Rwanda at Your Finger Tips
In colonial time, the thrilling beauty of Rwanda: rolling mountainous landscapes earned it the sobriquet “The land of a thousand Hills“. After independence, this small Central African Nation leaped to fame as the land of “Gorillas in the Mist“, adopted home of Dian Fossey and the most important refuge for the rare mountain gorilla. And as recent as the late 1980s, Rwanda was a popular holiday destination wit a bustling tourist circuit.
Then came 1994 and the genocide that caused Rwanda to leap from glossy travel supplements to grisly front page news. By 1995, the country was already clawing its way back close to normality, and today it poised to reclaim its rightful place as one of the world’s finest adventure and ecotourism destinations.
Rwanda eco friendliness is attested to by the mountain gorillas, elephants of Akagera and the chimpanzee and monkeys of Nyungwe. Rwanda is one of Africa’s top birding countries, with incredible 670 different birds recorded with in an area comparable to that of Wales or Belgium.
This Natural lover’s paradise remains, for all it has been through, a truly welcoming country, whose attractions are completed by good and comfortable facilities, fine food, and a rich cultural heritage.
Geography:
Rwanda is a land locked Republic in the Equatorial Africa. It is situated on the eastern rim of the Albertine Rift, a western arm of the Great Rift Valley, on the watershed between Africa’s two largest river systems: the Nile and the Congo. Much of the country’s 26,338sq km is dramatically mountainous, the largest peak being Karisimbi (4,507m) in the volcanic virunga chain protected by Parc des Volcans.
Climate:
A combination of tropical location and high altitude ensures that most of Rwanda has a temperate year round climate. Temperatures rarely stray above 30 degrees Celsius by day or below 15 degrees Celsius at night throughout the year. Season Variations in Temperature are relatively insignificant throughout the year. The driest months are July to September and the wettest are February to May.
Economy:
Primarily a subsistence agriculture economy, Rwanda produces some of the finest tea and coffee in the world. These are produced for export. Other industries include sugar and fishing for export.
Getting there:
A number of International and regional carriers operate regular flights in and out of the country. Alliance Express flies daily except Saturday from Entebbe to Kigali, daily from Kenya to Kigali, and Wednesday and Sunday from Johannesburg.
In partnership with SAA, it also flies to Kigali from USA via Johannesburg. Other international flights arriving in Kigali are with SN Brussels, Kenya airways, Ethiopia Airlines, and Air Burundi. All international flights arrive at Kigali International Airport, 10km from central Kigali.
Visas and Passport:
Visas, required by all visitors except nationals of the USA, UK, democratic Republic of Congo, Sweden, Mauritius, South Africa and Hong Kong cost US $ 35 and can be bought upon arrival. A valid passport is mandatory.
Language:
The indigenous Language is Kinyarwanda. French and English are additional official languages. French is widely spoken throughout the country. In the capital and other tourist centres, many people speak English.
Health:
Much of Rwanda lies at too high an elevation for malaria to be a major concern, but the disease is present. So travelers to Rwanda are advised to carry malaria prophylactic drugs. A valid certificate of yellow-fever vaccination is required. It is advisable to drink bottled rather than tat water. Hospitals are located in all major towns.
Money:
The unit of currency is the Rwanda franc. The US dollar is the hard currency of preference. Hard currency cash can be exchanged away from the capital. Credit cards are usually only accepted at the major hotels in Kigali.
When to visit:
Rwanda can be visited at any time of the year, though Gorilla tracking, mountain hikes, and other forest walks are less demanding during the drier months.
What to Wear:
Day time temperatures are generally warm, so bring lots of light clothing. Evenings are cooler so bring light sweaters and heavier clothing for parc des Volcans and Nyungwe. Solid walking shoes and sturdy clothing are ideal for forest walks. Don’t forget to bring a hat, sunglasses, and waterproof jacket.
What to Bring:
A valid passport is Mandatory, and visa requirements should be checked before you travel. To make the most of the game reserve and national parks, carry binocular and field guides. Bring a camera and adequate stock of films. Print film is available but transparency film is not. Toiletries and other essentials can be bought in the cities.
Food:
Good western food with a Belgian influence is served in Restaurants (tourist oriented) and hotels in all centres. Rwandan favorites include goat kebabs, grilled tilapia, ugali (a stiff maize porridge), matooke (cooked banana) and potatoes.
Communication:
Rwanda has an excellent cell pone network covering almost the entire country. International phone call can easily be made. Appropriate SIM cards for the network are readily available everywhere, even in remote town. Most towns in Kigali have several internet cafes and computer centres.
Getting Around:
Rwanda has possibly the best roads in east Africa. All of the major centres are connected with local and luxury bus services. Air charter services are available anywhere in the country and well advertised.
Accommodation:
Several high standard international business and tourism hotels exist in Kigali, while comfortable midrange accommodation is found in all main tourist centres.
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