Rwanda Map / Geography of Rwanda / Map of Rwanda - Worldatlas.com Print this map Geographically dominated by mountain ranges, the Republic of Rwanda is predominantly rural, and its population relatively young; additionally, its population density is one of the highest in Africa . Humans began inhabiting the region between 8000 BC - 3000BC, and had structured themselves into various clans (Hutu, Tutsi, and Twa) by the 15th century. The Tutsi Nyiginya clan grew to be the more dominant, and during the 19th century, under the reign of King Kigeli Rwabugiri, reached its greatest expansion. The territory of Rwanda was assigned to Germany as part of German East Africa in 1884. Under German ruling, the existing hierarchy remained intact, and power was delegated to the local chiefs. A more direct form of ruling came during World War I when Belgian forces introduced a more centralized power structure. During this time frame Belgium also improved educational, health, and agricultural endeavors. In 1959, three years before independence from Belgium, the majority ethnic group, the Hutus, overthrew the ruling Tutsi king.

Over the next several years, thousands of Tutsis were killed, and some 150,000 driven into exile in neighboring countries. The children of these exiles later formed a rebel group known as the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), and began a civil war in 1990. The war, along with numerous other political upheavals, exacerbated ethnic tensions, culminating in April 1994 in the genocide of roughly 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus. The Tutsi rebels defeated the Hutu regime and ended the killing in July 1994, but approximately 2 million Hutu refugees - many fearing Tutsi retribution - fled to neighboring Burundi , Tanzania , Uganda , and the former Zaire. Since then, most of the refugees have returned to Rwanda, but several thousand remain in neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo . Paul Kagame became President of Rwanda in March 2000. In August of 2003, he won a landslide victory in the first national elections since his government took power in 1994.

The country has made a remarkable recovery under the leadership of Kagame, and is now considered to be a model for developing countries. Rwanda has achieved stability, international integration and economic growth. The average income over the past ten years has tripled. The current government is one of the most efficient and honest in Africa and it is also regarded as the safest country in East and Central Africa . See Also Rwanda: Maps, History, Geography, Government, Culture, Facts, Guide & Travel/Holidays/Cities Parliament Votes in Favor of Third Term for Kagame Geography Rwanda, in east-central Africa, is surrounded by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Tanzania, and Burundi. It is slightly smaller than Maryland. Steep mountains and deep valleys cover most of the country. Lake Kivu in the northwest, at an altitude of 4,829 ft (1,472 m), is the highest lake in Africa. Extending north of it are the Virunga Mountains, which include the volcano Karisimbi (14,187 ft; 4,324 m), Rwanda's highest point. Government Republic.

History The original inhabitants of Rwanda were the Twa, a Pygmy people who now make up only 1% of the population. While the Hutu and Tutsi are often considered to be two separate ethnic groups, scholars point out that they speak the same language, have a history of intermarriage, and share many cultural characteristics. Traditionally, the differences between the two groups were occupational rather than ethnic. Agricultural people were considered Hutu, while the cattle-owning elite were identified as Tutsi. Supposedly Tutsi were tall and thin, while Hutu were short and square, but it is often impossible to tell one from the other. The 1933 requirement by the Belgians that everyone carry an identity card indicating tribal ethnicity as Tutsi or Hutu enhanced the distinction. Since independence, repeated violence in both Rwanda and Burundi has increased ethnic differentiation between the groups. Rwanda, which became a part of German East Africa in 1890, was first visited by European explorers in 1854. During World War I, it was occupied in 1916 by Belgian troops.

After the war, it became a Belgian League of Nations mandate, along with Burundi, under the name of Ruanda-Urundi. The mandate was made a UN trust territory in 1946. Until the Belgian Congo achieved independence in 1960, Rwanda-Urundi was administered as part of that colony. Belgium at first maintained Tutsi dominance but eventually encouraged power sharing between Hutu and Tutsi. Ethnic tensions led to civil war, forcing many Tutsi into exile. When Rwanda became the independent nation of Rwanda on July 1, 1962, it was under Hutu rule. Rwanda - List of African Countries List of African countries Questions to which this page has the answer to What is the population of Rwanda? What is the currency of Rwanda? What is the capital of Rwanda? What languages are spoken in Rwanda? Notes Last updated 21 may 2009 Rwanda Gross domestic product per capita $ 1,300 English, IPA: or in Kinyarwanda) is a small landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of east-central Africa, bordered by Uganda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania.

Home to approximately 10.1 million people, Rwanda supports [source] between Rwanda and Burundi was dissolved and tensions between the two countries worsened. Rwanda also now became a Hutu-dominated one-party state. In excess of 70,000 people had been killed. It was thought for a while that British Royal Marines then stationed in [source] The Rwandan Genocide was the 1994 mass killing of hundreds of thousands of Rwanda's Tutsis and Hutu political moderates by Hutus under the Hutu Power ideology. Over the course of approximately 100 days, from the assassination of Juvénal Habyarimana on 6 April through [source] Rwanda is a poor rural country with about 90% of the population engaged in (mainly subsistence) agriculture. It is the most densely populated country in Africa and is landlocked with few natural resources and minimal industry. Primary foreign exchange earners are [source] Rwanda's countryside is covered by grasslands and small farms extending over rolling hills, with areas of rugged mountains that extend southeast from a chain of volcanoes in the northwest.

