Packing List for Rwanda

I wanted to create this post for anyone who stumbles on my blog as they are doing research for a trip or move to Rwanda.

The thing to remember when packing is that you will want to dress a lot more similar to home than you will expect. With the exception of the amount of skin showing, people dress very similarly, although a bit nicer.  Do not plan to wear safari clothes and boots every day. In fact, one of my biggest packing regrets is that I did not bring anything I liked for a night on the town.  Life will mostly be normal.  And most things you do not bring, you can buy here.  However, any product that you have a particular brand or type preference, it would be best to just bring enough for the whole time. 

This packing list is especially created for female travelers as that is my only experience.  For male travelers, the main advice I can give you is to pack dressier clothes than you may typically wear.  Rwandan men almost always wear collared shirts, even if they have no important plans for the day.  They rarely, if ever, wear shorts.  Jeans are common for students or non work days, but slacks are just as common on casual days.  Dress trousers are usually the only acceptable garment in the workplace.  Shoes are always impeccably clean and usually also dressy.

Technology

·   I encourage you to bring your smart phone, even if you don’t use it as your primary phone in Rwanda (it must be factory unlocked to fit a sim card to connect to the networks here) You can use it to access the internet and stay in touch with friends outside of Rwanda (in fact, I bought a used iPhone in Rwanda even though I’ve never even owned a smart phone before because it seemed like a great investment to talk to people back in the States)

·   Laptop- it would be a good idea to download films and teaching aids before you leave, however make sure your antivirus is up to date, viruses are rampant here

·   Kindle if you have one (it is a great investment and will be nice when there is nothing to do, I have been able to download many books with the internet here)

·   Camera

·   Adaptor for projector for your laptop if needed

·   Large flash drive or two (I usually keep it almost empty or only with files I won’t mind losing because they commonly get viruses when you put it in a colleague’s computer, so then I need to completely format and wipe the device before using it again)

·   External hard drive ( I do not plug this into anyone else’s computer to keep it virus free, but good for photos and backing up my devices)

·   Favorite DVDs or a hard drive of movies

·   Plug adaptor

·   Plug converter if you are bringing a heating appliance without converter (220 voltage)

General Travel and logistics

·   Passport

·   Yellow fever vaccine

·   Notarized Certificate of Good Conduct for visa (aka background check)

·   Transcripts (NOTARIZED) for visa

·   Evidence of qualifications for job for visa, also notarized (they will not give you a visa unless you can show you are qualified)

·   Sign up for STEP in Rwanda (they will send you email updates and can keep tabs on you if there is a security situation)

·   Visa card (atm machines are available in Kigali, fees are relatively low, visa is sometimes accepted at places frequented by foreigners, CASH is king)

·   Cash in 100’s, 2006 or newer (Better conversion rate to simply convert cash than to withdraw from an atm)

Miscellaneous

·   Reusable grocery bags (Plastic bags are illegal here)

·   Ziploc bags (especially gallon size for bread which can go stale quickly)

·   Reusable water bottle

·   Laundry bag

·   Purse(s)

·   Backpack or other bag for weekend trips

·   Rechargeable flashlight or head lamp- the electricity may go out frequently, difficult/espensive to find batteries

·   Any favorite food or spice (Rwandan food can become bland and monotonous after a few months)

·   Vitamins

·   All medications you regularly need

·   Pictures from home to show people and decorate your room

·   Gifts from the US (wine or candy is appreciated)

·   Scissors, Tape, pens, etc

Toiletries

·   Travel sized containers for weekend trips

·   Sun screen

·   Shampoo

·   Enough conditioner for entire length of stay

·   Hair products, Comb or hair brush

·   Razors for entire time if you have a favorite brand (otherwise you can buy cheapish single or dual blade razors here)

·   Shaving cream

·   Toothpaste

·   Floss!! (Enough for entire stay if you are as neurotic as me)

·   Contact lens products for entire time, including eye drops (it is dusty here, so be careful, it may be better to just wear glasses if you have sensitive eyes)

·   Hand sanitizer

·   Tweezers, Nail clippers

·   Face wash- acne (my roommate and I both got acne while here which had not been a problem before coming to Rwanda)

·   Face lotion (I'd suggest enough for entire stay)

·   Makeup and jewelry

·   Hair ties

·   Chap stick

·   Body and hand lotion (lotion here sometimes have whitening ingredients so be careful)

