Guide To Airports In Rwanda
Guide To Airports In Rwanda: Of the eight airports recognized by the Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority, only two are regularly open to the public for commercial flights. These are Kigali International Airport (KGL) and Kamembe International Airport (KME), the former serving as Rwanda‘s principal gateway for tourists from outside the country. The majority of travelers will only use Kigali’s airport for in- and out-bound travel. However, Kamembe is a practical domestic choice for those who wish to see interesting locations in the extreme west of the country, have limited time, and have a sufficient budget to warrant forgoing a few hours of journey time. Both airports are in good condition and have recently undergone improvements.
Kigali International Airport
Location: Outside the capital city of Rwanda, Kigali.
The best choice in the event that you are scheduling a domestic or international trip to Kamembe International Airport
Steer clear of If: You plan to go overland through East Africa and enter Rwanda through one of its sixteen land borders.
It takes about three hours to travel the 73 miles to Volcanoes National Park. The best ways to arrive to this popular gorilla trekking area are by pre-arranged shuttle with your tour operator or private rental car (most visitors choose to add a driver).
Kigali International Airport is located on the Eastern outskirts of Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, approximately 7 miles from the city center. Using an airport taxi or a rental car, it usually takes about thirty minutes to get from one to the other.
The airport has a long history of hostilities; during the Rwandan Civil War, it first functioned as a strategic base. Later, in April 1994, it was the site of President Habyarimana’s jet being downed, which marked the official start of the Rwandan Genocide. It has now undergone more than $30 million worth of repairs, earning it a reputation for safety and cleanliness. Kigali International Airport is ranked among the top airports in Africa by a number of publications.
As the primary entrance point for foreign tourists, it features three terminals, three runways, and non-stop flights to 31 destinations across 21 countries (being the only airport to provide regularly scheduled international flights). The national airline of Rwanda, RwandAir, operates a large number of them and provides frequent service to Kamembe, the country’s only domestic airport. Among the other well-known airlines that fly into and out of Kigali are Ethiopian Airlines, Egypt Air, Turkish Airlines, and KLM. The longest flight that the latter provides from Kigali to Amsterdam is an 8-hour, 15-minute flight. There aren’t any direct flights available right now between Kigali and the United States.
Kigali International Airport is modest by international standards, yet it contains all the amenities most travelers would need. Some of the facilities include a post office, two Bourbon Coffee locations, an ATM, a foreign exchange bureau, free Wi-Fi, and duty-free shops offering souvenirs, duty-free items, and electronics (including Rwandan SIM cards). There are three private lounges, one in arrivals and two in departures, where you can have plastic wrapped luggage for extra protection. Generally, these amenities are restricted to first-class and business travelers on particular airlines, as well as VIP card holders.
KAMEMBE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Location: Just North of Cyangugu, in the Western Province.
The best choice if you wish to travel less from Kigali to western locations such as Lake Kivu and Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Steer clear of this if: You wish to go outside of a few East and Central African nations.
It takes about six hours to travel 161 kilometers to get to Volcanoes National Park. Again, taking public transit is not advised; instead, hiring a car or arranging a private transfer are the best choices.
The capital of the Rusizi District, Cyangugu, is situated in Rwanda’s Western Province, around three miles North of Kamembe International Airport. As the only domestic airport in the country, it serves as a handy hub for travel to popular Western tourist attractions, such as the adjacent Lake Kivu and Nyungwe Forest National Park, the center of chimpanzee trekking. For example, traveling from Kigali to Nyungwe by air cuts the travel time from about five hours to less than 1.5 hours when flying into Kamembe.
Despite having just one runway and one terminal, the airport is kept up nicely because of repairs that were done in 2014. With seven weekly connections to Kigali, scheduled service to and from Kamembe is exclusively offered by RwandAir. The airport can also accommodate charter planes arriving from neighboring countries like as Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Rich travelers and businesspeople visit it as a result.