Rwanda
Africa · Kigali · RW
Rwanda is the small, densely settled nation of the heart of the African highlands, the land of the thousand hills whose steep, intensely green countryside holds some of the most striking landscapes of the continent and one of the greatest wildlife experiences in the world. The volcanoes of the north-west, the Virungas, protect the last population of the mountain gorillas, the animals of the misty forests that the country has made its most famous treasure, while the lakes of the west, the forests of the south and the wetlands of the east fill out the natural variety of the land. The capital of the Kigali, clean, orderly and safe, is the modern success story of the nation, and the memorials of the difficult past stand as the witnesses of the reconciliation. Small, efficient and astonishingly green, Rwanda combines the safari wonder with the deep human story of the nation.
Overview
Rwanda is a country in Africa. Its capital is Kigali and the international dialling code is +250. Languages commonly used in everyday life here include Kinyarwanda, English and French. Local currency is the Rwandan Franc (RWF). Our guide covers 1 airport, including Kigali International Airport. We also list 1 city in Rwanda: Kigali.
The Volcanoes of the Virunga and the Gorillas of the Mist
The volcanoes of the Virunga, the chain of the dormant cones that runs the border with the neighbours and the Congo, protect the last wild population of the mountain gorillas, and the tracking of the forest of the Volcanoes National Park is the great wildlife experience of the continent, a one-time permit encounter with the families of the great apes in the bamboo and the vines of the volcanic slopes. The morning of the tracking, led by the guides and the porters of the park, climbs through the fields, the forest and the mist to the family of the gorillas, and the hour of the observation with the enormous, gentle animals, their silverback leaders and their playing infants, is among the most emotional of any journey in Africa. The permits are limited, the price is significant and the experience is unforgettable.
The Kigali of the Hills and the Museum of the Nation
The capital of the country, the city of the Kigali, rises over its hills above the green of the central plateau, and its clean streets, its gardens, its markets and its coffee bars give the visitor the modern, orderly face of the new nation. The memorial of the genocide of the Kigali, the moving museum that tells the story of the terrible months of the 1990s with dignity and power, is the essential visit to understand the country, and the other museums of the capital, from the art galleries to the house of the history, fill out the picture. The city is safe, walkable and famously clean, with the whole country's new spirit of the profession and the progress, and the viewpoints over the green hills from the heights of the city give the first sense of the landscapes beyond. It is the perfect, thoughtful base of the journey.
The Lake of the Kivu and the Beaches of the West
The great lake of the Kivu, the deep blue water that fills the rift valley along the western border of the country, is the largest of the lakes of Rwanda and one of the most beautiful of the whole African rift. The lake towns of the west, the Rubavu and the Kibuye and the southern shores, hold the beaches, the islands and the waterfront life of the region, and the boat trips of the lake reach the islands, the fishing villages and the stunning green of the surrounding hills. The shores of the lake, with their coffee and their cacao plantations and their eucalyptus groves, give the visitor the relaxed, scenic end of the journey, and the alight of the sunset over the water and the volcanic cone of the islands is among the classic moments of the region. The west of the country is green, warm and deeply restful.
The Forest of the Nyungwe and the Primates of the Canopy
The forest of the Nyungwe, the great surviving mountain rainforest of the south-west of the country, is one of the oldest and the most important forests of Africa, and its canopy walks, its waterfalls and its trails protect an extraordinary population of the primates, including the families of the chimpanzees, the colobus monkeys and the many smaller species of the trees. The tracking of the chimpanzees of the Nyungwe, the day-long expeditions through the steep forest, is the other great primate experience of the country, and the canopy walkways of the park, suspended over the gorge of the forest, give the treetop views of the whole green world. The birds of the forest, the endemic and the rare species of the highland cloud, complete the picture, and the whole park is a deep, wet, profoundly alive world of its own.
The Hills and the Tea of the Landscape of the Country
The everyday landscape of the country is its most characteristic sight, the endless green of the terraced hills that rise and fall in every direction, from the tea factories and the banana groves of the countryside to the villages of the round houses and the clay of the central plateau. The country's tea, grown on the plantation hills of the west and the south, is among the best of the region, and the tours of the factories and the tastings of the estates are the gentle introduction to the rural life of the nation, while the roads of the countryside, with their markets, their schoolchildren and their astonishingly busy cycling life, are the real heart of the journey. The people of the country, famously friendly and dignified, welcome the visitor with the warmth that has made the nation the model of the region.
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- Capital
- Kigali
- Currency
- Rwandan Franc (RWF)
- Languages
- Kinyarwanda, English, French
- Calling code
- +250
- Internet TLD
- rw
Entry requirements
Check who can enter →See which passports travel visa-free or need a visa to enter Rwanda.
Which nationalities can enter Rwanda?
Current visa status for tourism for the origins we cover, with links to the detailed requirements.
Airports (1)
All airports →Cities (1)
All cities →Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to visit Rwanda?
For the origins we track, travellers from Morocco currently enter Rwanda visa-free for tourism. Entry rules depend on your passport and the purpose of your trip, so check the current requirements for your own nationality with our entry requirements tool.
What is the capital of Rwanda?
Kigali is the capital of Rwanda, and the country sits in Africa.
What currency is used in Rwanda?
You pay with Rwandan Franc (RWF) in Rwanda. Exchange rates move day to day, so check the current rate before you change money or use your card abroad.
Which languages do people speak in Rwanda?
The languages we list for Rwanda are Kinyarwanda, English and French. A couple of greetings in the local language go a long way when you travel, even in cities where another language is widely used.
What is the international dialling code for Rwanda?
The dialling code for Rwanda is +250 — keep the plus sign when you save the number.
Which airports serve Rwanda?
Kigali International Airport (KGL) in Kigali is the airport we cover for Rwanda.
Which cities in Rwanda do you cover?
Our guide lists 1 city for Rwanda: Kigali (capital).