The divide between the Congo and Nile drainage systems extends from north [source] Rwanda, in east-central Africa, is surrounded by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Tanzania, and Burundi. It is slightly smaller than Maryland. Steep mountains and deep valleys cover most of the country. Lake Kivu in the northwest, at an altitude of 4,829 ft [source] independence, repeated violence in both Rwanda and Burundi has increased ethnic differentiation between the groups. Rwanda, which became a part of German East Africa in 1890, was first visited by European explorers in 1854. During World War I, it was occupied in 1916 by Belgian troops [source] Volunteers to serve in Rwanda since 1994 took place at the residence of United States Ambassador to Rwanda Stuart Symington. Since they arrived in Rwanda on January 29, the 32 volunteers have lived in Butare and undergone eleven weeks of intensive technical and [source] The new flag and anthem of the Rwandan Republic has been launched today (on 31 December 2001). The flag corresponds roughly to the previous reports - blue-green and rising sun.

However, the blue and green fields are separated by a yellow stripe and the sun is not rising [source] The Triumph of Evil is a report on how the West ignored warnings of the 1994 Rwanda genocide and turned its back on the victims. interviews: UN & US writers and writer Philip Gourevitch 100 days of slaughter: a chronology of US/UN actions the somalia debacle: how it influenced the West's policy in Rwanda [source] The international time zone for Rwanda is GMT +3 and the international dialling code for the country is +250. The principal airlines which fly to Rwanda are Air France and Sabena as well as regional airlines. Visas are required by all visitors except nationals of Germany. [source] during 1994, growth in Rwanda has been led by agriculture (41.6% of GDP) and construction. Agriculture has the highest foreign exchange earnings and employs the largest sector of the working population, of, which, 90 percent are mostly involved in subsistence farming. Coffee [source] The economy of Rwanda is overwhelmingly agricultural, with most of the workers engaged in subsistence farming.

Economic development in Rwanda is hindered by the needs of its large population and by its lack of easy access to the sea (and thus to foreign markets) [source] Rwanda is governed under the constitution of 2003. The president, who is head of state, is popularly elected for a seven-year term and is eligible for a second term. The government is headed by the prime minister, who is appointed by the president [source] The Twa were the original inhabitants of Rwanda and were followed (c.A.D. 1000), and then outnumbered, by the Hutus. In the 14th or 15th cent., the Tutsis migrated into the area, gained dominance over the Hutus, and established several states. By the late 18th cent. a single Kigali travel guide - Wikitravel By bus[ edit ] Buses arrive and depart to many parts of Rwanda regularly. There are a couple of daily buses that run directly between Kigali and Kampala in Uganda . The bus is cramped and uncomfortable but is the cheapest choice. There are a couple of daily buses that run directly between Kigali and Bujumbura in Burundi .

Yahoo Car, New Yahoo and Belvedere have buses in the morning. Bus 104 will get you to the center for Rwf 250. Heading to the airport, catch it in front of the Bank of Kigali/Ernst & Young building downtown. Get around[ edit ] Motorcyle taxis (motos) are the most popular and fastest way to get around town. The fare for the motorcycle ranges from 200 RFr-1000 RFr depending on distance, but most of the motocyclists will ask for RFr 200-500. A trip to or from the airport should be around 1500-2000 RFr. Keep in mind that on the main road out to the airport they really put their foot down. It is however a good well sealed road, nice views over Kigali City and a thrilling ride. Matatus (minibuses) provide major routes throughout the city and are the cheapest way to get around. The Minibus in Rwanda is one of the best forms of transport in East Africa. Most of the buses are still new and are maintined well.

There are several minibus companies which connect Kigali and the other cities in Rwanda. All of them give the same price depending on the distance. For short distance, such as to Ntarama, it costs only 600 RFr. The distance to Ruhungeri cost 2500 RFr and to Gisenyi 3000 RFr. There are several car rental agencies in Kigali. There are many taxis in Kigali, and in comparison with motos are expensive. A short 1km trip will cost Rwf 2,000 after haggling, going up to Rwf 10,000 for an airport run. Taxis are mainly of two types in Kigali - those operated by individuals (usually with some form of yellow stripe on the vehicle) and more professorially run services operated by a single large operator. The Kigali Airport Taxis and Kigali Taxi Service are the two major groups, there are others companies also running taxis , but these are the largest and both operate a number you can call to sumon a taxis.

3122 for Kigali Taxis service and 476586 for Kigali Aiport Taxi service. A reliable individual is Alex, who is on 0788741559 (French & some English spoken). See[ edit ][ add listing ] The Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre [9] opened in April 2004 on the 10th anniversary of the genocides. Over 250,000 people are buried here, and there is a truly touching museum. Kigali houses several memorials, museums, and centers dedicated to the Rwandan Genocide. Entry is free, but donations are welcomed. A useful audio guide is available for Rwf 9,000, with concessions for students or East African Community residents. Presidential Palace Museum, (In Kanombe, 4km east past the airport - under the flightpath), [10] . The abode of the formal President Habyarimana, who died in that infamous plane crash of 1994.

