Wondering if I need cash for taxis in Rwanda or if I can just pay with card or app like in other countries?
Tried tapping my Visa in a cab-driver burst out laughing. Never felt so “touristy.” Bolt calls? Card’s fine. But any taxi flagged down? Cash. So yeah, app when possible, local bills for everything else. Keeps the trip smooth.
I stayed for a month in Kigali-Bolt rides were seamless on card. Street taxis? Nope, cash only. Moto-taxi guys even laugh when you flash your phone. I keep around RWF 10,000 handy for unplanned rides or rural trips. Apps for planned rides, cash for everything else.
Booked a private taxi via my guesthouse and paid by card-no fuss. But when I flagged a random cab downtown, they asked for cash only. No Uber, but apps work. My trick: use Bolt when I can, carry RWF in smaller notes for unscheduled rides.
I used Bolt app in Kigali twice and paid through the app with my card-worked like a charm. But street taxis? All cash. I hailed one and driver said “no card.” So I keep RWF 5,000 on me for cab rides, but Bolt works well for city hops.