Discover Kigali

• KIGALI, THE NEW CAPITAL OF AFRICAN BASKETBALL

The 28th edition of the FIBA Women's Afrobasket is going to be a wonderful event, as it will be held in the sumptuous city of Kigali.

Kigali, the capital of Rwanda is an exceptional city. Kigali is located almost in the center of the country. It is crossed by multiple hills, ridges and valleys. The nightlife is lively and the gastronomy is colorful. The Kigali Genocide Memorial commemorates the 1994 mass killings in Rwanda associated with the civil war. The city's Caplaki Crafts Village sells traditional handicrafts, including wood carvings and woven baskets. The city's ambitious environmental policy can also be seen in the city center. Kigali's cleanliness is often compared to that of Swiss cities.

Ranked as one of the most visited destinations on the African continent, Kigali has become one of the centers of basketball in Africa.

Once again, the city of a thousand hills will be in the spotlight of 12 African nations that will compete in the FIBA Women's AfroBasket.

TRANSPORTATION

The city of Kigali offers various means of transportation: buses, cabs, motorcycle cabs and rental cars.

Buses: Buses and minibuses allow you to move easily in the city.

Cabs: you will easily recognize the cabs of the city, they are white with an orange stripe.

Motorcycle cabs: Motorcycle cabs are fast and inexpensive.

Car rental: You will easily find car rental agencies in town. 

VISA INFORMATION

The Republic of Rwanda, a member of the East African Community, allows citizens of all countries that are not visa exempt to obtain a visa on arrival. In addition, they can also obtain an e-visa online before departure. All visitors must have a passport that is valid for at least six months and has at least one blank page. Kenyans and Ugandans can use an identity card instead of a passport to enter Rwanda. For more details click hereThe Republic of Rwanda, a member of the East African Community, allows citizens of all countries that are not visa exempt to obtain a visa on arrival. All visitors must hold a passport valid for at least six months with at least one empty page. Kenyans and Ugandans may use an ID card in lieu of a passport to enter Rwanda. For more details click here 

VISA ON ARRIVAL 

Visitors from all countries have been eligible for visa on arrival since 1 January 2018. Citizens of Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa countries that are not visa exempt receive visas valid for 90 days, while other visitors are granted visas valid for 30 days. Since 10 March 2020, nationals of member states of either the African Union, the Commonwealth of Nations or La Francophonie are waived visa fees that are normally payable when obtaining a visa on arriva

E-VISA

Citizens of countries that are not visa-exempt may also obtain a visa online or at a Rwandan diplomatic mission, if they prefer. An entry visa is valid for a single entry for a period not exceeding 30 days and is processed within three working days.

HEALTH

Arrival and departure from Rwanda

As of August 1, no Covid test is required for travel to Rwanda.

Upon departure from Kigali, no COVID test is required unless there are entry requirements for the destination country. COVID tests can be done upon request at the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC). The RBC Help Desk can be reached at (+250) 787 243 836, (+250) 788 793 446, or (+250) 784 026 239.

All this information is available in this leaflet (PDF - 320 KB).

DURING YOUR STAY IN RWANDA

The following measures remain in effect:

- Access to public places and transportation is subject to the mandatory presentation of proof of complete vaccination schedule (double dose + booster dose).

All health measures are subject to change by the Rwandan authorities at any time.

In case of symptoms or a positive COVID-19 test result

In case of a positive COVID-19 test result: persons who test positive on arrival or departure will be taken care of by the Rwandan health authorities at their own expense until their full recovery (two consecutive negative PCR tests).

In case of coronavirus symptoms: the emergency number to call in case of coronavirus symptoms or for further information is 114. It is also possible to send an email to covid@rbc.gov.rw, and send a WhatsApp message to +250 781 415 724. 

ARENA

All FIBA Women AfroBasket 2023 games will be played in the Bank of Kigali Arena, a masterpiece inaugurated in 2019.

The Kigali Arena is a 10,000-seat multi-sports hall located near the Amahoro National Stadium in the Rwandan capital.

The complex was built on an area of 28,000 m² with a parking lot that can hold over 600 vehicles.

FACILITIES

It is composed of six dressing rooms for the teams, a fitness center, a dozen cafeterias and restaurants, a multi media center and a modern anti-doping control room.

HOTELS

Kigali has a wide range of accommodation options including five-star hotels, small charming hotels, residences as well as bed and breakfast.  Kigali currently has over 1,500 rooms in hotels ranging from three to five stars. 

RWANDA KEY INFORMATION

Time zone: Central African Time (CAT) - GMT +2 hours
Size: 26,338 square kilometers
Capital City: Kigali
Major Economic Sectors: Tourism, mining and agriculture
Local currency: Rwandan Francs
Foreign Currency: All major currencies are accepted
Official languages: Kinyarwanda, French, English
Local language: Kinyarwanda
President: H.E Paul Kagame
Telephone country Code: +250 (Telecommunication is among the best in Africa)
ICT: High speed 4G LTE wireless broadband
Climate: temperate (24-27 degrees Celsius) making Rwandan an ideal destination year around.