Guided tours are mandatory, where you can get a glimpse of life as an African dictator in the 1970s & 80s. There is also a display on Rwandan clothing that is quite interesting. Photography is restricted. Rwf 6,000 (Rwf 5,000 for resident foreigners). To get there a moto should cost about Rwf 1,000, and tell him to go to Kanombe - you'll probably end up outside the military hospital at the end of the tarred road, the museum is another 300 meters along the dirt road (GPS coordinates 1.97543S, 30.17206E). edit Do[ edit ][ add listing ] Take a trip to a craft centre, like the Dancing Pots Craft Centre or the Cards for Africa workshop and sales room in Kigali. Ballet Rwanda, ☎ 0785 380 336, [11] . afternoons & evenings. Professional ballet school in Gaculiro - lessons for both children & adults, beginners & experienced dancers. Good mix of Rwandan and expatriate students.

edit Gisozi circuit, (behind Gaculiro), [12] . A great 10km running circuit through Kigali's suburbs - flat, very little traffic and some great views over the rice paddies. edit Ten pin bowling, Kimihura (a custom-built shed next to the pool at Mamba Club), ☎ 0788513438, [13] . 12 noon to midnight. Opened in 2012 and proving popular. Six lanes of ball-rolling fury complete with the TV screen keeping score, ball returners, shoe rental, and slidy, polished alleys. Adding a delightful twist to employment creation the pins are reset by hand rather than a machine. First game costs Rwf 3,000 per person and the second is Rwf 2,500 each. edit Zenora Wellness Center, KG 28 Avenue N°92, Kimihurura, ☎ 0781 074 331, [14] . Zenora Wellness Center is great a place to relax and get beauty treatments.

Here you can get massages, manicures and pedicures, facials, make-up, and waxing. The premise is clean and tidy. Staff is friendly and welcoming. They have an online booking system which makes it really easy to book. edit Learn[ edit ] Learn a bit of French, maybe even a bit of Swahili and Kinyarwanda, all three are extremely useful here. English is also widely spoken, at least in Kigali. A useful Kinyarwanda vocabulary cheat sheet is available here Work[ edit ] Your best bet would be with an aid organization or NGO. If you are a resident of the US or EU, keep in mind that you can avoid paying for an expensive residency permit simply by declaring yourself a tourist upon arrival and then traveling outside of Rwanda once every 90 days for the length of your stay. Your 90-day tourist visa (automatically granted upon entry) will be renewed each time you leave and reenter the country (and it's a convenient excuse to go on vacation!). Buy[ edit ][ add listing ] First thing to be aware is that Kigali is expensive. As a cash strapped landlocked country costs of imported goods are high and import duties and VAT considerable.

Foreigners often complain that wine, olive oil, breakfast cereals, kettle chips and other mundane foodstuffs cost a fortune, so beware. Costs can be lowered considerably by buying Rwandan or East African Community goods - Kenya in particular produces a wide range of produce that often cost half the imported European equivalent. Outside of supermarkets and restaurants most venders are used to a bit of haggling (even over fruit and veg) although as always keep things in perspective - but don't let storekeepers charge you double what you think you should be paying. When changing money at a forex bureau or on the street, be aware that only US dollar bills dated Series 2009 or newer will be accepted. What to buy Rwandan coffee is generally very good (although stay away from the cheapest stuff, which will be the sweepings from the grinding factory floor). Expect to pay around Rwf 4,000 per 500g. Rwandan honey is great, especially the Nyungwe Highlands type. Around Rwf 1,750 per 500g. Rwandan tea (both black and green) is also pretty good.

Rwandan handicrafts and kitenge products can be found almost everywhere, but Tubahumurize Association is a unique spot that uses the profits from their sales to fuel their trauma counselling, vocational training, micro-credit loans, sewing school and cooperative programs. The prices are affordable and you'll find everything from yoga bags and circle scarves to agaseke baskets and gorgeous quilts. Local markets are stocked with Rwandan handicrafts, clothing, fabulous colourful fabric from West Africa and just about anything else. The large market in Kimironko is a good place for fruit, veg, rice and other basic foodstuffs - and it can be good fun looking through the secondhand clothes section. Cash machines / ATMs- More and more bank ATMs are starting to accept Visa cards, including the Bank of Kigali and Ecobank. Ecobank's headquarters are located in the center of town next to CNLS and near UTC / Nakumatt. There is a Visa ATM at the airport too. There are banks in Kigali with counter service for withdrawals (and Ecobank can do MasterCard withdrawals at a price).

