Is it safe for women to travel solo in Rwanda and Uganda? Although many countries around the world have been putting concerted efforts to ensure safety for lone female Travelers, some still encounter challenges while traveling abroad that ranges from discrimination and sexual abuse among others. We will be focusing on Uganda and Rwanda in this article.
Uganda and Rwanda are both located in the Eastern part of Africa. Both countries register large numbers of tourists visiting the countries annually due to the various interesting tourist attractions like primates tracking, mountain hiking, fishing, game drives and cultural sites. You can also read more about Sexual Assault while Traveling globally.
How safe are female travelers to Uganda and Rwanda? Uganda and Rwanda are very peaceful countries that offer excellent opportunities for Travelers to visit including female solo Travelers. We will discuss the security situation in each country in more detail shortly while highlighting their ability to provide a secure environment for female travelers. It is important for Solo Female Travelers to choose a reliable Tour Company in Uganda or Rwanda. The tour company must have experience organizing tours for Solo Travelers and women in particular. You can read more from a related article about solo Travel in Rwanda for both genders.
Are Solo Female Travelers Safe in Uganda?
Uganda has registered a noticeable improvement on its security. The Uganda police has doubled its efforts in trying to reduce high crime rates in the country. Crime rates have significantly reduced but one has to be cautious of petty crimes like pick pocketing in crowded places and breaking into vehicles in an attempt to steal valuable items. The reduced crime rates have enabled citizens to live peaceful lives and not worry about how to find additional security services for themselves.
Uganda’s military involvement in the African Union peace keeping mission in Somalia has to some extent made it a target of terrorism attacks. Solo female Travelers are therefore advised to always be vigilant about their surroundings especially when in crowded public places. Occasional protests and strikes can also be seen in Uganda, but it’s usually motivated by local pressing issues. Solo female Travelers are therefore encouraged to avoid being in areas where protests are being staged for their own safety.
While in Uganda, Solo female Travelers should expect to be in a place where they are the center of attention from especially children. This is usually just about curiosity on their different skin color. Some may question why a lady could be touring a new place all by herself. Women in Uganda rarely tour new places alone.
Most of Uganda’s roads especially out of the city center lack sufficient maintenance, adequate lighting and road markings which can cause accidents especially in the night. Traveling in the night can also expose one to dangers like armed robberies, abductions among others. Its therefore important that one avoids late night travels with exception of when it’s unavoidable. During such times, it’s vital that you are in the company of someone else, possibly your Guide. It’s also advisable to prepare yourself to pay for rescue and emergency services should you be in danger while on the road.
Travelers in Uganda use cheap transport means like public commuter buses, taxis and motorcycles (commonly known as ‘boda boda’) to move around the cities and other places around the country. There are also more organized and convenient means of transportation like the uber, taxify, safe boda and others although they are more expensive. With all these options you can be sure to move freely and conveniently without any hurdles.
The gorilla trekking sites in Uganda are very safe and secure for lone female travelers. In addition to that, you can only access the gorilla parks in company of friendly Guides and Rangers who take you through the procedures and guidelines for gorilla trekking. They also accompany you to see the gorillas. Should you have some additional load to carry, there are standby porters who will help you carry the luggage all throughout the trek.
Solo female Travelers are free to dress up in any comfortable clothing of their choice while within the major cities of Uganda. However, should they decide to travel to the rural parts of the country or to the small towns, it’s always advisable that they dress up modestly. They should go with something not too tight and revealing since women dress more conservatively in those areas. It’s also a sign of respect for culture.
Note: There may be hostility towards the LGBTQ community by a few in both Rwanda and Uganda. Solo female Travelers who are are advised to be discrete about their relationship affairs.
Safety of Solo Female Travelers in Rwanda
Just like Uganda, Rwanda is a tourism destination that has also been hailed as safe for solo female Travelers. It has an even lower crime rate with just petty crimes like pick pocketing being the common crime. Corruption and especially using bribes to get services is rare in Rwanda. The main languages spoken in Rwanda are English, French, Kinyarwanda and Swahili. This makes it easier for solo female Travelers to get by without facing language barrier problems. Modest and decent dressing is valued among the women of Rwanda. It’s important that solo female Travelers have this at the back of their minds.
Rwanda’s road networks are also very good with low accident rates. There are also several transport options like taxis, motor bikes and commuter buses that have got toll free lines to call in case of emergencies. Private car hire services can also be accessed within Rwanda though they are quite expensive. Travelers to Rwanda are required by law to have a valid medical insurance upon entry. Those Travelers without one are usually given a time period of 30 days to secure for themselves one. This helps to provide specialized treatment and care in addition to airlifting of foreign Travelers in case of medical emergencies. Medical insurance for foreigners is highly recommended because the country offers basic medical care that may not suit the needs of the Travelers.
Although Travelers are now free to move freely in and out of the neighboring countries to Rwanda, there has been border conflicts with almost all its neighbors in the recent past. Rwanda recently (February 2019) closed its border with Uganda. This affected not only the trade industry but also the tourism and travel industry. The countries ironed out their differences and borders posts were reopened. It’s important for solo female Travelers to take note of the high rates of the malaria parasites in Rwanda. 
One is advised to sleep under an insecticide treated mosquito net and apply Insect repellent creams where need-be. Travelers are also advised to refrain from drinking tap water and water from streams, lakes and rivers as they aren’t safe. Only bottled water can be trusted for consumption.
It is important to note that Rwanda has very strict laws that must be adhered to for a peaceful stay in the country. It is a serious crime to be found driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. It’s prohibited to take photographs of the military bases of the country. You should read the regulations regarding using drones while on a safari in Rwanda. Rwandan laws and regulations are strictly enforced compared to Uganda.
Conclusively, solo female Travelers can go ahead and plan their trips to any of the two countries of Uganda and Rwanda. It’s important that they be vigilant at all times about their surroundings and keep a low profile.
