Rwanda





Discover the Land of a Thousand Hills



Rwanda is situated on the eastern rim of the Albertine Rift, a western arm of the Great Rift Valley, on the watershed between Africa's two largest river systems: the Nile and the Congo. Much of the country is impressively mountainous. Despite the 1994 genocide, much of the country has been rebuilt and the economy and tourism resurrected. Rwanda is the home to elusive mountain gorillas breath taking mountain views, volcanoes, waterfalls and rainforests and a rich fauna.





Rwanda is situated on the eastern rim of the Albertine Rift, a western arm of the Great Rift Valley, on the watershed between Africa's two largest river systems: the Nile and the Congo. Much of the country's 26,338 km2 is impressively mountainous. The highest peak being Karisimbi (4,507m) in the volcanic Virunga chain protected by the Volcanoes National Park.



It is divided into six topographical regions from west to east as follow:

  1. The Great Rift Valley and Lake Kivu.
  2. The volcanic Virunga Mountains and the high lava plains of the northwest
  3. The Condo-Nile divide and the central plateaux east of the mountains.
  4. The savannas and swamps of the east and southeast.
  5. The central plain
  6. The arid desert like area of the southeast.


The largest body of water is Lake Kivu, but there are other numerous lakes around the country, notably Burera, Ruhondo, Muhazi and Mugesera, some of which have erratic shapes following the contours of the steep.



Other places of interest are of the Akagera National Park in the East offers some of the great game viewing opportunities and Nyungwe National Park in the South is home to a large concentrations of primates including the Chimpanzees and Colobus monkeys.


There are 670 species of birds in its small boundaries. One cultural highlight is a visit an Intore Dance that were once performed for the Royal Court.



The country's nine largest lakes are the Ruhondo, Muhazi, Mugasera, Ihema, Rwanye, Burera, Rugwero, Cyohoha and Kivu while the principal rivers are the Kagera, Ruzizi and the Nyabarongo with its tributaries.



Lake Kivu is one of the great lakes in Africa and the largest of the fresh water lakes that gleam in the Albertine (Western) rift of the Great Rift Valley. Lake Kivu stands 1461m (4,790ft) above sea level and is Africa’s highest lake. The northern shore is subject to eruptions from nearby Mt Nyiragongo.



Gisenyi offers excellent view of the lake and the Virunga volcanoes massif. With its waterfront and sandy beaches, Gisenyi is a wonderful place to relax with the feel of tropical beach resort with captivating air.



Kibuye is the most attractive of the lake ports, with a series of interwoven and undulating hills. It’s among Rwanda’s hidden treasures, with lush green hills and a peaceful breeze.



Despite the 1994 genocide, much of the country has been rebuilt and the economy and tourism resurrected.