Jet Home Rwanda, 3rd Floor, UTC building, ☎ 0782895455, [15] . Pleasant westerner orientated art gallery edit Eat[ edit ][ add listing ] By any standards Kigali is an excellent city in which to dine. A combination of Belgian culinary influence, plenty of cows, plenty of freshwater fish, and plenty of fresh vegetables equates to some of the best eating in the region. And its all pretty affordable. Note that Kigali restaurants and bars go in and out of fashion, not to mention close down, quite frequently. Check for the latest once you are in town and be aware that some places mentioned in some print Guidebooks no longer exist. (The oft-mentioned Turtle Cafe has been closed since 2003!) Finally note that as with the rest of the region restaurants take their time – with a usual 45 minutes to 1 hour wait between ordering and your food arriving, especially for dinner. If you are after a quick eat at lunchtime there are several ‘African buffets’ dotted around where you pile your plate high and are out the door in 30 minutes.

As Kigali is quite a sprawling city eateries are organised by suburb. City Centre[ edit ] Babas Cafe at the Kigali Business Centre slightly out of town. Has great wholesome food. Eat as much as you like for 3 US$. La Classe, Boulevard de la Revolution. Lunch & dinner. Sometimes excellent, sometimes not, La Classe is oft overlooked by Kigali's expats, but the fillet steak can be sublime. Also does a Rwf3,500 lunchtime buffet Mains from Rwf 4,000. edit Bourbon Cafe, Union Trade Center shopping plaza in the centreville and at the MTN Centre in Remera. In 2011 it is getting mixed reviews Kigali Serena's Milima & Sokoni restaurants have good food, with special themes during the week such as the Wednesday Mongolian BBQ, Friday's African Buffet and Sunday's Buffet at Sokoni, and special themed lunches everyday at Milima.. Chez Robert is about 5 minutes walk from Mille Collines and serves local food in a nice setting. Their dinner buffet is quite good and costs about €7 for more than 20 items.

There may be better local food in a hole-in-the wall restaurant for cheaper, but this is wonderful restaurant. Shanghai, near Milles Collines, is a relatively unknown Chinese restaurant. Not very cozy, but the food is really good. Heaven, three blocks downhill from the Mille Collines, is a new restaurant serving American and Continental cuisine. A bit pricy, with most entrees costing FRW4000 or above, but the well-prepared food (and fantastic dessert menu) are worth every franc. Gacuriro[ edit ] Kigali Guestlux (GPS co-ordinates -1.9195, 30.0973) – one of the few eateries in Gacuriro – serves up adequate fare in the gardens of the guesthouse. Kiyovu[ edit ] Republika Great restaurant, great environment. The New Cactus - Very good pizzas, popular among expats. Nevertheless the served pizzas can't be compared to Italian ones. Try to get a table in the sheltered part of the open air restaurant, it can be quite windy.

Khana Khazana serves fantastic Indian food and is one of the best and most popular restaurants in town with expats, visitors, business travellers and Rwandan citizens too. "Zaaffran Restaurant" also has great Indian cuisine at slightly more affordable price. Excellent ambiance. Mimosa’’’ – A reliable lunchtime buffet for Rwf 2,500. Just down from Top Tower hotel. Shokola Great restaurant, great environment. In Kiyovu, close to downtown. Great Wall Chinese restaurant An excellent place to dine. Good Chinese dishes with great atmosphere and nice views of the city. Is just one minute walk from Discover Rwanda Youth Hostel. Prices are very reasonable for travelers on a low budget Grill and Bar BBQ Popular with locals. Here is good place to try the local goat brochettes. The bar is also nice if you want just a drink. You may also watch European football here as locals come here to watch football games on projectors. Its a very cheap place and brochettes are 500RWF each. Kimihurura[ edit ] L'Atelier is tucked away in the residential district of Kimihurura, within walking distance of Papyrus.

You may need help to find it but you'll be rewarded with delicious french cuisine in an intimate setting. Africa Bite – pronounced locally as “Africa Bi-te”. Popular lunchtime African buffet, with excellent rotis, for Rwf3,000. Thai restaurant at New Cadillac night club was well liked when it first opened. However it is getting mixed reviews after the departure of its Thai chef. This is quite common in Kigali. Mama Africa, (next to New Cadillac, at the bottom of the Kimihurura hill), ☎ +250 2511622. This place serves excellent food in its thatched surrounds. The beef carpaccio is some of the best in the city, the steaks reliable, and the brochettes as good as they come. The place can be a bit quiet, but worth checking out. It's proprietor is Eugene Habimana, known as Cobra, longstanding Rwandan musician. Mains from Rwf 5,000.

edit "'Mosaic Restaurant the newest restaurant in town that offer japanese food and a wide choices of asian cuisine.for details contact ="+0250784903670" url="" and expect your food to be served in max. 20 mins. </eat> Nyarutarama[ edit ] Sakae, (down a back road between MTN Centre and RDB. Signposted.), [16] . Lunch & dinner. Run by a Korean family, Sakae serves up both Japanese and Korean dishes in spacious and pleasant surroundings. A little pricey, but many prefer Sakae to nearby Zen. Mains from Rwf 7,000. edit Zen, (north of the MTN Centre), ☎ +250 782 588 593, [17] . Lunch & dinner. With the dining area nestled under a huge thatched hut, with trickling water and subtle lighting, there are few places in town that can compete atmosphere-wise. The food is usually pretty good, however you can feel a little cheated by the portion sizes, and the extras added to your bill (rice, service, VAT).

