Embrace Mobile Money (MoMo)

While credit cards are accepted in high-end hotels and restaurants in Kigali, the absolute king of transactions in Rwanda is MTN Mobile Money, locally known as MoMo. From paying a moto-taxi driver to buying fresh fruit at a roadside market, MoMo is used by virtually everyone, everywhere.

To set this up, purchase an MTN SIM card at the airport or an official service center using your passport. Register for MoMo on the spot and cash-in (deposit funds) at any of the ubiquitous wooden MTN kiosks scattered across every town. It is safer than carrying large amounts of cash and far more widely accepted than international debit cards in rural areas.