This small landlocked Central African country sits just south of the equator. Australians visit mainly for treks to see the mountain gorillas, often as part of a multicountry African itinerary.
The following information provides some broad and general guidelines about health risks and recommendations for travel to Rwanda . This should not be taken as a substitute for a personal consultation with one of our travel health doctors, whose advice will be specific for you and your trip and may include other issues not mentioned here.
Six to eight weeks out from departure is a good time to have a travel health consultation. You may need blood tests to check immunity to diseases or need a course of vaccines like rabies for example, and this gives you plenty of time to get everything completed. If you are travelling sooner however it's not too late for an appointment, simply make one as soon as you can.
Mosquitoes transmit a number of viruses including malaria which in Rwanda is a problem year round. While there are medication options to reduce the risk of malaria, mosquito avoidance is the only way to prevent many of these diseases.
Travellers diarrhoea, giardia and dysentery are just some of the illnesses caused by contaminated food and water. Tap water in Rwanda is generally not safe to drink
Travellers should be up to date for routine childhood vaccines such as tetanus, measles and hepatitis B. Any of the following vaccines may also be recommended – hepatitis A, typhoid, rabies, influenza. Yellow fever, and an international certificate of vaccination will be required if arriving from or travelling to adjacent countries where transmission occurs. Decisions regarding which vaccines are most appropriate depend on duration and nature of travel, itinerary, age, underlying medical conditions and past vaccination.
Hepatitis A is vaccination is usually recommended for travel to Rwanda.
Read MoreA food and water borne disease, typhoid vaccination is often recommended.
Avoid being bitten or scratched by any mammal. Consider pre-travel rabies vaccination, especially if travelling more extensively through Africa. Thoroughly rinse and disinfect any animal wound and seek prompt medical care for post exposure vaccination and wound care.
Read MoreInfluenza is one of the most common vaccine preventable illnesses in travellers. In tropical climates there is no 'flu season', risk being all year round.
Read MoreRisk is high year round below 2500m. Most cases are falciparum malaria, the most serious form. Mosquito avoidance is essential. Preventative medication should be discussed with one of our doctors. Different options are available. We have malaria maps and knowledge to help guide this decision making process. Any fever after travel to malaria risk areas requires assessment and an urgent blood test to exclude malaria, whether or not preventive medication has been taken.
Read MoreObserve strict food and water safety precautions and observe good hand hygiene. Consider taking a self treatment medication and first aid kit with guidelines for use. Those with underlying medical conditions, pregnant women / the elderly or young should speak to their doctor or us about the wisdom of trekking to remote locations often visited in Rwanda. Medical facilities are extremely limited and not up to Western standards.
Read MoreCaused by microscopic parasite in lakes (such as Lake Kivu) and rivers, which penetrate the skin. The lifecycle leads to migration in different stages through various organs over weeks to months, leading to chronic infection. Avoid skin contact with slow moving fresh water. If exposed, a test and if required treatment, are available on return
Examples include motorbike accidents on poorly lit/maintained roads (wear a helmet), surfing injuries, near drowning, fights and assaults, twisted/broken ankles from potholes in footpaths, and exhaust pipe burns. Alcohol may be tainted/spiked. Be sensible. Make sure you and your friends look after each other and pack a first aid kit. Tattoos carry the risk of HIV/ hep B and C. Drugs carry the risk of jail time or worse.
Risk is highest on secondary roads. Avoid minibuses/motorbikes/unlicensed taxis especially at night. Be aware of personal security. Avoid travel within 10 km of neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi because of armed conflict. Follow the Australian government’s Smartraveller website for up to date information.
Avoid the risk of HIV and other STD’s, which are all of much higher risk in Africa than Australia.
We generally think of Malaria and Hepatitis when we travel overseas, however Measles is usually long forgotten in the preparation. In fact there have been a significant amount of cases brought back to Australia by overseas travellers who are generally unaware that they are at risk. This has long known
MPox (formerly Monkey Pox) remains a concern in many parts of the world including Australia. Thankfully the risk to most travellers remains low but this is a dynamic space. Travelers should avoid close contact with persons with symptoms consistent with MPox; observe hand and respiratory hygiene and safer-sex practices; and
As there is no non-essential overseas travel at this time this article will simply remain as an information resource for COVID-19. See our main COVID-19 page for more detailed information. We hope to be able to inform our travelers once again after this crisis passes. The links below remain trustworthy
© Copyright 2025. All rights reserved.
