After several months of closing the borders and stopping all passenger flights by the Rwanda government because of the corona virus (covid 19) pandemic, Rwanda finally opened up to passenger flights and tourists into the country on 1st August 2020. All the parks and other tourism destinations in Rwanda have been reopened for tours but with standard operating procedures (SOPs) put in place for each destination and activity.
Below I guide on what is required of the tourists before flying into Rwanda and during their trips in Rwanda during this corona virus situation:
The visitor must have done a covid 19 test not later than 72 hours before the date of arrival in Rwanda and shall present a certificate to prove the test which should obviously be negative. Only PCR tests are advised.
On arrival in Rwanda the visitor shall be required to take another Covid 19 test and shall not travel anywhere outside or within Kigali in the next 24 hours during which time the visitor shall be waiting for the test results.
The covid 19 test is done at $60, a cost incurred by the visitor/tourist.
Important to note is that during this time of waiting for the results the visitor is confined at the hotel until the results are back within 24 hours.
Also, only selected hotels are allowed to host visitors for the covid test so ensure your hotel is one of those that were selected by government. The standard rate at all hotels for this one quarantine night/day is 90$ per person including all meals.
If the test comes back negative you will then proceed on your tour in Rwanda but will keep maintaining the SOP guidelines.
Important to note that to visit any primates park in Rwanda, such as if you will be doing the gorilla trek in Rwanda‘s Volcanoes National Park or the golden monkey trekking in the Volcanoes N.P, or the chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park, you will be required to present a negative covid 19 test result done in the last 48 hours. Hence, if you have the gorilla trek on your Rwanda tour itinerary it is advised to do it first after being released from Kigali when the covid 19 certificate is still valid for the gorilla tracking requirement. However if you have to visit other places, say Akagera National Park for a safari, some days before your gorilla trek you will then be required to take another covid 19 test 2 days before your trek, i.e. 48 hours before the trek.
After the end of your tour and departing from Rwanda, you shall be required to take another covid 19 test 72 hours before your flight. Hence you have to include a full day at the end of the tour to allow for the covid 19 test and results.