Accordingly Zen is popular with those with expense accounts. Mains from Rwf 8,000. edit Remera[ edit ] Sol e Luna, Boulevard de L’Aéroport (signposted so quite easy to find), ☎ +252 583062, [18] . A firm favourite in Kigali - decent wood fired pizzas, expensive lunch time buffet, great views from the terrace - popular with locals and expats alike. Monday nights is quiz night, which is mystifyingly popular. Mains from Rwf 5,000. edit Tangren Chinese Restaurant, (near Rwanda Development Board), ☎ +250 783 011583, [19] . lunch and dinner. Set in lush gardens, this is one of the better Chinese places in town, in part as the owner and chef is Chinese. An added plus is that service only takes 15 minutes or so. One of the few restaurants with rabbit on the menu - and very tasty it is too. Mains Rwf 4,000.

edit Kibagabaga / Kinyinya[ edit ] Kinyinya Topview – (GPS co-ordinates -1.9173, 30.1121) pleasant local brochette bar near the Deutsche Welle radio masts. Somewhere different to go – great at night time when the masts are lit up like a red Christmas tree. Brochette and chips around Rwf 2,000 Budget[ edit ] Kigali Hotel in the Muslim quarter behind the mosque. This is about as budget as you will get, but still not cheap. Good rooms, breakfast available. Auberge De Cavern hostel - style accomodation. individual and double rooms available for US$15 per night, good location near main round in the direction of the post office and just down the hill 5 minutes. Friendly staff, clean rooms and good basic breakfast. Discover Rwanda Youth Hostel, Kigali, ☎ +250782265679, [20] . Discover Rwanda Youth Hostel offers clean beds in dorms and private rooms as well as a free breakfast, internet access, and hot showers.

It also has space for campers inside its 24-hour guarded gate. Discover Rwanda is an Aegis Trust social enterprise in which all proceeds go towards social programs offered by its parent organization at the Kigali Genocide Memorial. *Centre National de Pastorale St. Paul is a guesthouse and community center conveniently located near the main shopping center. Single/double rooms with ensuite/shared bathrooms are available. The price, as of August 2012, is 8000 RWF(shared) /12000 RWF(en-suite). The rooms have beds, desks, a sink, mosquito net, bedding, a towel, closet, and an electric socket. The ensuite rooms have cold water, but the shared showers have hot water (most of the time). There is no Wi-fi and breakfast is not included, however, there is a small supermarket and cafeteria within steps of the center. The Centre is gated and has a security guard. Phone: 0252 576371; m 078 8644468.

Dorm Bed-9000 Rwf;Camping-6000 Rwf; Private Room-12,000/15,000Rwf. (-1.950785,30.093538) edit Mid-range[ edit ] Hotel Isimbi, Rue Kalisimbi, District Nyarugenge (down town), ☎ +250 572578, [21] . Also has a good bar and restaurant. 30-40USD edit Park View Courts Rwanda Enjoy a serene environment in this homey apartment-hotel complex, with a great view and friendly staff. Prices range from USD 150-300. You won't find better! Gloria Hotel the rooms are acceptable, with your own bathroom and warm water for ~$30. Hotel Chez Lando, ☎ +250 252 584394 ( info@chezlando.com ), [22] . From $60 per night. edit Sphinx Belair Located behind Telecom house and not far from Novotel Umubano. Standard room starting at 60 USD.

Iris Guesthouse 75 USD, clean, big rooms, hot water, very good restaurant and free Internet. Step Town Motel 50 USD, clean, very nice rooms, hot water, and free Internet. Okapi Hotel Some rooms available for US $30 per night (no view), good location and friendly staff. More expensive rooms have an excellent view over the outskirts of Kigali. Kay Sun Hotel Located in Kiyovu with nice rooms, friendly staff, good food and they offer airport transportation. Rooms from 100 USD per night. (info@kaysunhotel.com)( Kigali Guestlux Hotel Very friendly and attentive staff, beautiful rooms that are clean with a spacious bathroom. Great meal options that take a relatively quick time to be prepared too. Although it's away from the centre of town, it's easy enough to find a moto taxi back in to town or to have transport arranged by the reception desk. ( Impala Hotel Kigali@+250786832158...a lovely 2 star hotel located in the center of downtown Kigali.

It is a walking distance to all down town malls & Offices and From the international airport it is a convenient 15 minutes drive to Impala hotel All our rooms have fitted with en suite bathroom and designed with a terrace, making this an ideal place to relax and enjoy your stay. Impala Hotel houses a restaurant, which serves menu and buffet options, which can be enjoyed outdoors. Guests can also enjoy drinks and coffees at the bar & Coffee shop The hotel offers free Wi-Fi Internet access, parking and laundry services. Splurge[ edit ] Kigali has three international class hotels. Kigali Serena Hotel, ☎ +250 252 597100, [23] . Formerly a Belgian-owned hotel known as the Diplomates and briefly portrayed in Hotel Rwanda. Renovated in 2003 and 2011. From $310 per night.

