As the world still grapples with the new global pandemic of corona virus, numerous countries are coming up with new ways they can cope with this new ugly reality of living with this deadly virus that has disrupted the routine of everyone in its own way around the world.
This virus has greatly disrupted the travel and tourism sector of so many destinations around the world as people are sceptical of travelling to new countries since they aren’t sure of the health status of the person seated next to them on the plane, bus or train to their destination.
In a bid to restore faith among travellers, major tourist destinations have had to come up with new travel advisories to keep these destinations together with their respective local populations free from the virus. Here Africa some countries such Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and Congo have also come up with their own travel advisories to keep these countries fee from this global epidemic.
Has Rwanda issued any travel advisories in regard to Coronavirus?
The Rwandan government under its Ministry Of Health (MOH) in partnership with the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), has issued a new travel advisory to all travellers intending to visit Rwanda in this year as the first line of defence for its citizens and destination which is favoured by the tourists given its epic gorilla adventures that are carried out in Volcanoes National Park. In a document released by the Rwandan MOH, on March 08th 2020, the following guidelines have been outlined in response to the global outbreak of Coronavirus
- All travellers arriving in Rwanda at all points of entry will be screened
- All travellers presenting one of the COVID-19 SYMPTOMS and coming from countries with confirmed cases of COVID-19 will be considered suspect cases and therefore will be taken for isolation at the nearest hospital for further investigation and laboratory testing procedures
- If tested positive suspected cases become confirmed and is sent immediately to COVID-19 Treatment Center. If Tested negative SUSPECTED CASE remains eligible for active follow up and therefore he/she is advised to provide full identification of continued daily monitoring at the place of self-quarantine for 14 days counted from the day he/she left the country with COVID-19 cases. The location of the SUSPECT CASES has to be accessible by MOH-RBC surveillance teams.
- Suspect case in a self-quarantine condition must abide on the following conditions, wear face masks all the time self-isolate from others in the same household and call 114 for further direction.
- Any asymptomatic traveller coming from countries with confirmed COVID-19 cases will be considered AT Risk and will be recorded in a register and electronic tools for continued daily monitoring for 14 days counted from the day he or she left the country with COVID-19 CASES
- Although asymptomatic traveller is not required for strict quarantine, she/he must take preventive and protective measures and communicated to the nearest health authorities for unusual signs and symptoms that he/she may develop within 14 days counted from the day he/she left the country with COVID-19 CASES
- These new instructions are for immediate implementation by the health staff deployed at all Points Of Entry (POEs) until further notice added the Ministry of Health official Dr Ngamije M Daniel.
Is there Corona Virus in Africa? / Africa still has the lowest cases of Coronavirus on the planet
Africa has defied all odds to still be the only continent with the list number of confirmed cases of Coronavirus 5 different countries of Nigeria Algeria, Senegal, Egypt and Cameroon according to results published the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa. Many African countries which include Uganda, Rwanda Kenya and many others are yet to register any confirmed case of Coronavirus within their territories.
Rwanda is still free from Coronavirus / Is Rwanda free from Corona Virus?
Yes, at this moment, Rwanda is one of the many other African countries that are yet to register any case of Coronavirus. However, the government under its Ministry of Health is on red alert to combat this new epidemic should there be an outbreak of the viral infection in Rwanda.
Is it Safe to visit Rwanda for a Rwanda Safari Tour Now?
Yes, you can still safely visit Rwanda and engage yourself in an epic Rwanda gorilla safari experience this is because the Rwanda Tourism sector under its governing body The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and many other related agencies such as Rwanda’s Ministry of Health (MOH) have come up with several measures to ensure that tourists who visit Rwanda remain safe and also keeping the safety of animals and the measures come
- All tourist vehicles visiting Rwanda tourists sites should have medicated sanitizers and disposal hand wipes to enable the tourists they carry regular wash their hands
- All tourists who engage in communal activities such as gorilla trekking, boat cruises, should wear nose masks to limit chances of contacting Coronavirus from other clients with whom they engage these activities.
- Observing the 7-meter rule while observing the gorillas so as to reduce chances of either passing on or contacting any disease between the gorillas and tourists.
- Tour operators who have clients intending to visit Rwanda have been advised to encourage their clients come with their own recommended nose masks (N95) type as a mitigation factor to combat the spread of this disease
- Places of accommodation such as lodges/resorts and hotels have been advised to provide handwashing facilities with soap to their clients and also encourage their clients to wash their hands regularly.
In addition to the above guidelines that were issued by the RDB in the immediate aftermath of the Coronavirus outbreak, on 09th March 2020, the RDB has issued new supplementary guidelines that are to be observed by the Rwanda tourism sector,. These have been curated to in order to help tourists who had already booked their tours in Rwanda but can no longer visit Rwanda avoid incurring loss of their monies as it allows many of them to promptly postpone their trips to future dates when all is calm and travel is less scary as it is now, these new guidelines include the following
- Removal of the 7 days notice prior to visit date for tourist to postpone their gorilla permits (subject to permit availability and submission of documentation).
