Vaccinations for travelers to Rwanda: Required and Recommended

Vaccinations for Travelers to Rwanda: The only vaccination Rwanda requires for entry is yellow fever, and only for travellers aged one year or older who arrive from, or have transited through, a country with a risk of yellow fever.

If you fly directly from Europe, North America or another non-risk country, you do not need a yellow fever certificate. You will need one if you are also visiting Uganda, Kenya or another yellow fever risk country on the same trip.

Health authorities such as the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also recommend:

Routine vaccines, including measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)
Hepatitis A and typhoid for most travellers
Hepatitis B for most unvaccinated travellers
Rabies for some travellers, depending on activities
Malaria tablets for everyone, as malaria is present throughout Rwanda

See a travel health clinic at least four to six weeks before you leave. This guide explains each vaccine, the yellow fever rule, malaria prevention, other health risks, and the health rules for gorilla trekking.

Rwanda Vaccinations at a Glance

Vaccine or medicine	Required for entry?	Who should get it
Yellow fever	Only if arriving from, or transiting through, a yellow fever risk country	Travellers aged 1 year or older on those routes. Generally not recommended for Rwanda alone.
Routine vaccines (MMR, tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis, polio, flu, COVID-19)	No	Everyone should be up to date. Measles protection is especially important.
Hepatitis A	No	Recommended for unvaccinated travellers aged 1 year or older
Hepatitis B	No	Recommended for unvaccinated travellers under 60; may be considered for those 60 and over
Typhoid	No	Recommended for most travellers, especially to rural areas
Rabies	No	Consider for long stays, outdoor or animal-related work, or remote travel
Cholera	No	May be considered for travel to areas of active transmission
Malaria tablets	No	Recommended for all travellers

Recommendations differ slightly between national health agencies. Your doctor or travel clinic will advise you based on your health, age and itinerary.

Yellow Fever and Rwanda: The Entry Rule Explained

Rwanda is considered a low-risk country for yellow fever, so the vaccine is not normally recommended for a trip to Rwanda alone. The certificate is an entry rule based on your route, not your passport.

You need a yellow fever certificate if:

You arrive from a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission, such as Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo or Ethiopia, or a country with an active outbreak
You have transited through such a country, generally for more than 12 hours
You are aged one year or older

You do not need one if:

You fly directly from a non-risk country, such as the UK, the US or most of Europe, and do not pass through a risk country

Key facts about the certificate:

It is the yellow International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis, often called the yellow card.
It becomes valid 10 days after vaccination, so get the jab at least 10 days before you travel.
A single dose is valid for life.
Travellers arriving without a required certificate may be vaccinated at the border at their own cost, or held in quarantine until the certificate is valid.

Planning a Rwanda and Uganda Trip?

Most gorilla trekkers combine Rwanda with Uganda, Kenya or Tanzania, which are all yellow fever risk countries. If your trip crosses into any of them, get the vaccine before you leave home. Uganda also asks travellers for a yellow fever certificate on arrival. See our 12 Day Rwanda and Uganda Safari and our comparison of gorilla trekking in Rwanda vs Uganda.

Airline routing matters too. A long connection in Nairobi, Entebbe or Addis Ababa can trigger the rule, so check with your airline and travel clinic. For visas and other entry rules, read Rwanda travel requirements.

Recommended Vaccines for Rwanda Explained

Routine Vaccines

Make sure your routine vaccines are up to date before any trip, including measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis, polio, chickenpox, flu and COVID-19. Measles cases are rising in many countries, and health authorities advise all international travellers to be fully vaccinated.

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A spreads through contaminated food and water. The vaccine is recommended for unvaccinated travellers aged one year and older. One dose gives good protection for a trip, and a booster later gives long-term immunity.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B spreads through blood and body fluids, including through medical treatment, sexual contact, tattoos or shared needles. The vaccine is recommended for unvaccinated travellers under 60, and older travellers may also choose it. A full course takes several weeks, though faster schedules exist.

Typhoid

Typhoid spreads through contaminated food and water. Vaccination is recommended for most travellers, especially those visiting smaller towns, rural areas or friends and relatives. It is available as an injection or as oral capsules.

