Rwanda Tourist Traps

SAFE EXCHANGE ON THE RWANDA SIDE

by DAO

Previous Next

SAFE EXCHANGE ON THE RWANDA SIDE
by DAO
CHAOS IN NO MANS LAND
by DAO
Tourist Traps
by DAO
Tourist Traps
by DAO
100 Rwandan Francs
by DAO

Comments

1 - 0 of 0

Save Up To 50% On Hotels: ORBITZ.com Get our lowest price or get 110% back, automatically!
Book online.: Hotels.com See maps & reviews for over 140,000 Hotels worldwide!

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

CHANGING MONEY AT THE BURUNDI BORDER

by DAO

The border between Rwanda and Burundi is at Kayanaza Haut. There is a ‘No-Man’s Land’ on the river bridge between the 2 border posts. This is where the money changers operate as well as on the Burundi side. The ones in the middle are fairly calm and will offer you a not so great rate. The guys on the Burundi side are all crooked hustlers who will hassle you and cheat you out of money – guaranteed.. Never hand over money to them until you agree a rate of exchange. If they try and hurry you, walk away. Also try not to accept tragically old notes. There are 2 Bureau de Change places on the Rwandan side across and slightly downhill from the Border Control. They will give you a fair rate and reasonable notes. If you are headed to Bujumbura you will find plenty of good currency exchange places, so only change a few dollars at the border if you really need to.

3 more images

THE MONEY TRICK

by DAO

The Bureau de Change places in larger towns are plentiful and give you a good rate of exchange. I really cannot fault theses guys. Even the exchange guys who stand in street outside of their businesses are very polite and will take a polite ‘No’ without any hassle. Also, they do not make you queue up to get a form to fill out like the banks. (In fact, avoid the banks here.) Also their buy-back rates are excellent, so do not worry too much about having left over Rwandan Francs right before you leave.So what’s the trick? They like BIG MONEY in Rwanda. The rates you see on their boards are for crisp, new, $100 and $50 notes. Some may try to offer you a lower rate for $50, but do not accept that. I obtained the top rate for some $20 with my favourite exchange place in Kigali because I had already done business with him for some hundreds. Smaller notes like $1, $5 and $10 will always come...

4 more images

muzungus are sometimes overcharged few cents

by Bonobo2005

Locals may in rare cases try to overcharge muzungus (whites) a little, however the amounts are very small.When I took a minibus from Ruhengeri to Kidaho, I didn't know the price, and the busboy demanded 400 Francs ($0,80). After I paid the other passengers started to argue with him, I didn't know what was going on but 5 minutes later he returned me a 100!

Top 3 Hotels in Rwanda

Kigali Serena Hotel Kigali

196 Opinions

Hotels in Kigali

Show Prices

Mountain Gorilla View Lodge Ruhengeri

1 Review and 115 Opinions The hotel has beautiful views of the park, and is close to the start point for the mountain gorilla...

Hotels in Ruhengeri

Hotel Chez Lando Kigali

71 Opinions

Hotels in Kigali

13 Hotels in Rwanda

Explore the World