The landlocked country of Rwanda sits in central and eastern Africa. It’s well known for its many beautiful lakes, especially Lake Kivu, as it sits at the bottom of the Rift Valley
along the western border. The country is filled with some wonderful scenery as its terrain is made up of gently rolling hills, mountains, swamps, rivers, and plains.
It’s home to a wide variety of wildlife, such as rare mountain gorillas and some of the best places to view the various animals are Akagera National Park, Nyungwe Forest National Park,
and Volcanoes National Park.
The capital and largest city is Kigali, with other major centers being Butare, Rubona, Byumba, Cyangugu, Gisenyi, Gitarama, Kibeho, Kibungo, Kibuye, Nyanza, Ruhengeri, Rwamagana,
Gikongoro, and Gasarenda. The official languages are Kinyarwanda, French, and English and the nation is popular for its native dance and music. The country of about 11 million people
used to be a Belgian colony, but gained independence in 1962.
Rwanda sits near the equator, but isn’t as hot as most equatorial countries because of its high altitude. The mountain areas are generally
cooler than the lower lying regions. The rainy seasons occur between February and June and between September and December. The dry seasons fall in between and can sometimes last
weeks without rain.
Rwandans love to celebrate their culture and you’ll find there are quite a few festivals and ceremonies that feature dancing, music, and storytelling. Drumming is one
of the most popular forms of music and the most popular dance is called Intore. Newer forms of music are now influenced by Congolese, American and East African styles. The nation is
also well known for its traditional arts and crafts, such as woven bowls and basket, wood carvings, and pottery.
The food is just as interesting as the rest of the culture and some of the most popular dishes include locally grown produce such as plantains, bananas, sweet
potatoes, pulses, cassava, meat, beef, goat, brochettes, dried fish, and beans. Some of the most popular fish is tilapia, as it’s common in many of the country’s lakes. Fermented
milk, known as ikivuguto is a pretty popular drink as is the beer known as urwagwa, which is brewed from bananas or sorghum.
In the capital city of Kigali, you’ll find a variety of international restaurants such as Chinese, Greek, Middle Eastern, Indian, Italian, African, and French. In the
smaller towns, popular dishes are fish, chicken, steak, and goat with French fries and/or rice. There are also some cinemas and nightclubs there.
The major international airport is located in Kigali and there are smaller regional ones in Butare, Gabiro, Gisenyi, Nemba, Cyangugu, and Ruhengeri. There are several
roadways that link Rwanda to other African nations as well as internally to major cities. However, there aren’t any railways in the country at the moment, but there are plans to
build some routes. There’s bus service internally and to some other African countries. Mini vans and share taxis are also popular ways to get around to see the sights. Some of the
major lakes also have ferry services.
The accommodations in Rwanda are varied as they range from simple hotels to lakeside resorts, but you shouldn’t have any trouble finding something suitable for all
budgets.
Rwanda offers visitors some spectacular scenery and wildlife along with a simple, natural way of life. It’s a fantastic place to visit if you’re interested in natural
beauty and traditional East African culture.
About Rwanda