Rwanda

Is Rwanda safe to visit?

For most visitors, yes. Rwanda is orderly, crime against tourists is uncommon, and Kigali is one of the easiest African capitals to walk around. The problems are on its borders and its roads. Next door in eastern DR Congo, the M23 rebels hold large areas after a long war, and an Ebola outbreak there, with more than 8,000 confirmed cases, is a global health emergency. We score Rwanda 64, above Ghana (57), Kenya and Uganda.

That score is lower than Rwanda's reputation, and the reason is the advisories. On 4 June 2026 the US raised Rwanda to Level 3, "reconsider travel", citing crime, unrest and health, and said its ability to help citizens was limited because of the health situation. The 2026 Global Peace IndexGlobal Peace IndexAn annual ranking of 163 countries by how peaceful they are, based on conflict, crime, militarisation and political instability.More in the glossary ranks Rwanda 114th of 163.

The DR Congo border

In January 2025 the M23 rebels captured Goma and Bukavu, eastern Congo's two largest cities, both on the Rwandan border. The DRC, the UN and Western governments accuse Rwanda of backing M23 with troops and arms, which Kigali denies, according to Al Jazeera. A ceasefire and a US-brokered peace deal followed in 2025, but fighting did not stop.

For travellers this means the western border strip:

• The US says do not travel within 10 km of the DRC border. That covers Gisenyi (Rubavu) on Lake Kivu and the Rusizi area around Kamembe.
• The UK advises against all but essential travel to the part of Rusizi District within 10 km of the border, including the Lake Kivu islands and Kamembe airport.
• The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary lists incursions: in June 2023 suspected militants fired on a bus in Nyungwe Forest, killing 2, and in 2022 artillery fire from the DRC hit Kinigi, near Volcanoes National Park.

Borders are poorly marked in remote areas, and the FCDO warns you could cross into the DRC without knowing. Burundi has kept its border with Rwanda closed since January 2024. Inside the country, there has been no terrorist attack in recent years, though the FCDO says one cannot be ruled out.

Gorillas, parks and permits

Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park is the main reason many people come, and it runs with armed rangers, small groups and permits from the Rwanda Development Board. The park adjoins the DRC's Virunga, where armed groups operate, and the US says parts of it are in the tense border area. Kinigi, the trekking base, was hit by shelling in 2022. Use an established operator, keep your itinerary flexible and follow ranger instructions.

Nyungwe Forest, for chimpanzees, also needs a permit, and the 2023 bus attack happened on the road through it. Akagera National Park in the east is far from the DRC. The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary warns of altitude sickness on high treks.

Roads and motorbike taxis

WHO estimatesWHO road-death estimateThe World Health Organization's estimate of road traffic deaths per 100,000 people in a country, adjusted for deaths that police statistics miss.More in the glossary 11.6 road deaths per 100,000 people in 2021, far below its 2019 estimate of 29.4. Rwanda National Police counted 719 deaths from 10,320 crashes in 2025, a far lower rate, but say motorcycles were involved in 98% of crashes. The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary says main roads from Kigali to the towns are good, but driving standards are poor after dark, roads outside cities are unlit and shared minivans and motorbike taxis are very vulnerable to accidents. US embassy staff may not use either.

For trips to the parks, hire a car with a driver and travel by day. In Kigali, the US recommends the official city buses and orange-striped licensed taxis; confirm the fare first.

Health: malaria and outbreaks

CDC recommends malaria tablets for all travellers. Rwanda has had its own outbreak recently: Marburg virus, linked to fruit bats in a mine near Kigali, ran from September to December 2024, with 66 confirmed cases and 15 deaths (WHO). The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary says avoid caves with bat colonies, or wear gloves and a mask.

The 2026 Ebola Bundibugyo outbreak began in Ituri in north-eastern DRC; the WHO declared it a public health emergency of international concern on 17 May 2026. By 6 October the WHO counted 8,728 confirmed cases and 4,205 deaths in the DRC, including in North and South Kivu, the provinces that border Rwanda. Uganda had 20 cases before its outbreak was declared over in August. Rwanda has had no cases but has tightened border controls, so expect screening at crossings. The FCDO describes medical facilities as limited, with serious cases often evacuated to Kenya or South Africa, so check that your insurance covers air ambulance.

Practical rules

• Plastic bags are banned and confiscated on arrival. Vapes and e-cigarettes are banned too, and carrying one can bring a fine.
• On the last Saturday of each month (Umuganda), most services close from 7am to 11am.
• Do not photograph government buildings, and never fly a drone without a permit.
• Call 112 for any emergency.

How we scored it

Health (47) is the weakest factor, reflecting malaria, limited care and the regional Ebola emergency. Road safety (64) is scored on WHO's 2021 estimate of 11.6 deaths per 100,000. Conflict (58) is pulled down by the DRC border and the US Level 3 advisory. Violent crime (76) and petty crime (72) are the strongest factors.