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Practical Information Guide AfricaGIS 2019 International Conference (18th – 22nd November 2019, Kigali, Rwanda) Theme: ‘Innovations in Geospatial Technologies for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals in Africa’ Organized by: EIS-AFRICA In collaboration with University of Rwanda 0 AfricaGIS 2019 International Conference 18th – 22nd November 2019 It is with great pleasure that we invite you to this year’s AfricaGIS 2019 International Conference. The AfricaGIS 2019 conference will be held at Kigali Conference and Exhibition Village (KCEV), Kigali - Rwanda, from 18th to 22nd November 2019. The conference main theme is ‘Innovations in Geospatial Technologies for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals in Africa’. This manual has been designed for the benefit of the conference participants, to help gain the knowledge of Rwanda, especially Kigali city, where the conference will take place. The manual contains practical information on different relevant aspects including the general characteristics of the country (geography, topography, official languages, currency, time zone, and demography), and accessibility of the conference venue in Kigali city, accommodation options available, local transport, immigration and visas, shipping, embassies and consulates, health, electricity, weather, and security. The manual is made available on the conference website where you can get even more information on the conference and related details. 1 TABLE OF CONTENT 1. Objectives of the Conference .................................................................................................. 3 2. Conference Venue ................................................................................................................... 3 3. Accessibility to the Conference Venue .................................................................................... 3 4. Rwanda at a Glance ................................................................................................................. 3 5. Travel to Rwanda ..................................................................................................................... 5 6. Local Transport ........................................................................................................................ 5 7. Health ...................................................................................................................................... 5 8. Shipping ................................................................................................................................... 6 9. Immigration and Visas ............................................................................................................. 6 10. Embassies and Consulates ................................................................................................... 7 11. Plastic Ban ............................................................................................................................ 8 12. Electricity ............................................................................................................................. 9 13. Weather and What to Wear ................................................................................................ 9 14. Connectivity ....................................................................................................................... 10 15. Security .............................................................................................................................. 10 16. Accommodation ................................................................................................................. 11 17. More Information .............................................................................................................. 16 2 1. Objectives of the Conference The main motivation for this conference is three-fold: i) To provide a forum for the sharing of information regarding new innovations and best practices in the ICT, geospatial information and technology fields which can be of assistance in helping African countries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. ii) To provide an environment in which geospatial professionals and other practitioners can develop new, or expand existing contact networks so that the influence of the conference can ‘live on’ beyond the conference itself. iii) To identify realistic, implementable steps in the geoscience and related fields which can be taken by African countries and international organisations to help advance the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in Africa. Who needs to do what, when and how are key questions in this regard. 2. Conference Venue The venue for the conference is Kigali Conference and Exhibition Village (KCEV), located in the centre of Kigali city, in Nyarugenge district at KN 3 Ave. 3. Accessibility to the Conference Venue The venue is located in the center of Kigali City, close to most well-known hotels, 650 m from Marriott Hotel Kigali, and 350 m from Serena Hotel. The venue is also located within walking distance from a number of hotels and other accommodation facilities as listed in section 8. Other means of accessing the venue include general taxi transport, moto taxi transport or by bus. 4. Rwanda at a Glance 4.1. Weather The country is located between 1 and 2 degrees South of the Equator and with much of the country lying at altitude, Rwanda enjoys an agreeable tropical highland climate. Temperatures vary considerably between locations but vary little from month to month. Peak temperatures rarely exceed 30°C (86°F) in the daytime or drop below 15°C (59°F) at night. The Eastern province is generally the warmest and the Northern highlands Virunga are the coolest parts of the country. The average daily temperature in Kigali is 21°C (70°F). There are two rainy seasons in a year; the first one from mid-February to May and the second one from mid- September to mid-December. The dry season is from June to mid-September. During the dry season, light cloud cover can be seen very few days, and occasional light rainfall can be experienced. The roads and paths tend to be easier to navigate in this period. 3 4.2. Terrain Known as the land of a thousand hills, Rwanda has 5 volcanoes, 23 lakes and numerous rivers. The country covers an area of 10,169 square miles or 26,338 square kilometres. Much of the country lies at elevations between 1,500 m and 2,500 m above mean sea level. The highest peak is Mount Karisimbi with at 4,507 m of elevation, and the lowest point is the Rusizi River at located at 950 m above sea level. The terrain is often uneven and sensible shoes are essential. 4.3. Time Zone Rwanda is located at 30 degrees in the East of the Greenwich Prime Meridian. Hence, the country’s time zone is GMT/UTC + 2 hours. 4.4. Official Languages The country has three official languages: Kinyarwanda, English and French. The majority of the Rwandan population speak Kinyarwanda, and the majority of educated people speak all the three languages. 4.5. Population The Rwandan population is currently about 13 million people. The physical population density of the country was 415 persons per km2 while the physiological population density (country’s land area excluding the water surface) was about 441 inhabitants per km2. 4.6. Currency and Money The Rwandan franc (Frw) is the principal currency, although US dollars are widely accepted. You can expect to pay for local services in cash, in Rwandan francs. The greater the amount, the more likely US dollars or other hard currencies are preferred. Currently, a growing number of places accept credit and debit cards, with Visa card being more widely accepted than Mastercard. It’s best to check when making a booking. ATMs can be found in Kigali and nearly in all major cities, and the majority of the ATMs accept the Visa card for money withdrawal operations. The ATMs normally work 24/7. Cash can be exchanged at banks and private forex bureaus (bureau de change). However, they are both closed on Sundays and public holidays. It may be impossible to exchange traveler’s cheques away from the capital. Western Union facilities are common. 4 Tipping is discretionary and appreciated. Cash is usually preferred. As a rough guide, tip professional guides and drivers US $10 per day, trekking porters US $2. 5. Travel to Rwanda Rwanda has two international airport: Kigali International Airport (the main and mostly used one) and Kamembe International Airport (mainly for neigbouring countries flights). Kigali International airport is serviced by a number of airlines including: RwandAir, Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, KLM, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines. Moreover, helicopter transfers within Rwanda are available through Akagera Aviation. Kamembe International Airport has scheduled flights. RwandAir’s young and state of the art fleet flies to an increasing number of cities within Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the United States. London, Brussels and Dubai flights are on an Airbus A330, which features onboard wifi, Premium Economy and flat-bed seats in Business Class. A hub at the heart of Africa, Kigali International Airport serves tourism, the export of goods and is transforming Kigali into a trade and logistics platform. From Kigali International Airport to different destination in Rwanda, there are different transport options including shuttle services offered by a number of hotels (see accommodation section), general taxi services, and motorbike taxi transportation service.