Rwanda Travel Information

Discovering Rwanda!

Rwanda is a small sovereign landlocked country of lovely and various landscapes found in the Great lakes region of East-central Africa. It is bordered by Uganda in the north, Burundi in the south, Democratic Republic of Congo in the west and Tanzania in the east.
This small country of unimaginable beauty placed a few degrees south of the Equator is home to approximately 10.1 million people. This beauty defies its violent past and may continue to defy it forever.
The country supports the densest population in continental Africa; most of whom engage in activities meant for survival (subsistence agriculture) appearing dominant.
Several travelers here have been surprised by the fact that Rwandans are now harmoniously living together only 16 years after the genocide that plugged the social fabric of the country into tatters. Form this time, the country has received substantial international notice due to its 1994 genocide, in which between 800,000 and one million people were killed.
Geography
A verdant country of fertile and hilly terrain, the small republic bears the title “Land of a Thousand Hills“. The countryside is covered by grasslands plus small farms extending over rolling hills, with areas of rugged mountains that extend southeast from a chain of volcanoes in the northwest. The divide between the Congo River and the Nile drainage systems extends from north to south through western Rwanda at an average elevation of approximately 2,740 m. On the western slopes of this ridgeline, the land slopes abruptly toward Lake Kivu and the Ruzizi River valley constituting part of the Great Rift Valley.
The eastern slopes are moderate, with hills extending across central uplands at gradually reducing altitudes, to the plains, swamps, and lakes of the eastern border region.
The Virunga volcanic mountains have high altitude forests, world-famous mountain gorillas, and Lake Kivu offers beautiful beaches, jutting peninsulas and an archipelago of islands.
Therefore the country is also fondly known as “Land of a Thousand Hills”. It is here that the longest headstream of the River Nile in Nyungwe Forest is located. It is separated from the DR Congo by Lake Kivu and Rusizi River Valley to the west.
Weather and Climate
Despite its proximity to the equator, the climate in Rwanda is cooled by the high altitude. It is warm throughout most of the country but cooler in the mountains. There are two rainy seasons: mid January to April and mid October to mid December.
Kigali – the Capital
Kigali is capital city of Rwanda and is located in the center of the country. This is a small, welcoming, pleasant city with an enormous variety of trees and flowers situated to the east of Lake Kivu. It is at the heart of the most important commercial and industrial region of the country. The emphasis is mainly on the coffee and cattle-breeding industries. Kigali has few sights in the form of museums or historic buildings. It is the home to the Genocide Museum, which documents the 100-day massacre in 1994. You will therefore have plenty of time to get to know the Rwanda people and their rich and very interesting cultural background. Visit a local restaurant, talk to people in the street and enjoy the friendly atmosphere of this magnificent city.
Wildlife in Rwanda
Rwanda has fantastic wildlife. Prominent wildlife habitants here include;

• AKagera National Park - covers over 2,500 sq km of savannah to the west of the Kagera River with a variety of wildlife and is a habitat for over 500 species of birds. This park is devoted to game preservation and has lions, zebras, antelopes, hippos, buffalos, leopards, apes, impalas, crested herons, fish eagles, cormorants, giraffes, elephants, elands and warthogs.
• Parc National des Volcans. This is one of the last sanctuaries of the mountain gorillas

Getting there
International routes are available from the surrounding countries of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania and Uganda. Travellers are advised to exercise extreme caution, owing to political instability. There are also daily services from Kampala in Uganda and Bujumbura in Burundi to Kigali.
Do not miss the Rwanda National Ballet, famous for its traditional dances and singing.
Places of Interest

• Kibungu-, in the east of the country, is in the centre of a region of lakes and waterfalls, including Lake Mungesera and Rusumo Falls. Gisenyi is the main centre for excursions in the Parc des Volcans. It also offers many opportunities for water sports or for excursions on the lake.
• Rugege Forest which is home to many rare species of wildlife.
• Nyakabuye thermal waters
• Butare an intellectual capital bordering Burundi. Its most famous tourist attraction is the superb National Museum, which houses perhaps the finest ethnographic collection in East Africa. Butare also boasts craft shops and a botanical garden.
• The Virunga Volcanoes between Ruhengeri and Gisenyi.