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The hills of Rwanda

Travel guide · A thousand hills: chimpanzees and safari

Travelling to Rwanda

Kigali, one of the cleanest cities in Africa, the chimpanzees of Nyungwe Forest and the safari at Akagera, in the land of a thousand hills. We tell you when to go, what to see and what to eat.

Updated 18 October 2026 · How we make our guides

  • Best time: from June to February
  • Where to eat: a local restaurant or a buffet
Photo: Emile Maurice · CC BY 4.0

Rwanda in 30 seconds

  • The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Rwanda are from June to February.
  • To eat like a local: a local restaurant or a buffet. Don’t leave without trying: Brochettes, Isombe, Ugali.

Rwanda in November

Yes: November is a good time to travel to Rwanda. Our data shows no weather or seasonal warnings that month.

More destinations for November

When to travel to Rwanda

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Rwanda are from June to February.

  1. Jan no warnings
  2. Feb no warnings
  3. Mar with warnings
  4. Apr with warnings
  5. May with warnings
  6. Jun no warnings
  7. Jul no warnings
  8. Aug no warnings
  9. Sep no warnings
  10. Oct no warnings
  11. Nov no warnings
  12. Dec no warnings

More destinations for those dates: where to travel in January · where to travel in February · where to travel in June · where to travel in July

  • from March to May

    Long rains

    From March to May it rains heavily; the forest trails turn muddy.

    What to do: The best time is June to September and December to February.

What to see in Rwanda

The cities and areas most worth your time, with their highlights. Open each one for all the places, where to stay and its day trips.

  • Kigali

    Kigali

    A capital of hills, clean and orderly, with the genocide memorial and craft markets.

    • Kigali Genocide Memorial
    • Kimironko Market
    • Caplaki Craft Village
    • Inema Art Center
    Kigali guide
  • Nyungwe National Park

    Nyungwe National Park

    A mountain forest with chimpanzees, colobus monkeys and a canopy walkway above the treetops.

    • Chimpanzee tracking
    • Canopy walkway
    • Colobus monkeys
    • Isumo Waterfall
    Nyungwe National Park guide
  • Akagera National Park

    Akagera National Park

    Rwanda’s savannah, where lions and rhinos have returned: the “Big Five”.

    • 4×4 safari
    • Boat trip on Lake Ihema
    • Night safari
    • Rhinos
    Akagera National Park guide

Day trips and activities

What’s most worth booking from each city. We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.

From Kigali

From Nyungwe National Park

From Akagera National Park

Some links are affiliate links: if you book through them, Bagintravel may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

What to eat in Rwanda

To eat like a local: a local restaurant or a buffet, and order brochettes or isombe. And don’t leave without trying:

  • Brochettes

    Goat or beef skewers.

  • Isombe

    Pounded cassava leaves.

  • Ugali

    A dough of maize or cassava flour.

  • Matoke

    Stewed plantain.

  • Tilapia

    From the lake.

  • Rwandan coffee

    Among the best in Africa.

Curious facts about Rwanda

What guidebooks don’t tell you and will help you understand the country better.

  • Plastic bags have been banned since 2008.
  • The last Saturday of every month is Umuganda: compulsory community work.
  • Kigali is one of the cleanest cities in Africa.
  • It has one of the parliaments with the highest share of women in the world.
  • Nyungwe is one of the oldest mountain forests in Africa.
  • Kinyarwanda, English, French and Swahili are spoken.

Traditions of Rwanda

Customs and celebrations that will help you experience the country like a local.

  • Last Saturday of the month Umuganda

    Community work.

  • April Kwibuka

    Commemoration of the genocide.

  • Intore

    A warriors’ dance.

  • Imigongo

    Geometric art made with cow dung.

What not to do in Rwanda

First-trip mistakes that are easy to avoid.

  • Don’t go to the border with the DR Congo or to Volcanoes National Park: official travel advice warns against it.
  • Don’t bring plastic bags: they’ll be taken off you at the airport.
  • Don’t talk about the genocide lightly or ask anyone about their ethnicity.
  • Don’t take photos of official buildings.
  • Don’t forget malaria prevention.
  • Don’t drive or go out walking on Umuganda morning: there are restrictions.

Before you go

Entry requirements depend on your passport and change: always check them with official sources before travelling.

Frequently asked questions about Rwanda

What people search for most before travelling to Rwanda.

What’s the best time to travel to Rwanda?

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Rwanda are from June to February.

What to see in Rwanda in a week?

The essentials of Rwanda: Kigali, Nyungwe National Park and Akagera National Park. How many places fit into your days, and in what order, depends on your dates and how you get around: the Bagintravel app plans your trip day by day in a minute.

What to eat in Rwanda?

Brochettes, Isombe, Ugali, Matoke, Tilapia, Rwandan coffee. To eat like a local: a local restaurant or a buffet.

What should you not do in Rwanda?

Don’t go to the border with the DR Congo or to Volcanoes National Park: official travel advice warns against it. Don’t bring plastic bags: they’ll be taken off you at the airport. Don’t talk about the genocide lightly or ask anyone about their ethnicity.

Is it worth travelling to Rwanda in November?

Yes: November is a good time to travel to Rwanda. Our data shows no weather or seasonal warnings that month.

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Guide reviewed 18 October 2026. Seasonal data, places and areas: the same ones the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.

Photos: cover, Emile Maurice (CC BY 4.0). Kigali, Adrien K (CC BY 2.0). Nyungwe National Park, Jonkmania (CC BY-SA 4.0). Akagera National Park, Braunov (CC BY-SA 3.0).