Sub Saharan Africa

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• Natural disasters
• General
 

Travel Summary

• We advise against all travel to the rural border areas with Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), except to the towns of Gisenyi, Kibuye and Cyangugu. We advise against all travel to Eastern DRC except for Goma and Bukavu.  For Goma and Bukavu we advise against all but essential travel.  This is because of the risk of cross-border incursions by armed guerrillas operating from DRC’s Kivu provinces and ongoing instability in Eastern Congo. Please see the Local Travel section for advice on gorilla trekking in Rwanda.
  
  
• We advise against all but essential travel to the rural border areas of Burundi. The security situation in Burundi has improved but banditry remains a problem.
  
  
• There are confirmed cases of the A (H1N1) virus (Swine Flu) in Rwanda (source: the Ministry of Health’s Epidemic Infectious Disease Unit). The World Health Organisation (WHO) Pandemic Threat Alert Phase has been raised to Level 6. The WHO website at: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html has further details. Check Swine Flu  for further information.
  
  
• Rwanda is generally safe but there have been recent incidents of street crime. You should exercise caution at night.  
  
  
• There is a low threat from terrorism.  But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
  
  
• Seven British nationals required consular assistance in Rwanda in the period 01 April 2008 – 31 March 2009 for the following types of incident; deaths (1 case); and arrests, for a variety of offences (3 cases). During this period assistance was also requested with regard to lost or stolen passports (2 cases).  
  
  
• We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See the General (Insurance) section of this advice and Travel Insurance for more details.