Rwanda
Rwanda is a densely populated landlocked country in East Africa. It borders Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and Tanzania. From 1884 to 1916, Rwanda was a German colony, then a Belgian UN-mandated territory. It gained its independence in 1962.
The majority of Rwanda is a highland with an average altitude of 1500 meters. The entire altitude range extends from around 1000 meters to the 4507 meter high Karisimbi (volcanic mountains in the north). The country is 1200 kilometers away from the East African coast, but due to its good road network it still serves as a transit for some exports from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The main African watershed between the catchment areas of the Nile and the Congo runs through the country.
Rwanda is often called the "land of a thousand hills" and does indeed have a very hilly landscape, mainly in the western part of the country.
Location
Afrika
Area
26.338 km²
Population
12.988.423
Language
Kinyarwanda, French, English, Swahili
Largest city
Kigali
Capital city
Kigali
Weather
Due to the altitude, the climate tends to be mild and humid despite the proximity to the equator. The hot equatorial daytime climate is overlaid by the seasonal East African climate and tempered by the high altitude. The average daily temperature is 18 °C. There are no major temperature fluctuations throughout the year, but temperatures vary with altitude. There are two rainy seasons corresponding to the East African monsoon rains, umuhindo between September and December (on average 27 % of the annual rainfall) and itumba between February and early June. Between March and May, 40% of the annual precipitation falls. However, the climate and especially the rainfall are highly irregular.
Best time to travel
The best time to travel to Rwanda is during the long and short dry season, i.e. between June and mid-September and between December and January.
Climate
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Max. Temperature | 26 | 5 | 26 | 5 | 26 | 5 | 25 | 2 | 24 | 9 | 25 | 3 |
| Min. Temperature | 26 | 1 | 27 | 1 | 27 | 4 | 26 | 5 | 25 | 7 | 25 | 5 |
| Hours of Sunshine | 15 | 1 | 15 | 2 | 15 | 2 | 15 | 1 | 15 | 3 | 14 | 5 |
| Humidity | 14 | 3 | 15 | 3 | 15 | 1 | 15 | 2 | 14 | 9 | 15 | 0 |
| Rainy days | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 0 |
| Water Temperature | 7 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 1 |
Time difference (to MEZ)
UTC+2
Currency
Rwandan franc (RWF)
Visa
Visa requirement: Yes
Visa available: From January 1, 2018, visas with a validity of 30 days on arrival will be issued.
Travel documents: Passport
Passport validity: At least 6 months on entry
Cream-colored emergency passport: Will be accepted.
Vaccinations
It is recommended that you contact your family doctor or another suitable facility about 8 weeks before the start of your trip to find out about the recommended vaccinations.
African cuisine - food in Rwanda
African cuisine combines traditional fruits and vegetables, as well as exotic game and fish from the seas with a marinade shaped by cultures, colonies, trade routes and a unique history. Africa is a continent that stretches from arid desert to subtropical wetlands, plains, and jungle
African cuisine is becoming increasingly popular, especially among immigrants. However, the different dishes in Africa vary greatly from region to region. Above all, the areas heavily influenced by the British and French, such as Johannesburg, have a completely different cuisine to offer than those regions in Kenya. It is impossible to list the cuisine of each continent by name, but all regions of Africa are part of African cuisine.
Rwanda is nicknamed the "land of a thousand hills", which is certainly self-explanatory: countless hills stretch mainly in the southern regions of the country and make Rwanda a scenically attractive country. In the north, on the other hand, Rwanda consists mainly of volcanic mountains that reach heights of up to 4,500 meters. Another nickname for Rwanda is "African Switzerland", and the reasons for this are obvious.
Rwanda is home to some of the few remaining mountain gorillas. They are protected by a hunting ban, which unfortunately is not always observed. The American researcher Dian Fossey, who also made the film "Gorillas in the Mist" possible, lived with mountain gorillas. The gorillas are mostly found on the slopes of the volcanic ranges in the north of Rwanda and are one of the country's biggest attractions.
The beautiful Lake Kivu in RwandaThere are many small, picturesque places around Lake Kivu that have hardly been developed for tourism. This makes it all the more worthwhile to visit this region, which is well worth seeing, as the original but beautiful Rwanda can still be seen here. Kibuye is an example of these many small places. The Amahoro stadium in Kigali offers space for 35,000 spectators and is the largest stadium in Rwanda.
In the rainforest of Nyungwe, located in the mountains, there are many so-called endemic species to be admired due to many geographical and climatic peculiarities. Endemic species are those that only occur in a geographically clearly defined, usually relatively small region. National parks with waterfalls and abundant wildlife The many festivals and celebrations held in Rwanda are also remarkable. As everywhere in Africa, these are usually very loud, very lively, but also very entertaining. In addition, there are certain Rwandan peculiarities during these celebrations.
The Rusumo waterfalls are located in Kagera National Park, one of the few national parks in Rwanda. Here, the Kagera Nile cascades over 15 meters into a lake. In addition to Lake Kivu, Lake Cyambwe is also worth a visit. It is located in the east of the country. It is around 13 kilometers long, but only just under one kilometer wide. Lake Cyambwe is also only a few kilometers from the border with Tanzania. Despite its relatively small size, Rwanda is home to almost 8 million people, making it one of the most densely populated countries, which is hardly surprising given that nations such as Mauritania or Algeria are largely deserted.
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