·   Band aids and neosporin

·   Menstrual cup (I used Divacup, tampons are not available in the country) or tampons for entire length of stay

·   Extra pair of glasses just in case

Clothes

·   Light jacket

·   Sweatshirts or sweaters- it gets cold here in most places at night, I suggest two or more

·   Skirts or dresses (maxi dresses are great and comfortable) that are at least knee length (or you can get them made here easily and cheaply)

·   Slacks for work (women wear pants in urban areas, not inappropriate in rural areas)

·   Jeans for casual wear (the detergent fades harshly, so two would be good)

·   Nice, dressy shirts (Rwandans, especially women, do not wear tshirts very often)

·   Night life clothes- still not too short though! Do yourself a favor and bring something to wear out

·   Pajamas

·   Basketball shorts for working out

·   Bras and underwear (you don’t want to buy these secondhand…)

·   Socks (they will stretch from the detergent, so lots, or you can buy them here cheaply)

·   Hat for trips

·   Swimming suits for trips

·   Umbrella or rain jacket

·   Lots of shoes, dress and social (I wish I’d brought more than 4, Rwandans are obsessed with shoes, they will get dirty and you will be expected to obsessively clean them)

o   Black dress shoes, brown dress shoes

o   Casual shoes (I brought Chuck Taylors and Sperry Topsiders)

o   Tennis shoes

o   I wish I’d brought more! Not that great to buy low quality shoes here

·   Slippers- it is sometimes cold and the floors are too dirty to walk barefoot or in socks

·   Sunglasses

Easy to buy here cheaply:

·   Getting clothes made

·   Second hand market for clothes (I do not recommend you buy underwear or bras here, also keep in mind that these are donated garments which were considered unsellable or too low quality for Western thrift stores, my experience has been that they fall apart within a few months and then must be repaired)

·   Flip flops

·   Shoes (they will be second hand, will likely not last very long and need to be repaired, I bought two pairs here and both had to be completely glued back together after a few months)

·   Toothpaste and basic toothbrushes

·   Q tips

·   Basic dual blade razors (in Kigali)

·   Bar soap

·   Shampoo (I am taking liberties with the word cheap, it is less expensive to buy in the US)

·   Baby oil or baby powder

·   Watch batteries (however, they only last a few months, although they are only 500 rfw!, I never trust my watch here because the batteries go out so fast, on the other hand, you can take comfort in realizing that watches are just a fashion accessory here, many of them aren’t functioning at all yet they are still worn if they match the wearer’s outfit)

·   Phone and sim card

·   Laundry detergent- all laundry is done by hand

·   Matches

·   Menstrual pads

Difficult to find or prohibitively expensive

·   TAMPONS (IF you find it, they will be about $10 for a pack of 12, very rare, I suggest simply buying a menstrual cup)

·   nail polish (about $12 each)

·   sun screen (probably possiblein touristy shops at inflated prices)

·   make up (weirdly expensive and hard to find, about $10 for an eye shadow)

·   chap stick (about $6 each here, IF you can find it)

·   stick deodorant (finally found at Brood across from Car Wash for 3,000 rfw)

·   razor refills (at Nakumatt, only Schick brand, fairly expensive)

·   conditioner (no selection, about $9 for a small bottle)

·   hair products for non-African hair

·   face wash (FINALLY found one, $9 at Woodlands Supermarket in Gacuriro)

·   Floss (I’m an oral hygiene fanatic so I had to get someone to bring it from the US)

·   high quality, trustworthy condoms (notorious for breaking)

·   contact lens products

·   neosporin, pain reliever, tums or pepto (Rwandans will usually go to the dr to get ibuprofen)

·   vitamins (small selection for at least 5,000 rfw at Nakumatt)

·   underwear (you don’t know if it is used or not, stay away!)

·   bras (you will not have a place to try it on except over your clothes)

·   plastic bags, including Ziploc (illegal in the country for litter issues)

·   tape (it is not at all sticky here)

·   hand sanitizer

·   Non-rechargable batteries (at nakumatt, very expensive though, not sure of quality)

Do not bring

·   Ziploc bags are illegal, so do not dispose of them in country

·   Bedding

·   Mosquito nets

·   Short skirts/shorts

·   Clothes that are fragile or you do not wish to get dusty

·   Low quality shoes or shoes that are difficult to clean

·   A bad attitude J