Staying Secure and Safe in Rwanda
Safety and security for persons and luggage during a safari is always every tourist’s wish but travelers to Rwanda need not to worry because this small East and Central African country is one of the safest countries you will ever visit in Africa and beyond. This destination is often referred as the land of a thousand hills and millions of smiles.
Until now, some tourists think Africa and Rwanda in particular is insecure but remember that every country has a dark past which doesn’t guarantee a repeat of the same in the future. It’s therefore undeniable that Rwanda just like most western Nations has suffered wars with the most recent one being the 1994 Genocide where over 800,000 people (from mainly the Tutsi origin) were slaughtered. However, years have gone by and the country has emerged into one of the safest and most secure destinations in the whole World. Even With its close proximity to the War-toned Democratic Republic of Congo, the country is still considered safe and secure.
However, regardless of how a destination is safe and secure, safety and security bresa-9aches still occur and petty crimes (such as pickpocketing in congested areas, theft from vehicles and public areas are inevitable, hence the reason to pay much attention to personal safety and security. Therefore provided are some of the guidelines of staying safe and secure during Rwanda safaris.
Avoid flashing large sums of cash
Flashing cash (especially foreign currencies) makes you a potential victim to theft/robbery thus it’s advisable to keep your money out of sight by carrying it in the front pocket where you can feel someone trying to steal from you. Not only that, this also makes it easy to put your hand over it than with the back pocket where it can easily be stolen without even noticing. Therefore, carry small amounts of money while in bars, restaurants or shops/supermarkets but instead only get money for what you need to pay for.
Large sums of money and other valuables should be left at home or kept in the hotel safe (most hotel rooms have safes).
Always keep away your expensive jewelry (at home or in a safety box at the hotel you are staying).
Openly displaying or moving with expensive jewelry is a way of tempting thieves or pickpockets. Tourists are therefore advised to keep their jewelry at home or within safety boxes in Hotels but instead buy the low-priced yet lovely items sold in the country. Gold or diamond necklaces or chains can be torn off hence should be avoided. If you still insist on wearing expensive watches, at least go for the ones with leather straps that are safely and tightly worn.
If you buy some of the locally crafted jewelry, you will be supporting a local artisan and families while at the same time keeping your expensive ones at home.
Avoid carrying your passports and return tickets
Since your passports and return tickets are important, it is advisable to make a copy of them and leave the originals at home or within the hotel safe. If you are going on a safari/tour (like on a game drive), put these items in a small and easy-to-carry backpack. It’s better safe than sorry since Rwanda is not your home country and yet you are not aware of what happens. Therefore if you are in big cities like Kigali, make sure to make copies of your vital documents and only move with their photocopies because they may not be stolen but sometimes leave them in vehicles (in case of public transport means) or even in shops and restaurants.
Never act lost even when it is obvious that you are
If you show that you are lost, you become vulnerable and there are chances that you will be taken advantage of. Yes, it sounds strange but it prevents chances of being a target for thieves especially in places with beehive activities especially busy streets, bus or taxi terminals and market areas. Surprisingly some roads in Kigali are not labeled and at times the old street sign system may not help, hence the reason most Citizens go by landmarks (such as buildings) and not street signs. Also, never risk asking for directions from passers-by because most of them misdirect strangers but rather hire a Motorcycle taxi to take you where you are heading or ask policemen for directions.
Do not walk alone at night
Even if it’s not just Rwanda, walking at night isn’t safe and advised during a safari (even in other African countries). Avoid moving alone in isolated places but instead opt for crowded streets or better still move with a Rwandan who is well acquainted with the country. You have to generally avoid walking alone in Rwanda because whether day or night, visitors can easily be spotted and robbed or worse killed because they are always assumed to have money.
Carefully keep your photographic equipments/gadgets
Photographic equipments are very costly in Rwanda (twice or thrice as much as it is in your country) and always associated with people with money, hence a temptation for stealing. Tourists traveling with cameras or binoculars are therefore advised to keep them in their bags and hold carefully or strap onto their waists. Avoid taking pictures in busy places but if need be, you have to tightly hold with both hands and roll the strap around the hands to make it difficult to be stolen/or taken away from you.
In most cases, tourists loosely place their cameras or binoculars over their shoulders, which makes it easier for thieves to take them. Remember that it’s better safe than sorry.
When it comes to safety of gay tourists in Rwanda, the Government doesn’t have strict laws to criminalize the LGBT community much as the people themselves have societal bias against same-sex relationships. Nonetheless, no incidents of violence or shaming against the LGBT were recorded although public show of affection is not allowed.
In conclusion, Rwanda is one of Africa’s safest and secure countries but personal security and safety guidelines have to be followed by tourists and these include carefully keeping photographic equipments/gadgets, avoiding late night movements in secluded areas, keeping away expensive jewelry and other valuable among others.