As of February 26, 2025, the US State Department has Rwanda at a Level 2/ Exercise Increased Caution. The borders with Burundi and DRC are at a Level 4 / Do Not Travel. 

The fighting in DRC is a domestic conflict within DRC and doesn’t involve or affect Rwanda or any tourism operations in Rwanda.   The government has reinforced the border with the DRC and Burundi.   Travel to and from Rwanda to major tourism destinations is proceeding normally and gorilla and chimpanzee tracking continue to operate normally.    We are monitoring the situation daily as have staff and colleagues that live in Gisenyi and Nyungwe area that give us updates and all advised calm in Rwanda.

The US Government advisory is a natural and expected action in response to the ongoing war in the Eastern DRC, however:

  • Rwanda considers its tourism industry to be a crucial component of its economy and has taken every possible measure to ensure the continued safety of Volcanoes National Park and Nyungwe National Park.
  • Rwanda’s military is one of the strongest, most well equipped and most highly motivated in Africa.
  • The M23 group that has taken control of Goma and Bukavu, and the province of South Kivu in Eastern DRC (on the border with Rwanda)  are not hostile to the Rwandan government, nor to the Ugandan government. They have zero interest in invading either country.
  • As a result of the war in DRC, there is to be expected a number of refugees crossing into Rwanda from the DRC, but these are heavily screened and housed securely. 
  • At the present time, both Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks are being visited without restriction, and we do have several clients in country at present and have had no cancellations at all.

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