Capital: Kigali

Time: GMT + 2 hours
 
Population: 7,954,013

Area: 26,340 km²

Currency: Rwandan franc (RWF)

Climate: The climate in Rwanda is considered temperate, with two rainy seasons from February to April, and November to January with a long dry season from June to September. Rainfall during the two rainy seasons is especially heavy over the mountains to the north. The climate in Rwanda is not uniform throughout the country and in general, it is dryer in the east than the west and north.  The weather in the mountains to the north is variable and on occasions, they can even be capped with snow.

People:  Hutu 84%, Tutsi 15%, Twa (Pygmoid) 1%

Official language: Kinyarwanda (official) universal Bantu vernacular, French (official), English (official), Kiswahili (Swahili) used in commercial centers.

Geography: The majority of Rwanda is mountainous as a result of its position on the eastern rim of the Albertine Rift Valley, part of the Great Rift Valley system. The west and centre of Rwanda are characterised by steep mountains interspersed with several substantial and irregular shaped bodies of water, with elevations between 1,500 and 2,500m. In the far east of Rwanda, the mountains give way to the lower lying and flatter terrains of the Lake Victoria basin, where the main geographical feature is the Akagera River and its associated network of swamps and small lakes.
 
Neighbouring Countries: Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and Tanzania.

When to go: Rwanda can be visited at any time of the year however certain seasons are best for different activities. During the long dry season between June and September, when the ground is dryer and dirt roads are more accessible, it is the best time for tracking gorillas and biking in Nyungwe.  The risk of malaria is also lower during this dry season. For photography enthusiasts, the rainy season brings greener scenery and less haze and is also the best time to track Chimpanzees in Nyungwe.  November to March is renowned as the best period for bird watching, as resident birds are accompanied by flocks of migrant species.

Economy: The much publicized 1994 genocide decimated Rwanda’s already fragile economic base, impoverished the population and eroded the country’s ability to attract private and international investment.  Rwanda has since made substantial progress in stabilizing and recovering its economy to pre-1994 levels, and although poverty levels are still higher, the GDP has rebounded and inflation has been curbed. Rwanda today is a poor rural country with approximately 90% of the population still engaged in mainly subsistence agriculture, with few natural resources and minimal industry. Despite attempts to diversify into non-traditional agriculture exports such as flowers and vegetables, and eco-tourism, a lack of adequate transportation infrastructure means the primary foreign exchange earners are still coffee and tea. 

What to pack: Like most places in Africa, it is generally a good idea to go for the “layered” look when travelling to Rwanda – i.e. layers of clothing that you can take off as the day gets hotter. Bring comfortable, light-weight clothes. If you are coming on safari, try to keep your baggage to 12-15kg, preferably in a soft bag, as space is limited on safari transport.

• Shorts, T-shirts, sun dresses
• Swimming costumes
• Good comfortable walking shoes
• Casual lightweight cotton, khaki or neutral coloured clothes for safaris
• Fleece or sweater and a warm jacket for game drives or cool evenings
• Wide brimmed hat
• Lots of sun tan lotion, sunblock and lip cream – most foreigners tend to underestimate the hot, African sun and end up with uncomfortable sunburn that can tend to dampen the holiday spirit
• Anti-malaria prophylactics – consult your doctor/pharmacist about the regions you will be visiting.
• Insect repellent creams
• Binoculars, camera (different kinds of film are available in the main centres of Rwanda)
• Sunglasses