Rwanda presents to you one of the wonders of Africa with irresistible beauty and a virgin economy. It is famous for gorilla safaris and tours and wonderful culture in Africa. The movie hotel Rwanda presents the fact that the 1994 Rwanda genocide history is phased out of Rwanda. The economy is rising rapidly and the natives have left the past behind for new developments.
Officially the Republic of Rwanda is a sovereign state in CentralAfrica. Politically it lies in East Africa and it is part of the East African community. Located a few degrees south of the Equator, Rwanda is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. All of Rwanda is at high elevation, with a geography dominated by mountains in the west, savanna in the east, and numerous lakes throughout the country. The climate is temperate to subtropical, with two rainy seasons and two dry seasons every year.
THE PEOPLE OF RWANDA
The earliest known inhabitants of Rwanda were pygmoid hunter-gatherers, ancestral to the modern Twa people who today comprise only 0.25% of the national population. Some 2,000 years ago, agricultural and pastoralist migrants from the west settled in the area. Oral traditions recall that prior to the 15th century a ruler named Gihanga forged a centralised Rwandan state with similar roots to the Buganda and Bunyoro Empires in neighbouring Uganda. Comprised of a cattle-owning nobility and agriculturist serfdom majority – the precursors respectively of the modern-day Tutsi and Hutu – this powerful state was able to repel all early attempts at European penetration.
Why Visit Rwanda
Rwanda is one of the teeming nature destinations in Africa from the hilly landscape to the tropical rainforest. The presence of different primates, wildlife, birds and many natural habitats makes Rwanda a major home of biodiversity. Besides the big thanks goes to the conservation organizations and the Rwanda government for the great work of protecting the species and habitats in different corners of the country hence making Rwanda a fine destinations for not only nature but also sustainable tourism. A few years back it was Uganda the Pearl of Africa on every one’s mind but its neighbor Rwanda is the spotlight for every Africa primate safari either to see gorillas, chimpanzees and golden monkeys. Rwanda may appear small in the region but its scenic natural attractions are dazzling each day. Visit Nyungwe Forest a fine chimpanzee playing ground open for tourists on chimpanzee trekking trips and walks found in southwestern corner of Rwanda.
The high dense canopy that becomes a national park in 2004 is one of the most visited natural Rwanda Park and one of the busiest in the country year round.The safe and sound Nyungwe forest is certainly worthy because of its fantastic biodiversity old giant trees, orchids, and green vegetation that house different primate species including chimpanzees, grey-cheeked mangabey, golden monkey, vervet monkeys, , olive baboons, Red tailed monkeys, owl-faced monkeys, Ruwenzori colobus, silver monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkey and many more. Colorful birds and butterflies also ride in every corner of the forest and usually cause exciting moments to every visitor on either morning or afternoon forest trek. Besides Nyungwe is the best place to see chimpanzees in Rwanda. The park also launched a new tourism activity “the Nyungwe canopy” which enables tourists to explore the entire forest in just a few hours. Other interesting park activities are Waterfall treks, Bird watching, photography, walks to Kamiranzovu marsh and the tea factory at Gisakura.
Next to Nyungwe is Volcanoes National park a home of endangered mountain gorillas that live in the dense bamboo forest of the Virunga. This is the favorite destination for gorilla safaris and every year lots of tourists visit the country to see the great apes in the wild. Did you know the gorillas are the largest living primates on earth? And scientists say that they must be the last member of the apes family? They are indeed a great living example of beautiful unique primates in history that live in unreachable locations. Researchers say the gorillas live in Virunga volcanoes that run across the western Rift valley resulting into the border between Uganda and Democratic republic of Congo and Rwanda. The impressive volcanoes are close to Bwindi Forest National Park in Uganda also a gorilla park in Africa.
History reigns and primate fans find the Volcanoes National Park, a fine destination to see gorillas in a natural setting hence making it one of the must see natural attractions in Rwanda. The Rwanda locals also just added a new cultural tour project close to the park making tourists happy by exploring nature as well as the country’s social well being.The Rwanda gorilla trekking tour has always been the most elegant way to experience nature in Africa and volcanoes national park has the wonderful hills and mountains for great hikes in either dry or wet season.
Quick Facts About Rwanda
Independence Day : July 1st 1962
Religions : Roman Catholic, Traditional
State Motto: ‘Umbwe, Umurimo, Gukunda, Igihugu’ or ‘Unity, Work, Patriotism’
National Flag: The colours are blue, yellow and green with the sun in the top right hand corner.
Language: Kinyarwanda, French and English are official languages
Physical Features: Twenty three lakes, five volcanoes and numerous rivers.
Climate: Rwanda’s climate reflects the country’s location near the equator. Rwanda enjoys a tropical climate with two rainy seasons; March-May, and October – November, and two summer seasons. Average temperatures range from 24.6°C to 27.6°C.
National Parks: Rwanda national parks, Volcanoes, Akagera and Nyungwe, have a profusion of wildlife with mountain gorillas as the best tourist attractions. The gorillas keep moving to and from Uganda , Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda and gorilla trekking safaris are offered to these three countries.
Public Holidays recognized in Rwanda
1 January (New Year’s Day);
28 January (Democracy Day)
1 February (National Heroes Day);
Good Friday (Date Varies)
Easter Day (Date Varies)
7 April (Genocide Memorial Day);
1 May (Labour Day);
21 May Kamarampaka Day
1 July (Independence Day);
4 July (National Liberation Day);
15 August (Assumption Day);
1 October (Patriotism Day);
25 December (Christmas Day), and
26 December(Boxing Day).
On the fore fronts of economy, Rwanda is gaining considerably in the tourism sector. The national parks, mountains and lakes provide numerous habitats for a diversity of wildlife, birds and other safari attractions.
Hotel provide luxury and cheap accommodation to all travelers and the experienced personnel working their offer quality services. Indeed, a safari to Rwanda is truly rewarding!
Transport and communication section has built up standard road network from the different provinces of Rwanda to Kigali main stream.
The education system is improving starting from the grassroots far in the villages to the urban areas. The country is divided into administrative areas according to regions including Kigali province which embraces the capital city of the country in addition to the northern, southern, eastern and western provinces.