RWANDA – LAND OF A THOUSAND HILLS:
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Top National Parks, Game Reserves & Wildlife Conservancies in Rwanda: Volcanoes National Park, Akagera National Park, Nyungwe Forest National Park, Lake Kivu, Rubona Peninsula, Gorilla Guardians Village.
Full Country Name: Republic of Rwanda
Area: 26,338 sq km
Population: 10.94 million (UN 2011)
Capital: Kigali
Borders: Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC (formally Zaire), Tanzania and Uganda
Religion: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Adventist, Muslim and indigenous beliefs
Time Zone: Standard time is two hours in advance of Greenwich Mean Time
Languages: Kinyarwanda (official) universal Bantu vernacular, French (official), English (official), Kiswahili (Swahili) used in commercial centres
Country Dialling Code: +250
Rwanda is popularly known as ‘the land of a thousand hills’. The landscapes in this green country are truly incredible. Fortunate people who have had the chance to visit Rwanda have remarked about the physical beauty of the country. From East to West and North to South, you get to discover one of God’s best creations.
Rwanda boasts a wide variety of wildlife. The Volcanoes National Park, in northern Rwanda is home to the world’s largest number of endangered mountain gorillas. Numbering in the hundreds, the gorillas live in a protected area, free from poachers. The Akagera National Park in eastern Rwanda is crowded with wildlife both large and small. Lake Kivu also offers beautiful beaches, jutting peninsulas and an archipelago of beautiful islands.
Rwanda, in a nutshell, is a nature lover’s paradise. It is also one of the friendliest countries. A warm welcome is complemented by comfortable facilities, fine food and a rich cultural heritage.
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. The exceptions are the chilly upper slopes of the Virunga Mountains and the hot low lying Tanzania border area protected in Akagera National Park.
Currency & Banks: The unit of currency is the Rwanda Franc (RWF). However when changing money, US Dollars cash is the preferred currency. Any dollar bills taken must not be tattered or torn, and should not have been issued prior to 2001. It is difficult to change money outside Kigali.
Credit cards are not widely accepted and not all lodges will take them. Small local purchases such as souvenirs and drinks will definitely have to be paid for in local currency.
Electricity: The general voltage in Rwanda is 240 and the frequency is 50 Hz. Generally a 2-pin European style plug is used. Electricity in most camps is provided by generators. Batteries may be recharged in the camp during the day but it is wise to double check with the camp manager.
As the sockets can vary a ‘Travellers Adaptor Set’ is recommended. Voltage sometimes fluctuates and whilst power cuts are rare, they are not unknown. It is useful to carry a torch.
Health: Health requirements vary from country to country. We recommend you speak to your local Travel Doctor for up-to-date information and advice. The following information is to be used as a guide only.
Malaria: It is recommended that precautions against malaria are taken for travel to most regions in Africa. We suggest you contact your doctor for advice on which prophylactic is recommended.
Yellow Fever: A Yellow Fever vaccination is required. All travellers must carry proof that the Yellow Fever vaccine has been administered at least 10 days prior to travel.
Road Travel: Please note that road surfaces vary from tarmac, gravel, sand and occasionally vehicles may travel “off road”. Additionally, if visiting remote areas or National Parks and Reserves, the roads may well be rough, bumpy and in a poor condition and may be affected by adverse weather conditions.
Local Laws: Photographing government buildings is prohibited and plastic bags are prohibited in Rwanda. You may be requested to pay a fee if you are found carrying any plastic bags on entry at the international airport.
Visa Information: At the time of writing, Foreign Passport holders are required to pre-register for an entry visa for Rwanda prior to arrival. The visa is then paid for on arrival in Kigali.
Single Entry Visa: USD $60 per person on an Foreign Passport (subject to change).
Applications are available online with an “entry facility application” on the Rwandan immigration authority’s website – www.migration.gov.rw – under the topic “Public service”, click on “entry facility. The form that appears should be completed with the basic details of name, passport number, arrival date and port of arrival and you then submit it over the net. Remember to print a copy in case your copy is not at the visa counter when you arrive.
We hope that you will find this country Information on Rwanda useful for reference when preparing for your holiday. All the information above was correct at the time of writing and is to be used as a guide only. Health, visa and other specific details should be double checked by your travel agent at the time of booking.
✔Volcanoes National Park – the mountainous Virunga volcanoes are spellbinding with their deep emerald carpet sweeping over the five majestic peaks. Tucked away in these hills and rainforests live the elusive mountain gorillas, one of the last spots on the planet where you’ll find them.
Coming upon a family of these endangered apes, sitting together, perhaps grooming each other and looking back at you is an emotional moment you’ll never forget. Your trek through the park may also bring you in contact with troops of golden, colobus, owl-faced, and blue monkeys.
✔Nyungwe Forest National Park – a great swath of biodiversity presented in equatorial rainforest. The highlight here is the opportunity to track chimpanzees. You may come upon them foraging for food and building their nests. There are troops of other primates found here as well – Dent’s monkeys, olive baboons, vervet monkeys, and more.
For an exciting and unusual perspective of the park’s rich diversity, ascend the canopy walkway amongst the treetops for sky-high views of butterflies, birdlife, and orchids dotting the landscape.
✔Akagera National Park – but not all the parks of Rwanda are mountainous. Akagera offers savannah, marsh, low hills, and forest that support topis, zebras, impalas, giraffes, rhinos… even elephants and lions. Thanks to conservation efforts, the number of animals is increasing here, and sightings are becoming more common.
✔Rubona Peninsula – take a drive from Kigali to discover the Rubona Peninsula and the lovely shores of Lake Kivu, which border steep hills and local homesteads. Small pristine beaches are a delightful surprise here as are flotillas of fishing boats plying the lake in the early morning.
✔Gorilla Guardians Village – this is a cultural experience showcasing Rwandan village life. Step into this re-enacted scene to watch how villagers shoot bows and arrows, grind seeds and other aspects of daily life. You can join in a traditional intore dance and the performance marriage of a king and queen.
