A few questions about Rwanda

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!

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.

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

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

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).

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.

Bukavu is far nicer than Goma.

No rain in June.