilongwe

hi again,

were you being advised to obtain FIRST a transit visa and THEN a single entry tourist visa by the US high commission? because i thought a multi entry visa (of course more expensive) would have been much more appropriate.
Most of the tourists combining Gorillas and a 2-3 days hiking at Nyaragongo volcano in DRC opt for this.

if someone can confirm that multi entry visas are still available, and how?

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brtata
brtata

apparently yes, you can obtain a multi-entry visa IF you have a Rwandan embassy in your country or if you can have the Visa taken in a city with the Embassy - considering you have the time to wait for the processing days they ask. That was not my case!!! I have no rwandan emabssy in my country nor the time to wait somewhere to get that visa. I know the fees came up. I paid US$ 60 each time - transit and tourism visas.

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greatescape
greatescape

Please don't misunderstand my post, I just wanted to avoid the possibility of someone getting the impression that independent travel overall would be difficult in Rwanda.

It was good that you posted your experiences here to inform all of us that getting visa to Rwanda isn't always that straightforward.

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henjan
henjan

Sorry for having that experience. But from what I read they were misunderstanding with the persons in charge of issuing visa online. From what I have seen it does not take more than 3 days to get an online visa in the Immigration Rwanda.

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