edit Hotel des Mille Collines, Avenue de l'Armée/Avenue de la République, ☎ +250 252 576530 ( info@millecollines.net , fax: +250 252 576541), [24] . While the movie Hotel Rwanda was filmed in South Africa, this is where the actual events took place. The hotel has two restaurants, a pool, internet and a gift shop. The hotel underwent extensive renovation in 2010. Rates are slightly higher for pool view rooms. All rooms have safes but no hair dryer or coffee maker. Free access to Wi-Fi, but coverage is uneven. Wonderful breakfast buffet. Apart from the movie this hotel is also the setting for the novel Un dimanche à la piscine à Kigali. Prices from €151. edit Hotel Laico Umubano, Boulevard del Umuganda. Still known by its former name Novotel by almost everyone. Ask for a swimming pool view room on a high floor for a beautiful sunrise to wake you from your slumber. From $150 per night.

edit Stay safe[ edit ] Kigali is relatively safe and friendly as far as African capitals go. Keep your eyes open and your wallet out of the reach of pickpockets, especially in crowded areas. Avoid walking after dark if possible, especially alone. Take extra precaution in the area between New Cadilac Nightclub and Carwash bar. Police officers are generally helpful if you're in a bind, but don't expect speedy results. Embassies[ edit ] South Africa, 1370 Blvd de N Umuganda, Kacyiru-Sud, ☎ +250 252 583 185 ( kigali.admin@foreign.gov.za ), [25] . edit Switzerland, 38 Blvd de la Révolution, ☎ +250 252 57 55 34 ( ac-kigali@sdc.net , fax: +250 252 57 24 61), [26] .

edit United Kingdom, Parcelle No 1131, Blvd de l'Umuganda, Kacyiru-Sud, ☎ +250 252 556000, [27] . edit United States, #2756 Ave de la Gendarmerie, Kacyiru, ☎ +250 0252 596 400 ( consularkigali@state.gov ), [28] . edit Get out[ edit ] Akagera National Park [29] , is a nature preserve in the eastern part of Rwanda. It is about a 2.5 hour drive from Kigali and is a great day trip for wildlife viewing: giraffes, elephants, hippos, baboons, zebra, impala, etc. You can rent a car or go through a tour operator, which costs on average, $150 USD. You can hire a guide, a boat cruise, or stay the night at their lodge. Parc National des Volcans, home of the mountain gorillas, and the setting for Gorillas in the Mist author Dian Fossey's research.

If you can afford it, it's an excellent experience, even possible as a day trip from Kigali. You can also take the "Dian Fossey Trek" or the "Golden Monkey Trek" for $75-100 USD. You might be able to see a gorilla group on one of these hikes if you're lucky. Inquire at the Rwandan Office for Tourism and National Parks (ORTPN), Boulevard de la Révolution n° 1, Kigali, +(250) 576514 or 573396, reservation@rwandatourism.com . $750 USD cash or Visa card. Gisenyi, also called Rubavu, is a city on the shores of Lake Kivu, right at the border of Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. Gisenyi is as close you can get to a beach destination in Rwanda. The sandy public beach and the many resorts close to Bralirwa give you the seaside feeling you might be craving for. Kibuye is the other popular destination at Lake Kivu (besides Gisenyi), which has a very lake-side feeling.

You can rent a boat and visit the nearby islands, including Napoleon Hat Island with its many fruit bats you can see up close. Kibuye also hosts Rwanda's Environmental Museum [30] . Gishwati Forest National Park is Rwanda's newest park. It comprises pasture lands and many Eucaliptus plantations. If you want to visit a diary farm or factory, this is the place to go. Foret Naturelle de Mukura is officially part of the Gishwati National Park, but separated from the largest patch in the North. Mukura is a small natural forest boasting a small chimpanzee population. If you do not want to go all the way to Nyungwe for the Chimps, you can visit them at Mukura on your way to Kibuye. Musanze is the gateway to the Volcanoes National Park and the treks to see the gorillas. However, Musanze also offers several caves for all enthusiasts, from tourist-friendly to specialists. Visits are organised through the RDB and previous booking is required (they often organise tours at 2pm, calling them in the morning is usually enough).

Tours start at the RDB office at Kinigi (same place where gorilla tours start). Twin lakes Burera and Ruhondo are between Kigali and Musanze and make for a nice weekend break. There are camp sites and resorts available around the lakes, and even on an island in lake Burera. Views from lake Ruhondo are very popular as looking towards the lake one has the sun setting behind the volcanoes in the background. Lake Muhazi is the standard get-away day-trip. Only 45 minutes from Kigali either North on the road to Uganda, or East on the way to Rwamagana. Muhazi is a bilharzia-full lake (so no swimming), but it has several nice resorts on its shore. Near Rwesero you have Rwesero Resort, or cross the lake to Kingfisher resort, boasting a pool with a view mid-way up the hill. Mid-way on the northern short you have Jambo beach and Sisters of Peace resorts. Nyanza was the capital of the Kingdom of Rwanda from 1958 to 1962. The old Royal Palace of the Rwandan monarchy is located in the town of Nyanza.

