Towards the end of 2014, the East African Commission passed laws creating one East African visa which can be used to travel between Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. One can get the 90-day visa or the 180-day visa which cost US$100 and US$200 respectively. On top of that, residents working within the EAC are now allowed to use their residency visa to cross to any country in the EAC. Finally, Kenyans, Ugandans and Rwandans can now cross borders - within the EAC - using just their national I.Ds. With these policy changes, there has been a massive increase of people travelling back and forth within the Community. So before you pack your bags, here is everything you need to know about travelling between Kampala and Kigali.
There are buses from Kampala to Kigali
There are buses from Kampala to Kigali
Buses: There are daily buses between Kampala and Kigali by a number of different companies. Prices vary ever so slightly between $14 and $16 (one way) depending on the time of departure. Night buses are more popular than day buses and therefore tend to be at the top of that range. The buses get into Nyabugongo bus terminus in Kigali which is right in the Central Business District and all forms of transport are readily available. This is also a great place to change money; they have the best rates. Buses can be booked as early as one month in advance and most companies have regular special offers on return bookings.
Fly: Rwandair and KQ offer frequent flights between Kampala and Kigali costing between $300 and $400 dollars return. The flight is 45 minutes long and transport is easy to find from Kigali International Airport whether you choose to go by moto (motorcycle taxi), cab or public bus.
Dress warm: Especially if you are going by bus. The winding road between the hills of Gatuna can get as cold as five degrees Celsius late at night and early in the morning. Immigration procedures for entering Rwanda can take up to two hours and you don't want to be caught in that cold wearing a t-shirt.
Stay: Jovago.com has a range of hotels available not just in Kigali but as far as Gisenyi on Lake Kivu. Everyone from the budget backpacker to the luxury business traveler can find somewhere suitable to stay. Whether you want to stay right in the city centre or towards the outskirts, there is something there for everyone.
Getting around: Rwandans drive on the right side of the road unlike Ugandans, so be sure to look both ways before you cross! Motorcycle taxis are very common as they are the quickest and most efficient way to get around in Kigali, though not for the faint-hearted. Moto riders speed through the hills at impressive speeds. Always make sure to wear the helmet provided, failing to do so is punishable by law. There are smart-buses and matatus that ply several routes and are very affordable but unfortunately quite slow in comparison. Private hire taxis are available everywhere.
Language: Although the official language was changed to English four years ago, it is still rare to find service providers (taxi drivers and moto riders) who understand it. The most spoken languages are Kinyarwanda and French. A number of moto riders speak Swahili due to influences from Congo. A great tip is to always write down the names and street addresses of places you want to go so that you can show it to whoever is taking you there. All the streets in Kigali are numbered so it is almost impossible to get lost this way.
Don’t forget to say ‘Thank you!’: “Murakoze” – Thank You, this should be a frequently used word during your stay in Rwanda, in line with the very polite nature of the Rwandan people.
There are so many different things to do in Rwanda both within Kigali and in the country-side. While in Kigali, Bourbon KCT is the best place to grab a cup of coffee or lunch, from their rooftop seating you can enjoy the breathtaking views of Kigali city. If you have a little extra time you could opt to visit the shores of Lake Kivu and enjoy frequent boat-rides and ferries that go between the towns on the lake side like Kibuye and Gisenyi. Always be sure to carry a copy of your work permit if you are a resident so that you can take advantage of the special East Africa residents’ prices for park entries and tours.
* Culled from Jovago.com's Smart Traveller Series
Jovago.com is an online hotel booking service with offices in Lagos (Nigeria), Nairobi (Kenya), Dakar (Senegal) founded by Africa Internet Group and has MTN and Millicom as its investors. Jovago.com, Africa’s No.1 booking portal, facilitates the booking process for its users to provide them with the best hotel booking experience with fast, transparent and easy-to-use services. Jovago.com has over 20,000 local hotel listings across Africa and over 200,000 hotels around the world.