Rwanda Country Information

The densest population in continental Africa, this little country bears the title ‘Land of a Thousand Hills’. And, home to one of Africa’s last remaining rain forests on the equatorial belt.

Head of State: President Paul Kagame and Prime Minister Bernard Makuza

Land area: 10 169 sq miles (26338 sq kilometres)

Largest Town: Kigali

Population: 9 million

Official Languages: English, French, Kinyarwanda and Swahili

Currency: Rwanda Franc (RWF)

International Airports: Kigali International Airport

Major Cultures: European, Twa, Hutu and Tutsi

Religions: Christian, Buddhisim, Hinduism, Judasim, Sikhism and Islam

It really does depend on your interest. Located on the African equator, temperatures are often hot and humid. The main reason travellers visit Rwanda is to trek the mountain gorillas in Birunga or Volcanoe’s National Park or, visit Kigali. Often though, you would find light cloud cover which is a blessing, keeping the heat of the day under control.

Mar to May:

• Heaviest rain season

Jun to Sep:

• This is the long dry season, also the best time to visit if you are flexible with travel dates

Oct to Nov:

• This is the shorter rain season

Dec to Feb:

• This is the shorter dry season, followed by the rain season from October to November
• This is the long dry season, also the best time to visit if you are flexible with travel dates

Oct to Nov:

• This is the shorter rain season

Dec to Feb:

• This is the shorter dry season, followed by the rain season from October to November.

Geography & Climate

Located in east-central Africa by it’s neighbours; Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Uganda, Tanzania and Burundi. Lake Kivu sits at an altitude of 1472 m and the highest lake in Africa. North of Lake Kivu we have Virunga Mountains which include the Karisimbi volcano at 4324m.

Temperatures vary depending on your location, but generally warm and humid as you are located in Africa’s equatorial belt. Kigali, the average daily temperature is about 21°C to 28°C.

Crime & Safety

Kigali can be dangerous if you are not careful and walk around at night, but generally safe for you to walk around during the day.

Money

The Rwanda Franc (RWF) is not very strong but it is stable. It is possible to draw money from the banks in Nairobi, but can take time. Foreign exchange offices keep normal trading hours. Banking hours:

• Monday to Friday:             09h00 am to 14h00 pm
• Saturday:                                  Closed

Communication

Post is cheap and relatively reliable. International calls services are available but expensive. Email and Internet is widely available and relatively inexpensive.