Further along the way Nyungwe Forest National Park is probably the best preserved montane rainforest in Central Africa. The park contains 13 primate species (25% of Africa's total), 275 bird species, 1068 plant species, 85 mammal species, 32 amphibian and 38 reptile species. Nyiragongo volcano [31] just across the border in the DRC is potentially one of the most impressive destinations in the Great Lakes region. This 2-day hike (5-6 hours up, 3 hours down) rewards you with a night spent on the edge of an active bubbling magma lake and amazing views over Goma, Gisenyi and Lake Kivu. It is a must-see! Idjwi Island in the middle of Lake Kivu rewards you with a peaceful weekend in the DRC. Unlike any of the crazy stories elsewhere in the DRC, Idjwi is characterised by its peaceful and calm people. A tour organised by Yves [32] takes you around the island, shows you local businesses and culture, pygmy villages, and maybe even the King! This is a usable article.

It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow ! The World Bank’s Diminishing Role in Africa - The New York Times The New York Times Global Opinion |The World Bank’s Diminishing Role in Africa Search The World Bank’s Diminishing Role in Africa By JEFFREY HERBST and GREG MILLS JULY 11, 2013 Continue reading the main story Two recent African events illustrate how much the landscape for development finance has changed — and what role the World Bank will play in the future. In May, the bank’s president, Jim Yong Kim, pledged $1 billion to help bring peace to the Great Lakes region. Mr. Kim’s pledge was made in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s capital, Kinshasa, on a trip in the company of the U.N. secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, that also took in neighboring Rwanda and Uganda. Earmarked for financing health and education services, hydroelectric projects and cross-border trade, the loan is intended as an incentive to end Congo’s violence, despite the country’s endemically poor governance: The D.R.C.

ranks behind only Somalia in Foreign Policy’s Failed States Index . Only a month before, in April, Rwanda went to the international capital markets to raise $400 million. In Kigali’s debut bond offering, orders reached $3.5 billion, over eight times the bond’s issue. Rwanda is far from alone in finding a new source of capital. African countries are slated to offer $7 billion in fresh government debt this year, as more governments, including Tanzania and Kenya, get access to private money. Once viewed as the preserve of autocrats and corruption, some countries in Africa are now seen as the new, high-yield investment frontier. Low returns in the developed world have led to investors to look elsewhere for higher yields. Many African countries have had substantial growth in recent years (albeit off of extremely low bases) and are becoming attractive bets, even if risks are higher. Rwanda’s economy, for example, has grown about 7 to 8 percent a year over the last decade. Continue reading the main story Thus, for the first time in many years, African countries are able to raise capital independent of donors and their governance and political conditions.

Rwanda, with about 40 percent of its budget provided by donors , has been particularly vulnerable to international mood swings. It faced a cash-flow crisis when donors switched off the taps because of Kigali’s support for Congolese rebels, an issue BNP Paribas and Citigroup (co-managers of the April offering) are less likely to be concerned with. Advertisement Continue reading the main story China has also provided Africans with new options. While its African investment stake officially stands at $15 billion, this figure may be three times as much if money flows from tax shelters are factored in. The decline in the World Bank’s importance as a tool for development can be seen in its own figures. In 1990, at the end of the Cold War, World Bank grants and loans ($17.7 billion) were in the ballpark of private investment flows to developing countries ($21.1 billion). By 2000, this had changed dramatically, with $18.5 billion from the World Bank, compared with $144.5 billion in private financing.

By 2011, foreign investment far outstripped World Bank spending by a factor of 19 to 1 ($612 billion to $32 billion). In Africa, considered the investment laggard among developing countries and the most in need of aid, World Bank spending was just $5.6 billion in 2011, versus over $46 billion in foreign direct investment. Given these changes, what is the proper role of the World Bank, and the appropriate division between private finance and traditional, multilateral lending? While access to private financing should continue to improve as long as these economies grow, the current low-interest rate environment that has driven investors to purchase the government bonds of Rwanda and other countries will not continue indefinitely. Please verify you're not a robot by clicking the box. Invalid email address. Please re-enter. You must select a newsletter to subscribe to. Sign Up Privacy Policy Ideally, the World Bank should succeed until it is out of business. “If aid is truly effective,” observes Donald Kaberuka , president of the African Development Bank, “it will progressively put itself out of business.” The World Bank has done important work in promoting good governance and evaluating reform efforts.

But its latest pledge of aid to the Democratic Republic of the Congo sends a very mixed message, coming at a time when the International Monetary Fund has been cutting its loan programs to the country because of concerns about poor governance. “There are always going to be problems and downsides with the governance of places that are fragile,” says Mr. Kim, the bank’s president. But he adds that through investment and aid “we can both reduce the conflict and improve governance.” Yet that argument assumes that more spending means better government. Despite the billions in aid the D.R.C. has already received, Kinshasa has not felt compelled to improve. It’s not clear why the bank’s new effort will be different. The World Bank must be free to walk away from poorly governed areas, even though its own internal dynamics point to continuing to try to lend money. Concentration on governance will come at the expense of other priorities. For instance, a debate is now under way over how much of a role the bank should play in fostering international well-being — as in helping to combat climate change and promoting economic growth and stability. While such issues are important, all organizations, including the bank, have to ration their influence.