Rabies

Rabies is present in dogs in Rwanda and in some wild animals. Pre-exposure vaccination is worth considering if you will be in rural or remote areas, stay for a long time, work with animals, or may struggle to reach a hospital quickly. Even if you are vaccinated, you must get medical care at once after any bite or scratch. Rabies treatment may only be available in larger towns.

Cholera

Cholera is rare in travellers. Cases have been localised, most recently in Western Province, and vaccination may be considered if you are travelling to an affected area. Careful food and water hygiene is the main protection.

Mpox

Mpox vaccination is recommended only for travellers with specific higher-risk sexual activities planned. Most safari travellers do not need it, but ask your clinic if you are unsure.

What About Meningitis?

Rwanda is not in the core African “meningitis belt”, and the meningitis vaccine is not on the standard list of travel recommendations for Rwanda. Your doctor may still suggest it for long stays or if you are travelling on to higher-risk countries.

Malaria Prevention in Rwanda

Malaria is present throughout Rwanda all year, and health authorities recommend anti-malarial tablets for all travellers. The risk is lower in Kigali and at high altitude, such as in Volcanoes National Park, but higher in lower, warmer areas such as Akagera National Park and the shores of Lake Kivu. Most cases are Plasmodium falciparum, the most dangerous type.

Anti-malarial tablets: suitable options include atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine and tafenoquine. Chloroquine is not effective in Rwanda.

Your doctor will choose the best one for you. Some tablets must be started before you travel, and all must be continued after you return.

Avoid mosquito bites:

Use insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus
Wear long sleeves and trousers in the evening and early morning
Sleep under a mosquito net or in a screened room
Consider permethrin-treated clothing for long trips

If you develop a fever during your trip or up to a year after you return, see a doctor straight away and tell them you have been to Rwanda.

Other Health Risks and How to Avoid Them

Food and Water

Drink bottled, filtered or boiled water, and avoid ice unless you know it is made from safe water.
Choose food that is freshly cooked and served hot.
Peel fruit yourself, and be careful with salads and raw vegetables outside good hotels and restaurants.
Wash your hands often, and carry hand sanitiser.

Swimming and Bilharzia

Schistosomiasis (bilharzia) is a parasitic infection found in some fresh water in Rwanda. Health authorities advise avoiding swimming or wading in lakes and rivers. Lake Kivu is a popular swimming spot and is generally considered lower risk than many African lakes, but ask locally before you swim and choose recognised hotel beaches. See things to do at Lake Kivu and kayaking on Lake Kivu.

Insects and Tsetse Flies

Apart from mosquitoes, ticks can spread African tick-bite fever, and tsetse flies are found in parts of Akagera National Park. Tsetse flies are attracted to dark blue and black clothing, so wear khaki, beige or olive on game drives, and use repellent. Check for ticks after walks in long grass. Read more about Akagera National Park.

Animals and Rabies

Do not touch or feed dogs, monkeys or other animals. If you are bitten or scratched, wash the wound with soap and running water for 15 minutes and go to a doctor at once.

Sun and Heat

Rwanda lies just south of the Equator, and the sun is strong at altitude. Wear sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses, and drink plenty of water, especially in Akagera, which is the hottest part of the country.

Altitude

Kigali sits at about 1,567 metres and gorilla treks start at about 2,500 metres, so most visitors have no problems. Some trekkers feel breathless or get a headache on the steeper climbs.

The risk of altitude sickness is higher on Mount Bisoke (3,711 metres) and Mount Karisimbi (4,507 metres). Walk slowly, drink water and tell your guide if you feel unwell. Read about Rwanda gorilla altitude and the Mount Bisoke hike.

Road Safety

Road accidents are a bigger risk for travellers than most diseases. Use a professional driver, wear a seatbelt, and avoid travelling between towns at night. If you take a moto-taxi in Kigali, always wear the helmet provided. Read how to get around Rwanda.

