Rwanda visa for Cameroonians: free on arrival, but 2 traps at the airport

Rwanda is one of the easiest countries to visit for a Cameroonian: no paperwork before you leave, no visa fees. But two details can spoil your arrival in Kigali. Here is everything you need to know.

Do you need a visa for Rwanda with a Cameroonian passport?

Nothing to do before you leave. As for all nationals of the African Union, Rwanda issues you a free 30-day visa on arrival. You get it directly at Kigali airport, with no prior form or appointment.

Rwanda often presents this rule as "visa-free" entry for Africans. In practice, it's a visa issued on arrival, with the fees waived.

The 2 traps at Kigali airport

1. The yellow fever card

When you arrive from Cameroon, the yellow fever vaccination certificate is mandatory: Cameroon is on the Rwanda Biomedical Centre's list of at-risk countries. Without a certificate, you can be vaccinated on the spot, at your own expense. Bring your yellow card.

2. Plastic bags

Rwanda banned plastic bags in 2008. Any you carry are confiscated on arrival. Pack your things in cloth or paper bags before you leave.

The flight from Douala

RwandAir connects Douala to Kigali without changing planes (about 4 h 30 of flying on the way out, twice a week). The flight may make a stop: on LN's return trip, the plane landed in Bangui before Douala.

As for prices, at the end of September RwandAir was showing return tickets from around 270,000 FCFA on its website. Depending on your dates, expect to pay more in many cases: check the fare when you book.

The budget on the ground

According to Travora, travelling backpacker style:

The gorilla permit is the most expensive part of the trip. A discount is available in the low season if you also visit Akagera and Nyungwe national parks.

When to go?

From June to September, the long dry season: the trails are passable and it's the best time for the gorillas.

Umuganda: know it before you arrive

On the last Saturday of every month, from 8 am to 11 am, it's Umuganda: the whole population takes part in community work. Shops open after 11 am and traffic is heavily restricted. Plan your travel around it.

Rwanda through LN's eyes

LN has just come back: ten days there in September 2026. His must-sees:

• the Kigali Genocide Memorial, to understand the country;
• Lake Kivu, by boat;
• Napoleon Island, on the lake, where hundreds of bats fly over your head.

His full story is on his website.

Visa, detailed budget and seasons: it's all in Travora's Rwanda guide, for departures from Cameroon.