Such discipline is especially important now that many African countries may find alternative means of finance. The World Bank can still have an important role in Africa, but its pre-eminence should no longer be assumed. The bank should remain focused on governance and what African countries need to stand on their own feet. At the same time, the bank must be absolutely committed to seeing itself go out of business. Jeffrey Herbst is president of Colgate University. Greg Mills heads the Johannesburg-based Brenthurst Foundation. They are co-authors of “Africa’s Third Liberation: The New Search for Jobs and Prosperity.” Correction: July 12, 2013 An earlier version of this op-ed incorrectly identified Jim Yong Kim, president of the World Bank, on second reference. He should have been referred to as Mr. Kim, not Mr. Jim. A version of this op-ed appears in print on July 12, 2013, in The International Herald Tribune. Today's Paper | Subscribe Rwanda country profile - BBC News BBC News Read more about sharing.

Close share panel Rwanda, a small landlocked country in east-central Africa, is trying to recover from the ethnic strife that culminated in government-sponsored genocide in the mid-1990s. In the genocide, an estimated 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed by dominant Hutu forces in 100 days. The country has struggled with its legacy of ethnic tension associated with the traditionally unequal relationship between the Tutsi minority and the majority Hutus. Today, Rwanda is striving to rebuild its economy, with coffee and tea production among its main exports. The World Bank has praised Rwanda's recent "remarkable development successes", which it says have helped reduce poverty and inequality. Area 26,338 sq km (10,169 sq miles) Major languages Kinyarwanda (official), French (official), English (official), Swahili Major religions Christianity, indigenous beliefs Life expectancy 54 years (men), 57 years (women) Currency Rwandan franc President: Paul Kagame Image copyright Getty Images Paul Kagame has run Rwanda since his rebel army ended the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of people in 1994.

He was sworn in as vice-president and defence minister in the new, post-genocide government in July 1994, but was widely seen as the real power in Rwanda. In 2000 parliament elected him president. He won presidential elections in 2003 and again in 2010, and gained approval by referendum to stand for an unprecedented third term in 2017. To his admirers he is a visionary leader, but to his critics he is a despot who tolerates no opposition. Mr Kagame has been criticised for trampling on freedoms, building up the army to assert his authority, and using anti-genocide legislation to clamp down on opponents. Mr Kagame, born in 1957, left the country as a young child when around half a million fellow Tutsis fled following a bloody Hutu-led uprising. His family settled in Uganda, and Mr Kagame later helped Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni come to power. From 1990 he led the military arm of the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPF) in its war against the Hutu-controlled government.

MEDIA Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Radio soap operas have been used to foster peace and reconciliation and to help heal the wounds left by the genocide Newspaper readership is limited and press often exercise self-censorship. Critical bloggers are often based abroad, notes US-based Freedom House. State TV and radio reach the largest audiences, and state-owned publications predominate in the print sector. Radio - the main source of news - had a role in the 1994 genocide. Notorious "hate" station Radio Tele Libre Mille Collines (RTLM) was a vehicle for virulent anti-Tutsi propaganda. TIMELINE Some key dates in the history of Rwanda: 1300s - 1916 - Tutsis migrate into what is now Rwanda, which was already inhabited by the Twa and Hutu peoples. In the 1600s the Tutsi King Ruganzu Ndori subdues central Rwanda and outlying Hutu areas; by the late 1800s it is a unified state until it becomes part of German East Africa in 1890. It is occupied by Belgian forces 26 years later.

1959 - Tutsi King Kigeri V, together with tens of thousands of Tutsis, forced into exile in Uganda following Hutu-Tutsi violence. 1961 - Rwanda proclaimed a republic. 1963 - About 20,000 Tutsis are killed following an incursion by Tutsi rebels based in Burundi. Fighting between the two ethnic groups continues intermittently over the next three decades. 1994 - Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana and Burundi President Cyprien Ntaryamira are killed in a rocket attack on their plane. Habyarimana's death triggers 100-day orgy of violence, perpetrated mainly by Hutus against Tutsis and moderate Hutus. About 800,000 people are killed. Hutu militia flee to Zaire, taking with them around 2 million Hutu refugees. 1996-2003 - Rwanda's invasion of DR Congo marks the beginning of its lengthy involvement in the neighbouring country's civil war, first helping to oust President Mobutu and install Joseph Kabila, and later to oppose Kabila.

2003 - Voters back a draft constitution which bans the incitement of ethnic hatred. Paul Kagame wins the first presidential elections since the 1994 genocide. 2005 July - Government begins the mass release of thousands who confessed to involvement in the 1994 genocide. Rwanda's 12 provinces are replaced by a smaller number of regions with the aim of creating ethnically-diverse administrative areas. 2010 - A former army chief who fell out with President Kagame and fled to South Africa survives apparent assassination attempts in 2010 and 2014. A former Rwandan spy chief, another exiled opponent of Mr Kagame, is murdered in South Africa in 2014.

Question: Kigali is the capital of which African country?
Answer: RWANDA