Welcome to The Barr Fellows Class of 2017 Learning Journey to Rwanda! Below you will find some information that will be useful while planning your travels. Please note that an in-depth Travel Guide to Rwanda will be shared at the November 15th orientation.
REGISTRATION FORM:
The registration deadline for this trip is Friday, October 13, 2017. Please complete the following Guest Profile before this date (click here for form). This allows us to easily record your vital travel information.
TRAVELERS ORIENTATION
We will be holding an in-person orientation meeting for this trip on Wednesday, November 15, 2:00 pm at the Barr Foundation.
You will receive additional details regarding your Tourist Visas and Travel Insurance, as well as other information to help you prepare for travel.
FLIGHTS FROM THE US:
The Barr Foundation will be covering the cost of your international flights in economy class. Please take note of the tentative flight schedule for the group:
On KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (operated by Delta Airlines)
Depart Boston: February 3, 2018 at 7:20pm
Arrive Kigali: February 4, 2018 7:05pm (via Amsterdam)
Depart Kigali: February 14, 2018 at 8:15pm
Arrive Boston: February 15, 2018 at 12:52pm (via Amsterdam)
EXTENDING YOUR TRAVEL:
Elevate Destinations is happy to assist with your travel needs. Please reach out to Naomi (naomi@elevatedestinations.com) if you would like to arrange any post travel plans.
*Note: We will be booking your international flights shortly, so please do let us know as soon as possible if you plan to extend your travels.
PASSPORT:
Travelers should ensure that the validity of their passports extends at least six months beyond the end of their intended stay, and should have at least one blank (unstamped) visa pages in their passport for immigration stamps. *Note that the last two amendment pages are unacceptable for immigration stamps.
VISA/TOURIST CARD:
A tourist visa is required for entry to Rwanda. Elevate Destinations will handle visa processing, and the costs have been covered by the Barr Foundation. We will need a scanned copy of your passport in order to finalize this service.
HEALTH CONCERNS
Please consult with a travel clinic or your personal physician regarding the recommended immunizations for travel to Rwanda. You will need to do this well in advance of your trip as some vaccinations require time to take effect, and you may need to allow time between a series of shots. Comprehensive information can be found on the CDC website for Rwanda.
In addition to being up-to-date on routine vaccinations 4-6 weeks before travel, the CDC recommends that most travelers be vaccinated for Hepatitis A, Typhoid, and to take prescription medication before, during and after your trip to prevent Malaria. The CDC also recommends some travelers to be vaccinated for Hepatitis B and Rabies.
Yellow Fever: The CDC does not recommend yellow fever vaccine for most travelers to Rwanda. However, you might consider this vaccine if you are staying a long time or will be heavily exposed to mosquitoes. The government of Rwanda does require proof of yellow fever vaccination if traveling from a country with risk of yellow fever or a country with an active yellow fever outbreak. Further details available here.
Note: Zika is a risk in Rwanda. Because Zika infection in a pregnant woman can cause serious birth defects, women who are pregnant should not travel to Rwanda. All travelers should strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites and sexual exposure to Zika virus during and after the trip. For more information, see Zika Virus in Rwanda.
TRAVEL INSURANCE:
In addition to the trip costs, the Barr Foundation will purchase and cover the costs of travel insurance for all Fellows. Elevate will provide a detailed description of this policy once it is has been finalized. The insurance policy will be finalized by October 13th and a copy will be distributed to everyone on November 15th. If you would like to review the insurance policy before November 15th please let us know.
If you have any additional questions please feel free to reach out to our Travel Team:
Naomi Garner
naomi@elevatedestinations.com
207-370-4886
Meredith Hauser
meredith@elevatedestinations.com
617-475-0889
Katherine Redington
katherine@elevatedestinations.com
202-643-8370