- Removal of the 30-day requirement for all tour operators to have submitted their final payment for the reserved permits
- Tourists who wish to postpone their park permits because of travel restrictions or flights cancellations being effected due to COVID-19 have up to 2 years to postpone their bookings at no extra cost (subject to submission of official documentation and availability)
- Tourists who purchased low season discounted permits for gorilla trekking are free to postpone and consume them any time within a period of 2 years. (Subject to availability)
- MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) tourists who purchased season discounted permits for gorilla trekking are free to postpone and consume them any time within a period of 2 years. (Subject to availability)
This offer unless otherwise modified is available for 6 months from the date of signature of this announcement and visits to National parks or any other attractions following such permit modifications must be conducted once and within a period of 2 years from the date of the signature hereunder. Reads the document signed by Ms Claire Akamanzi CEO RDB.
Why you should visit Rwanda in 2020?
Rwanda the home of the magical gorillas.
If you are on a search for a destination that will give you stunning encounters with the magical gorillas, then Rwanda is the country you should seriously consider to visit. This is because Rwanda is home to these endangered but wonderful wild beings and they can be seen while on a Rwanda gorilla tour to Volcanoes National Park. Volcanoes National Park is part of the larger Virunga Massif in which has the largest concentration of Mountain gorillas which are 604 in number as per the 2019 gorilla census results that were released late last year 2019. During your Rwanda gorilla trekking expedition, you are in for a face to face encounter with any of the 12 gorilla families that have been habituated to ensure that your gorilla trekking expedition is nothing short of spectacular. After your gorilla tour here, you can also still enjoy a thrilling hiking experience as you scale up the Bisoke volcano or even opt to engage in a birding experience since this park I home to 178 bird species with many of these being endemic to the Albertine region.
Rwanda the home of the big five.
Although Rwanda is ultimately known for its gorilla trekking prowess given the presence of these mystical beasts in Volcanoes National Park, you can still have thrilling encounters with Africa big five Savanna game while Rwanda. This is all possible when you visit Rwanda’s North Eastern park Akagera National Park. Akagera National park sits on the sprawling savanna grassland that are an extension of the dry savanna vegetation from Tanzania and these are home to a wide variety of wild game which includes animals such as the cape buffaloes, Leopards, Lions, African bush elephants, Giraffes and many others. While here you can still engage in a fascinating boat cruise over the calm but turbid waters of Lake Ihema and this gives a possibility to see some of the water-dwelling animals of these waters such as the Nile crocodiles and the water hippos.
Visit the chimpanzees of Nyungwe Forest National Park
Nyungwe Forest National Park is a true haven for chimpanzee encounters as it is home to these incredible wild beings. While in Nyungwe Forest National park, you can also engage in a forest canopy walk which gives you an opportunity to enjoy a magnificent views of this forest.
Explore the sights and sounds of Kigali city
The Kigali city tour gives you a unique opportunity to explore the sights and sounds of Kigali as you traverse this pristine and clean capital of Rwanda. Some of the major attraction sites you will visit during your city tour include the Kigali genocide memorial- A visit to this memorial gives you a unique insight into what really happened during the darkest 90 days of Rwanda during the 1994 Rwanda genocide in which over 1 million people lost their lives during a blood massacre between the Hutus and the Tustis. From the genocide memorial, make your way to the Kimironko market center and encounter day to day local Rwandese try to earn a living by selling a wide variety of stuff ranging from crafts, food items and cloths. This will be a good place for you to buy a souvenir to commemorate this trip with. From here, your next stop will be at the Inema art gallery. While here you will have a chance to meet local artists try to inspire this nation through crafting art pieces with a big story and grand vision message to tell. From here, have lunch then transfer to the airport for your flight back home.
Are you in for a thrilling Rwanda gorilla safari or a Uganda tour? Check out our Rwanda gorilla tracking safaris website. This website gives you a myriad of Rwanda gorilla tour packages. Rwanda gorilla safaris are carried out in Volcanoes National Park, Volcanoes is home to over 10 gorilla families that have been habituated to give you an ultimate Rwanda gorilla tour experience. These gorilla trekking safaris Rwanda have been classified into short Rwanda gorilla tours and these run between 1- 5 days for example 1 day Rwanda gorilla safari tours and 2 days Rwanda gorilla safaris. There are also long Rwanda safari tours, these run between 6-9 days for example 6 days Rwanda gorilla chimpanzee safaris. Since Uganda is also another fascinating Africa safari destination which shares quite similar attractions like Rwanda has, these attractions in range from savanna wildlife attractions that are found in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park Kidepo Valley National Park and Lake Mburo National Park. Uganda is also a gorilla destination and Uganda gorilla safaris are carried out either in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park or Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which can be visited for a spectacular Uganda gorilla tour experience. After a magical gorilla tour in Uganda, you can always visit Lake Bunyonyi Uganda and enjoy the stunning views of this magical lake. A visit to Lake Bunyonyi gives you an opportunity to experience a boat ride on Africa’s second deepest lake.. Regardless of the length of your stay in Africa, you can enjoy either a short Uganda safari tour or a long Uganda safari tour experience visiting several attractions in Uganda. However, if you don’t want to miss out on experiencing what each country has to offer, you can also have a combined Uganda Rwanda safari tours options which will see you visit the two countries of Uganda and Rwanda in a single safari package such as 5 days Uganda Rwanda gorilla trekking safari.
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