Rwanda General Information

Quick Facts

Region: Africa

Population:
10,746,311

Religion:

About one-half of the population is Roman Catholic, one-quarter are Protestant, one-tenth are Adventist, and one-twentieth are Muslim. The remainder of the people follow traditional religions.

Language:

The official languages are Kinyarwanda (a Bantu language), French, and English. Swahili is sometimes used in commercial centres.

Rwanda has a good literacy rate of approximately 72%. Schooling is free, and in principle, compulsory for children aged 7 through 12. In 2001–2002 virtually all primary school-aged children were enrolled in school, but only 14 percent of the relevantly aged children attended secondary or technical schools. The National University in Butare, opened in 1963, had about 2,500 students in the early 1990s. However, after the violence began in April 1994, education at all levels ceased and has yet to be fully restored.

Area (sq. km):
26,338 square meters

Time:

GMT + 2 hours

When to Travel

Despite its proximity to the equator, the climate in Rwanda is cooled by the high altitude. It is warm throughout most of the country but cooler in the mountains. Rwanda has four main seasons: a short dry season from mid-December to mid-March, the long rains from mid-March through to May, the long dry period from mid-May to September and the short rains from October to mid-December. The average yearly rainfall is 790 mm (31 in) and is heaviest in the western and northwestern mountain regions.

Rwanda can be visited at any time though most people prefer to avoid the rainy seasons. The dry season from June to September and January to February are the driest months but you may still expect some showers in the afternoon.

Useful Travel Facts

Airports:

Kigali International Airport, 12km east of Kigali (travel time 25 minutes). Airport facilities include bar, duty free shop, post office and currency exchange. Bus and taxi services are available.

Telephone:

The international dialling code for Rwanda is +250. There are no area codes.

Telephone calls, especially international ones, can be expensive when made from a hotel. We suggest you check the price first. Accessing international roaming in Rwanda is not easy. If you have a mobile phone local sim cards and pay-as-you-go credits are easily obtainable. Phone calls made from public telephone offices are generally your cheapest option.

Electricity:

The supply is 230V and 50Hz. There are two different sockets used. Most of the sockets used are the C-type 2 round prong type – continental style which are widely used throughout Europe and South America. The other plug found is the type-J 3 square prong type used in Ethiopia and Madagascar. Power failure is common in Rwanda during the wet season .

Food:

The food in Rwanda is very good – the quality being similar to Kenya, meals being at reasonable prices. Some of the more popular dishes are goat meat, Nile perch and beef brochettes. It is possible to get continental food but this is more expensive than the local food. It is very important not to drink the water in Rwanda – bottled water is available everywhere and is cheap to buy.

Shopping:

Souvenir shopping is not up to the standard of Kenya or Tanzania. This is due to the fact that Rwanda does not have the flow of tourists like Kenya does. There are some beautiful handicrafts such as basketry, batik, drums and wood carvings to buy but you will find the easiest place to buy is in the centre of Kigali or in Butare.

Visa: Australians and New Zealanders and Canadians currently require a visa for Rwanda. No visas are required for British or American passport holders for stays up to one month. For all other nationalities please reconfirm your visa requirements with your travel agent. Rwandan visas may be obtained at the border or prior to departure from your home country. A single entry visa can by purchased for US$60 for most nationalities. USD cash is the only accepted form of payment for visas and please note that the cash must be 2006 series notes or later. All tourists requiring paid visas are to pre-register for their visa prior to arrival in Rwanda. Details such as name, passport number, arrival port and arrival details need to be submitted on a form over the web. A pre-registration acceptance letter is then emailed to you which you need to print out and take with you to present on arrival in Rwanda. The online form is called the ‘Entry Facility Application Form’ and is found on the following website: www.migration.gov.rw Please note that there are many forms on this site so it is important to find the correct ‘Entry Facility Application Form’. The link to this form is: http://www.migration.gov.rw/singleform.php You MUST print out a copy of your submission in case your copy is not at the visa counter when you arrive. This will provide a hassle free and quick entry into Rwanda.

Further Reading

Rwanda - Bradt Guide
East Africa - Lonely Planet
We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed with Our Families - Phillip Gourevitch
Gorillas in the Mist - Dian Fossey
Shake Hands With The Devil : The Failure of Humanity In Rwanda - Romeo Dallaire
The Rwanda Crisis - History of a Genocide - Gerard Prunier