Health Rules for Gorilla Trekking

Mountain gorillas share about 98 percent of their DNA with humans and can catch our illnesses, including colds, flu and COVID-19. A disease outbreak could devastate the small population, so the rules are strict:

Do not trek if you are sick. Rangers may refuse entry to anyone with a cough, cold, fever or diarrhoea. Tell your guide honestly; arrangements can sometimes be made.
Keep your distance. Stay at least 7 metres from the gorillas.
Wear a face mask if asked while you are with the gorillas.
Cough or sneeze away from the gorillas, and cover your mouth.
Do not leave food or rubbish in the forest.

You must also be at least 15 years old to trek. See minimum age for gorilla trekking in Rwanda, our gorilla trekking tips and why disease is one of the main reasons mountain gorillas are endangered.

Rwanda Travel Health Checklist

When	What to do
6 to 8 weeks before	Book a travel health clinic appointment. Start any multi-dose courses, such as hepatitis B or rabies.
4 to 6 weeks before	Get your recommended vaccines, and your yellow fever jab if your route needs it. Collect your yellow card.
At least 10 days before	Make sure any yellow fever vaccine has been given, so the certificate is valid on arrival.
1 to 2 weeks before	Collect your anti-malarial tablets and start them if your type requires it. Buy travel insurance.
Before you pack	Pack your yellow card, prescriptions in original packaging, repellent, sunscreen and a small first-aid kit.
After you return	Finish your anti-malarial course, and see a doctor if you develop a fever.

What to Pack for Your Health

Yellow fever certificate, if required, and a copy of your vaccination records
Anti-malarial tablets and any personal prescription medicines, with a doctor’s letter
Insect repellent and after-bite cream
High-factor sunscreen and lip balm
Hand sanitiser
Oral rehydration sachets and an anti-diarrhoea remedy
Painkillers, plasters and blister pads for trekking

Add these to our Rwanda packing list.

Medical Care and Travel Insurance

Kigali has good private hospitals and clinics, along with well-stocked pharmacies. Outside the capital, facilities are more basic, and serious cases may need to be transferred to Kigali or flown abroad.

Buy comprehensive travel insurance that covers medical treatment, emergency evacuation and adventure activities such as gorilla trekking and volcano hiking. Bring enough of any regular medicine for your whole trip plus a few extra days, as brands and availability differ.

Rwanda is one of Africa’s safest and cleanest countries. Read how safe Rwanda is for tourists and our Rwanda travel tips.

Frequently Asked Questions About Vaccinations for Rwanda

Do I need a yellow fever vaccine for Rwanda?

Only if you are arriving from, or have transited through, a country with a risk of yellow fever, such as Uganda or Kenya. Travellers flying directly from the UK, the US or most of Europe do not need one.

Is the yellow fever vaccine recommended for Rwanda?

Not for a trip to Rwanda alone, because the risk is low. It is recommended if your trip also includes yellow fever risk countries in the region.

What vaccines do I need for Rwanda from the UK or US?

No vaccines are required for direct travel from the UK or US. Recommended vaccines usually include routine vaccines, hepatitis A, hepatitis B and typhoid, with rabies for some travellers. You should also take anti-malarial tablets.

Do I need malaria tablets for Rwanda?

Yes. Malaria is present throughout Rwanda all year, and anti-malarial tablets are recommended for all travellers, along with mosquito bite prevention.

Is there malaria in Volcanoes National Park?

The risk is low at the park’s high altitude, but you will pass through lower areas on the way, so health authorities still recommend tablets for the whole trip.

How long before travel should I get vaccinated?

See a travel clinic at least four to six weeks before you leave. Some vaccines need several doses, and the yellow fever certificate is only valid 10 days after vaccination.

Can I go gorilla trekking if I have a cold?

No. Gorillas can catch human illnesses, so rangers may refuse entry to anyone with cold or flu symptoms. Tell your guide if you feel unwell.

Is the tap water safe to drink in Rwanda?

It is best to avoid tap water. Drink bottled, filtered or boiled water.

Plan a Healthy Rwanda Trip

With the right vaccines, anti-malarial tablets and a few simple precautions, a trip to Rwanda is very safe. Tell us your route when you book and we will flag whether you need a yellow fever certificate, then plan the rest of your gorilla trekking in Rwanda. Browse our Rwanda safaris or send us your dates through our contact page.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical advice. Always consult a doctor or travel health clinic before you travel.