Freight Forwarding in Rwanda

Haraka Freight International offers freight forwarding in Rwanda for businesses that import, export or move goods across East and Central Africa. Freight Services is a leading innovator in customer-driven freight services. We have successfully and creatively filled the need of a rapidly changing marketplace, with a strategic focus on satisfying increasing customer requirements for premium transportation services.

In practice, that means one team plans your shipment from the supplier's door to yours. We choose the mode and the corridor, book the carriers, prepare the documents, clear customs and deliver, while keeping you updated at every step.

Our freight forwarding services

• Air freight
• Sea freight, FCL and LCL
• Freight forwarding
• Export management
• NVOCC
• Warehousing
• Trucking and commercial distribution
• Customs clearing
• AOG and pharma logistics
• Packing and removals
• Project logistics

International freight forwarding to and from Rwanda

Rwanda trades with suppliers and buyers all over the world, but it has no seaport. International freight forwarding to Rwanda therefore almost always combines more than one mode of transport:

• Sea freight to an East African port, then road. Containers are shipped to Mombasa or Dar es Salaam and trucked inland to Kigali. Read more about sea freight to Rwanda.
• Air freight into Kigali. Fast for urgent, valuable or perishable cargo. See air freight in Rwanda.
• Road freight within the region. Goods produced in Kenya, Uganda or Tanzania can come straight to Rwanda by truck. See road transport.

As your forwarder, we compare these options on cost, time and risk, and recommend the combination that fits your cargo and deadline.

How a forwarded shipment works

1. Quote and booking. You share the origin, destination, cargo details and timing. We quote and, once you approve, book space with the carrier.
2. Origin handling. We coordinate pick-up from your supplier, export clearance at origin and loading, working with your supplier and the carrier's agents at origin.
3. Main transport. The cargo moves by sea, air or road. We track it and keep you informed.
4. Transit and border crossings. For cargo arriving through a coastal port, we manage the transit documents and the road journey across the region.
5. Destination clearance. We handle customs clearance in Rwanda, or in the destination country for regional shipments.
6. Delivery. We deliver to your warehouse, shop, factory or project site, or store the goods in our warehousing until you need them.

East and Central Africa freight forwarding

Our work does not stop at Rwanda's borders. Across Eastern Africa, our transportation, warehousing and distribution services reach Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi, and we move transit commodities on to Goma and Bukavu.

That makes us a practical choice for East Africa freight forwarding and Central Africa freight forwarding, especially for companies supplying several countries from one regional base. We can consolidate cargo in Kigali and distribute it onward, or move it directly from the port to each final destination. Our cross-border logistics page explains how.

Cargo we handle

• General cargo and consumer goods
• Industrial equipment, machinery and spare parts
• Construction materials
• Food products and other perishables (with the right permits)
• Dangerous goods, when properly declared and packed
• Project cargo and heavy lifts

Choosing among freight forwarding companies in Rwanda

There are many freight forwarders in Rwanda. When comparing them, ask:

• Do they handle customs clearance themselves, or pass it to someone else?
• Can they move cargo on both the Northern and Central corridors?
• Do they cover the destinations you need, including the DRC and Burundi?
• Will you have one contact who knows your shipment?

Haraka answers yes to all four. For a fuller checklist, read how to choose a freight forwarder for DRC and Burundi shipments.

Why choose Haraka as your freight forwarder

• End-to-end service. We focus on serving customers with global sourcing and supply-chain management demands.
• Custom-tailored solutions. Our dedicated team designs the shipment around your cargo, not the other way round.
• Regional reach. Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi, with transit to Goma and Bukavu.
• Insurance on request. Protect your goods in transit with cargo insurance.

Frequently asked questions

What does a freight forwarder do?

A freight forwarder organises the movement of your goods from the supplier to your door. That means booking space with airlines, shipping lines and truckers, preparing transport and customs documents, arranging insurance and storage where needed, and coordinating every hand-over along the way.

Do you handle both imports and exports?

Yes. We forward imports into Rwanda and the region, and we offer export management for goods leaving Rwanda, including documentation and coordination with buyers' agents.

Should I ship FCL or LCL?

Full container load (FCL) usually makes sense when you have enough cargo to fill most of a container or need the container sealed from origin to destination. Less than container load (LCL) lets you pay for the space you use when volumes are smaller. We will compare both for your shipment.

Can you forward cargo to the DRC and Burundi as well as Rwanda?

Yes. We move cargo across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi, and transit cargo to Goma and Bukavu. See our freight routes for each lane.

Which Incoterm should I agree with my supplier?

It depends on how much of the journey you want to control. Many importers buy FOB or FCA so their own forwarder manages the main transport and inland delivery. We can explain the options before you sign. The ICC publishes the official Incoterms rules (opens in a new tab).