Getting Around Rwanda
Buses
Public buses and minibuses cover all parts of the country - typically fares are under £1 per 50 km. Minibuses are packed full of up to 12 people at any time and generally do not leave until completely full. They are cheap but inherently unsafe because of overcrowding, bald tyres, general poor maintenance, and seeming lack of any sort of driver training. Moto taxis are inexpensive but completely unsafe.
Taxis
Taxis are available in main towns and are convenient if you are starting from city or town centres, but due to the lack of street names taxis are hard, almost impossible, to call to pick you up from a residential area. They are also generally unavailable after 2100 or on Sundays.
Car Hire
There are no international car hire companies in Rwanda, local companies operate from Kigali. If you are driving in Rwanda take extreme care, many Rwandans drive at excessive speeds, with careless driving, and the lack of basic safety equipment on many vehicles. Watch out for pedestrians, cyclists, and livestock on the roads. The lack of streetlights pose hazards so avoid travel at night. Dirt roads, particularly the Gisenyi-Kibuye-Cyangugu road, are treacherous. Consider using four-wheel-drive vehicles. Police may stop travellers at roadblocks and search vehicles and luggage.
Ensure that you have adequate insurance, if you are responsible for causing an accident your drivers licence will be confiscated for three months, and if an accident results in death you may be subject to a jail sentence of up to six months. If found drunk and driving you will be jailed for 24 hours and fined 20,000 Rwandan francs.
Driving
Roads between all main towns and international borders are surfaced. Driving is on the right hand side
Trains
There is currently no rail network in Rwanda, though there is talk of a link being built in the future between Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi, and another between Kigali and Isaki.
Boats
Limited boats operate on Lake Kivu.
