About Rwanda.
Rwanda is a landlocked country with a population of 11,689,696, and it’s located on the continent of Africa. Rwanda covers 24,668 square kilometres of land and 1,670 square kilometres of water, making it the 150th largest nation in the world with a total area of 26,338 square kilometres.
Its capital is Kigali, which means ‘big’ in the native Kinyarwanda. Has a population of 745,261, and is located on a latitude of -1.95 and a longitude of 30.06.
Kigali is also the political centre of Rwanda, which is considered a Republic, and home to its Executive head of state.
The currency
Rwandan francs is the main currency used in the country, but dollars are also accepted.
The value of US$1 is currently equal to 907$. It is very reliable and possible to use the cards (Master card or ATM card) all over the country, as many banks introduced the use of ATM Machines by adapting to the high technological progress of the country as there are many ATMs all over Kigali, in every bank branch, this is the cheaper way of getting francs use because the ATMs use a much better exchange rate than currency
exchanges.
These banks have many Branches all over the country, even in the rural areas, this make money withdrawal easier anytime.
The Countries boarding Rwanda
- Uganda north
- Tanzania east
- Burundi south
- Democratic Republic of Congo in the west
Tourist Attractions of Rwanda
- Akagera National Park
- Nyungwe National Park
- Volcanoe National Park
- Rivers and lakes
- Cultural sites
- Memorial sites
- Museums
- Rocks and hot springs
- Historical sites and caves
- Mountain hikes and biking
- Bird watching
- Boat ride and kayaking
- Golden monkey trekking
- Gorilla trekking
- Chimpanzee trekking
- Canopy walk
What to carry
It is advisable to bring all you need with you. There are some necessary items to carry along, including:
- A pair of binoculars for game drives, Bird watching and other Forest walks.
- Bring a camera for photo shooting the beautiful sceneries of Rwanda, wildlife and other events that take place during your stay in the country.
Accommodation
- International Business hotels exist throughout the country, especially in Kigali city.
- Many hotels, lodges and guest houses are available around the main attractions, and connected by well-paved roads. The hotels range from Luxury, Mid-range and Budget.
Food and Beverages
The Rwandans have their favourite foods, including: goat kebabs, cooked banana (Igitoki), Irish potatoes (ibirayi) and sweet potatoes (ibijumba). While the favourite beverages include: Alcoholic drinks such as Urwagwa (local banana beer), Ikigage (sorghum beer), local industrial-made breweries like Primus, Mutzig, Skol. And Nonalcoholic drinks like Umutobe (local banana juice), and sodas. You can get in touch with our tour consultants for more Rwanda travel tips and guidelines by emailing or calling us.
How to reach Rwanda
Rwanda is a fast-growing country with an international airport and an airline called Rwanda Air, which connects to the following countries
Visa and passport
You need to have a valid passport in order to enter Rwanda, and the following countries are
exempted without a visa for 90days
Angola, Benin, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, DR Congo, Ghana, Guinea, Haiti, Indonesia,
Kenya, Mauritius, Philippines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda.
An entry visa is valid for a single entry for a period not exceeding 30 days and is processed within three
working days.
Banking and business hours
The working hours are 8 am to 5 pm weekdays but the banks are open 24 hours a day. Big Shops and hotels open 24hours every day of the week.
When to visit
Rwanda can be visited throughout the year. Gorilla trekking and other forest walk are less demanding during the drier months.
The European winter is the best time for bird watching, as Palearctic migrants supplement resident species.
Languages spoken in Rwanda
The mainly spoken language nation wide is Kinyarwanda, with French and Swahili, and right now English is also being spoken widely all over the country.