Rwanda
is a tiny country, land locked boarded by Uganda to the north,
Tanzania in the east, Burundi in the south, and the Democratic
Republic of Congo to the west. Bottom
It
is a home of over half of the world’s mountain Gorilla
population. This tiny country is starting to develop a thrilling
economy on Tourism, with new Lodges and camps being built in
the area.
It
is a beautiful country, with large mountains, volcanoes, rivers
and forests. The main European Language is French, but English
is widely spoken particularly at Hotels and lodges.
Rwanda
lies on the E. Africa plateau with the divide between the water
systems of the Nile and Zaire rivers passing in a north- south
direction through the western part of the country.
To the west of the divide, the land drops sharply to Lake Kivu
in the great Africa Rift valley, to the East, the land falls
gradually across the central-plateau.
Its grassy highlands are the core areas of settlement of Rwanda’s
population to the swamps and lakes of the country’s eastern
border.
Most
of the country (Rwanda is 3,000 fit above sea level, with much
of the central plateau being higher than 4,700 fit. In the Northwest,
on the boarder of Democratic Republic of Congo, are the volcanic
Virunga Mountains, the highest peak; mount Karisimbi (14,870ft)
is permanently ice-caped. Lake Kivu drains into Lake Tanganyika
through the sharply descending Ruzizi River, 4700 feet above
sea level. The Akagera River, which forms much of Rwanda’s
eastern boarder, flows into Lake Victoria
AIRPORT
Currently, there is one international Airport at Kanombe. A
number of international Airlines fly directly to Kanombe among
them SN Brussels, Kenya airways Ethiopian airlines, Air Burundi,
South African Airways and Rwanda Air express.
All international flights arrive at Kigali international airport,10
km from central Kigali.There are two flights a day from Nairobi,
two per week direct from Brussels and two per week from Johannesburg
for information on connections from Nairobi Entebbe and Johannesburg,
please contact
VISAS:
A valid passport is mandatory. Visas, required by all visitors
except nationals of the USA, UK, Germany, Canada, Uganda, Tanzania,
Kenya, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sweden, Mauritius,
South Africa and Hong Kong, cost USD 60 and can be bought upon
arrival.
MONEY:
The unit of currency is the Rwanda franc. The US dollar is the
hard currency of preference. It may be impossible to exchange
travelers' cheque away from the capital. Credit cards are usually
only accepted at the major hotels in Kigali.
LANGUAGE:
In addition to the indigenous language of Kinyarwanda, French
and English are official languages. French is widely spoken
throughout the country. In the capital and other tourist centers,
many people speak English. Top
PUBLIC
HOLIDAYS:
Good Friday and Easter Monday, which fall on variable dates,
are recognized in Rwanda. Other public holidays are 1 January
(New Year's Day); 7 April (Genocide Memorial Day); 1 May (Labour
Day); 1 July (Independence Day); 4 July (National Liberation
Day); 1 August (Harvest Festival); 15 August (Assumption Day);
25 September (Republic Day); 1 October (Heroes Day); 1 November
(All Saints' Day) and 25 (Christmas Day).
RWANDA
CLIMATE AND TIME TO VISIT.
Rwanda can be visited throughout the year. Gorilla tracking
and other forest walks are less demanding during the drier months.
The European winter is the best time for birds, as Palaearctic
migrants supplement resident species. 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. The exceptions are the chilly upper slopes
of the Virunga Mountains, and the hot low-lying Tanzania border
area protected in Akagera National Park. Throughout the country,
seasonal variations in temperature are relatively insignificant.
Most parts of the country receive in excess of 1,000mm of precipitation
annually, with the driest months being July to September and
the wettest February to May
CLOTHING:
Dress codes are informal. Daytime temperatures are generally
warm, so bring lots of light clothing, supplemented by light
sweaters for the cool evenings and heavier clothing for the
Parc des Volcans and Nyungwe. When tracking gorillas, wear sturdier
clothing to protect against stinging nettles, and solid walking
shoes. A hat and sunglasses provide protection against the sun,
and a waterproof jacket may come in handy in the moist mountains.
WHAT TO BRING:
Binoculars will greatly enhance game drives and forest walks,
as will a good field guide to East African birds. Bring a camera
and an adequate stock of film. Print film is available but transparency
film is not. Toiletries and other essentials can be bought in
the cities. Top
COMMUNICATIONS:
Rwanda has an excellent cell phone network covering almost the
entire country. International phone calls can be made easily.
Appropriate SIM cards for the network are readily available
everywhere, even in remote towns, and cell phones can be purchased
or rented from major shops in Kigali. Most towns of any size
will have several Internet cafes and computer centers.
GETTING
AROUND:
All of the major centers are connected with local and luxury
bus services. Air charter services are available anywhere in
the country and well advertised.
HIKING AND BIKING:
The fine road network, with little traffic, offers wonderful
opportunities for long bicycle trips across the verdant hills
and valleys. Mountain biking and hiking can be enjoyed on the
thousands of kilometers of fine rural trails linking remote
villages, criss-crossing the entire country.
GORILLA PERMITS:
Gorilla Permits can should be booked ahead of time through the
Office Rwandaise du Tourisme et des Parcs Nationaux (ORTPN).
HEALTH
A certificate of yellow-fever vaccination is required. Much
of Rwanda lies at too high an elevation for malaria to be a
major concern, but the disease is present and prophylactic drugs
are strongly recommended. It is advisable not to drink tap water.
Bottled mineral water can be bought in all towns. Hospitals
are located in all major towns. Personal insurance is advisable.
Persons not fit for long trips due to heart diseases, chronic
illness, physical handicap and advanced pregnancy or mental
illness are advised not to participate in such rigorous travel
programs. Go to top
