Country guide - Rwanda  

 
 

Introduction: Rwanda is a landlocked country located in East Central Africa. It is bound by Uganda to the north, Tanzania to the east, Burundi to the south, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Lake Kivu to the west.

Official Name: Rwandese Republic
Area: 26,338 Sq Km (10,169 Sq Miles)
Population: 7,810,000
Continent: Africa
Density per square mile: 768
Capital City: Kigali
Religions: 65% Roman Catholic, 9% Protestant, 17% of the population follow local native tribal beliefs, 9% Muslims.

Language: Kinyarwanda (official) universal Bantu vernacular, French (official), English (official), Kiswahili (Swahili) used in commercial centres
Government: Republic - presidential, multiparty system

Currency: Rwanda franc
GDP: $9 billion
GDP Per Head: $1,200

Natural Resources: gold, cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite (tungsten ore), methane, hydropower, arable land
Land Use: Arable Land 32.43%
Agriculture: Coffee, tea, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums), bananas, beans, sorghum, potatoes; livestock.
Industry: Cement, agricultural products, small-scale beverages, soap, furniture, shoes, plastic goods, textiles, cigarettes

Tourism: Rwanda has some amazing natural scenery and features including mountain gorillas which can be seen in their National Park - Parc Nacional des Volcans. There are also lierally hundreds of species of trees and birds in the rainforests of Nyungwe. Some more urban centres e.g. Butare and the capital, Kigali, are fairly active with places to stay, eat, drink, and meet the locals. For water lovers Lake Kivu has many tourist amenities.

Natural Hazards: Periodic droughts; the volcanic Virunga mountains are in the northwest along the border with Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Health Risks: Malaria in low-lying regions, cholera, hepatitis, typhoid, HIV, Rift Valley Fever, yellow fever

Climate: Rwanda has a tropical climate influenced by altitude. There are two dry seasons, a short dry season from January - February and a long dry season from June - September, as well as two wet seasons, one from October - December and the other from March - May. Rainfall is heaviest in the west and decreases in the central uplands and to the north and east. Average annual rainfall in Kigali is 1,000 mm and average temperature ranges are from 19 degrees Celsius in January to 21 degrees Celsius in July.

Time: GMT/UTC + 2 hours
National Days: July 1 Independence Day. July 4 Liberation Day. August 15 Assumption Day. September 25 Republic Day. October 26 Armed Forces’ Day. November 1 All Saints’ Day.

Visas: British nationals can obtain a visa at any major point of entry into Rwanda, free of charge. The maximum duration is three months and you can request single or multiple entry. All other nationals except German & US citizens require a visa also.

British Embassy Details

 

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