Africa's most astonishing comeback story — a country that suffered unimaginable genocide in 1994 and is now Africa's cleanest, most efficiently governed nation and the world's premier mountain gorilla destination.
- Capital
- Kigali
- Population
- 14,104,969
- Area
- 26,338 km²
- Languages
- English, French, Kinyarwanda
- Currency
- Rwanda Franc (RWF)
- GDP
- $14,771M
Good to know
Driving side
Right
Annual visitors
1,634,000 (2019)
Safety
Moderate (3.61/100k)
Avg temp
19.2°C
Religion
Christianity
Coast
Landlocked
☎ Police 112 · Ambulance 912 · Fire 112
Travel guide
Rwanda is an East African country known as the land of a thousand hills. It is easily accessible from Kenya and Uganda, and is one of the safest and most organised countries on the continent. The rolling green highlands, volcanic mountains, and ancient rainforests make it a striking destination. Rwanda is best known for mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, but also offers savannah wildlife in Akagera National Park, chimpanzee tracking and canopy walks in Nyungwe National Park, and a vibrant capital in Kigali. The country is compact, well connected, and easy to travel around.
© Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA)
Explore Rwanda
Best time to visit
June–September and December–February are the dry seasons — best for gorilla trekking (permits required in advance). Nyungwe Forest birding is excellent year-round. The Kigali weather is mild year-round (1,600m altitude).
Visa
Citizens of most nationalities can obtain a 30-day visa on arrival at Kigali Airport or apply for an e-Visa at irembo.gov.rw. East Africa Tourist Visa covers Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda.
Public holidays
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (4)
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