Rwanda

Quick Facts

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Capital

Kigali

Population

8,441,000

Government

Republic

Religions

Christianity (Catholic, Protestant), Muslim

Languages

Kinyarwanda, French, English, Kiswahili

Calling Code

+250

Nationality

Local name

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Introduction

Silverback of Susa group

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Mention Rwanda and most people will think of civil war, mass genocide, and refugees. Mountain gorillas and stunning volcanic scenes are less likely to come to mind, but for the travellers who are heading back into Rwanda after ethnic violence has dissipated, these are the attractions that make Rwanda worthy of being the hosts to their next great holiday. Parc National des Volcans, in the northwest, is the place to go, despite the fact that some areas remain off-limits due to the war: the park's volcano-studded landscape and gorilla-filled rainforest are prime highlights of a Rwandan trip. The attractive vistas around Kigali make this a perfect place from which to base your trip. Local expats are fond of Gisenyi, a gorgeous lake-side town. A few days here, enjoying the scenery and swimmable water, will add immense variety to a Rwandan holiday.

Since tension remains, make sure that travel is safe prior to booking.

Brief History

Geography

Regions/Provinces

Rwanda is organised into 5 provinces.

• North Province
• East Province
• South Province
• West Province
• Kigali Province==

Cities

• Kigali - The capital
• Butare
• Kibuye
• Gisenyi
• Ruhengeri
• Cyangugu
• Gitarama
• Kibungo
• Byumba

Sights and Activities

Parc National des Volcans

Silverback of Susa group

© All Rights Reserved tarmo

The 'Parc National des Volcans' (Volcanoes National Park) is one of a few parks in the world where you can have a close encouter with mountain gorillas. The other parks are just across the border with Uganda (Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (Virunga National Park). The Rwandan park is located in the northwest of the country and is easily accessible by (mini)buses from the capital Kigali. Several of the Virungas volcanoes are located in Rwanda and some, like the Bisoke, can be climbed. The most popular activity though it to go on a trekking to visit the Mountain Gorillas. Although only the permit costs already 500 USD, it is extremely popular and advanced bookings are advisable. It is a very rewarding trip on the other hand and most people consider this as one of the highlights of a visit to Rwanda or even Africa! Dian Fossey made this places her home for a long time, before she was killed (presumably by poachers) and buried in the same national park.

Nyungwe Forest National Park

Nyungwe Forest National Park is located in the southwest of the country just south of Lake Kivu and protects not only tropical rainforests but also swamps and grassland. The park is famous for its primates and about a quarter of all primates in the whole of Africa can be found just here in this relatively small area, including the number one favorite, the chimpanzee. You can reach the park easiest from Cyangugu which is less than an hour away. Guided walks are one of the best activities here.

Akagera National Park

Akagera National Park is located in the central east of the country adjacent to the Tanzanian border and protects a wide range of areas, including lakes, swamps, grassland and mountainous areas. It is actually the best place in Rwanda to go on a safari and see a wide range of animals, including species of antelope, many birds but only few predators live here and spotting the big five here unfortunately is not possible.

Events and Festivals

Weather

Rwanda has a tropical climate with generally warm and humid weather but conditions are somewhat tempered because of the fact that much of the country lies on a higher elevation. There are two dry seasons, the cool and long from June to September, and the warm and short from December to February. From March to May is the long rainy season, with heavy rain possible for days on end. From October to early December is the short rainy season with showers at the end of the day but most of the time it is dry. Temperatures average between 22 and 30 degrees Celcius during the day and between 15 and 20 at night. Not that some parts might be slightly warmer but it can cool off considerably more in the mountains.

Getting there

Plane

Rwandair Express is the national airline of Rwanda and is based at Kigali International Airport (KGL) near the capital. International flights include those to and from Bujumbura, Entebbe, Johannesburg, Kilimanjaro and Nairobi. Several other airlines from neighbouring countries have flights as well, and from Europe the only direct connections are from Brussels with Brussels Airlines.

By Train

By Car

By Bus

There are several daily buses between Kigali and Kampala, the capital of Uganda, taking about 8 hours. There are also daily connections with a few companies to and from Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi.

By Boat

Getting around

Plane

Rwandair Express flies between Kigali, Cyangugu and Gisenyi.

By Train

By Car

By Bus

By Boat

Red Tape

Travellers can get a 90-day visa upon arrival without costs, but this only applies to people of the following countries: United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Democratic Republic of Congo, Germany, Kenya, Mauritius, South Africa, Sweden, Tanzania, and Uganda. Others are advised to prearrange there visa in their home country at the Rwandan Embassy.

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