The Republic of Rwanda is located in eastern Central Africa and covers an area of around 26,340 square kilometres. Thus, the entire country is slightly smaller than the German federal state of Brandenburg.
Rwanda has a population of around ten million, about 900,000 of whom live in Kigali, the capital and largest city of the country. The population of Rwanda is largely made up of the Hutu, Tutsi and Twa ethnic groups. The official languages of Rwanda are French, Kinyarwanda and English. Over 90% of people in Rwanda are Christians. There are also a few Muslims and followers of other religions.
Sights in Rwanda
Butare is considered Rwanda’s cultural capital. For this reason, the city is home to museums and other cultural institutions, such as the Rwanda National Museum. However, many of Rwanda’s attractions are found in nature, including the varied landscape of forested volcanoes, vast lake districts with impressive waterfalls and numerous good bathing beaches. The landscape and wildlife of Rwanda are also protected in the country’s three national parks.
The Volcanoes National Park, Parc National des Volcans, is located in the northwest of the country. This roughly 13,000-hectare park is world-famous for its mountain gorillas, as it is one of the last habitats of these gorillas. Guided tours are also available in this Volcanoes National Park, allowing visitors to observe the mountain gorillas at close range. In eastern Rwanda lies the Akagera National Park. This park consists of a river and lake landscape that is home to many different animal species, such as lions, leopards, topi antelopes, hippopotamuses, impalas and Nile crocodiles.
Location and climate of Rwanda
As a landlocked country, Rwanda is located in eastern Central Africa, bordering Tanzania, Burundi, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The landscape of Rwanda is characterised by vast hilly areas. For this reason, the country is often referred to as the ‘Land of a Thousand Hills’.
Rwanda has a humid but mild highland climate. Daytime temperatures vary depending on the altitude and average around 18 degrees Celsius. However, there are no major temperature fluctuations throughout the year. The rainy seasons in Rwanda are from September to December and from February to June. The heaviest rainfall occurs from March to May, often flooding many roads. For this reason, some parts of the country can only be visited during the dry season.
Entry and arrival
The international airport of Rwanda is located in Kigali, about ten kilometres from the city centre. There are no direct flights from Germany to Kigali, but they are available from some airports on the European mainland. Flights from Germany usually take more than eight hours. In addition, Rwanda can also be reached by car or bus via border crossings in the neighbouring countries.
For entry into Rwanda, German tourists require a passport that is still valid for at least six months upon arrival. No visa is required for entry, allowing a stay of up to 90 days without a visa. For longer stays, a visa can be applied for at the Rwandan immigration authority. In addition, all travellers over the age of one year require a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate upon entry.
