Flying to Kigali
Routes we sell to Kigali. Search your dates for live fares.
Johannesburg (JNB)
about 4 hours · Non-stop or one stop
Best time to fly
Weather, crowds and fares move together in Kigali. These are the trade-offs.
June to September
The long dry season — the best trekking conditions, with firmer forest trails.
December to February
Short dry season, also good for trekking and generally clear.
March to May and October to November
Rainy seasons. Muddier and harder going underfoot, but permits and lodges are easier to secure.
Before you go
Gorilla permits
Limited, expensive and must be secured months ahead through an operator or the tourism board. They are not available on arrival.
No plastic bags
Single-use plastic bags are banned and confiscated at the airport. Repack before you fly.
Malaria
A malaria area, though Kigali's altitude lowers the risk. Take medical advice for your full itinerary.
Umuganda
On the last Saturday of each month much of the country stops for community work until around midday. Plan around it.
About Kigali
Kigali is spread across a series of ridges and is strikingly orderly — clean, safe and easy to move around, which surprises most first-time visitors. The Genocide Memorial is essential and difficult, and should be given a proper half-day.
It is the entry point for Volcanoes National Park and gorilla trekking, about three hours north, and for Nyungwe's rainforest in the south-west.
Getting in from the airport
Kigali International (KGL) is about 5 km from the city centre, roughly fifteen minutes — one of the easiest transfers on the continent. Tour operators meet flights; taxis and ride-hailing operate in the city.
Entry requirements for South African passport holders
Rwanda has operated a visa-on-arrival system for all nationalities and participates in an East Africa Tourist Visa covering several countries. Arrangements have changed over time — confirm the current requirement with the Rwandan High Commission or your airline before you travel.
Entry rules change. Confirm the current requirements with the destination's embassy or consulate before you travel — this page is a guide, not an authority.
Flying to Kigali, answered
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