Interesting facts about Rwanda : Rwanda is a landlocked country in the central Africa known as the heart of Africa, the land is known as “Land of a thousand Hills” with an area of approximately 26,338km2. It lies 75 miles southwest of equator, 880 miles west of Indian Ocean and 1,250 miles east of Atlantic Ocean .Rwanda borders with Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its capital city, Kigali Rwanda is a country full of surprises. It’s become one of Africa’s most sought after wildlife destinations- here you have an opportunity to sight the endangered mountain gorilla, as well as buffalo, antelope, giraffe, leopards, hyenas and unique bird species. The unspoiled nature is not the only thing Rwanda will amaze you with. The Genocide Memorial, build to honor the victims of the horrific genocide that happened 25 years ago, provides a lot of food for thought. The country has however embarked on a new path of social, political and ecological development ever since and it’s obvious by its infrastructure and the local’s everyday life. Witnessing those efforts, along with experiencing the warmth and friendliness of the locals, turn this tour into a rewarding experience, combining both natural and cultural highlights.
Here are some of the interesting facts about Rwanda
Rwanda has Four National Parks; Rwanda is also famous for its four major national parks such as Nyungwe National park, Gishwati Mukura National Park, The volcanoes national park and Akagera national park. Each of these national park in Rwanda are famous for different reasons for instance, The Nyungwe national is the greenest of them all with very dense Tropical rainforests which actually act as a natural habitat for chimpanzees and 11 types of monkeys. Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park takes you to observe a creature that may have the closest resemblance to man. The volcanoes national park is home to the famous endangered mountain gorillas. About 60% of the population of this endangered species can be found in the Virunga Massif which the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda is part of. Gorillas are fascinating animals and sighting them in their natural habitat is a unique experience, in most especially keeping in minds that people share over 97% of genetic code with them. Rwanda takes their conservation practices very seriously. You can be sure to have a fun-filled mountain gorilla trekking experience at the volcanoes national park.
Akagera National park is the only place where tourists can see all the big 5 (Rhinos, Elephants, Lions, Leopards and Buffaloes). Last but not least is the newly formed Gishwati mukura national park. This park was formed by combining the two separate forest of Gishwati and Makura into one. The forests have been recovered after encroachment and degradation with support from the World Bank. Gishwati-Makura is home to an amazing collection of birds and primates like Chimpanzees or Golden Monkeys.
Amazing Natural Physical Features; as already mentioned earlier, Rwanda is also well endowed with vast physical features ranging from lakes, rivers, Tropical rainforests, Volcanos. Fact is, you cannot miss out on viewing the beautiful Albertine rift which is the western arm of the great East African rift valley covering parts of Uganda, Congo, Burundi, Tanzania and Rwanda. Another very exciting tourism site is the Virunga ranges in the north western part of the country whose highest peak is known as Karisimbi. The peak of Mount Karisimbi is about 4507m above sea level. In addition to the beautiful Ranges, there are various rivers and lakes such as Lake Ihema, lake Rweru and Lake Kivu. Lake Kivu is actually the largest lake in the land and separates Rwanda from DR Congo.
Amazing Culture; Rwanda is also a country with interesting cultural heritage. Music and dance is an essential part of their culture. Rwanda’s traditional cultural dance is actually divided into three parts. The first part of the dance is the “Intore dance” which means the dance of heroes. This dance is only performed by the men but there is also the “Umushagiriro dance” or cow dance performed by the women. The ladies dance while trying to show an image of a cow by lifting their arms in the air to create the shape of a cow horn. Lastly “Ingoma” dance. This is where men concentrate their performance on traditional drums.
Rwanda’s Rich Biodiversity and Wildlife Sanctuary; Rwanda being in the heart of Africa, Rwanda appears as a home for interesting biodiversity embody a plenty of unique species that call its diversified landscapes haven. The fascinating chimpanzees to the graceful presence of hippos, the soaring giraffes, and the majestic pound of elephants, Rwanda’s wildlife hangs as a charming treasure. Leopards Coverley live the dense landscape, zebras grace in the open savannahs, and the air is filled with the sounds of over 700 species of birds. Adding to this natural exhibit Mount Virunga, a huge guardian endangered wonders protecting tall and one of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas within its flourishing grasp embrace.
Rwanda pioneered equal gender representation in politics; with over 60% of its parliamentary seats occupied by women, Rwanda was the first country to have the highest representation of women in power which still remains the largest allotment compared to anywhere else on earth. The Rwandan government also puts equal rights at the forefront since 2018, the country has ranked at the top of the list for gender equality according to the Global Gender Gap Report. These ideas are demonstrated not only through politics but also through education, job opportunities and the role of women in healthcare.
Rwanda city “Kigali” is the cleanest city in African continent. the government of Rwanda implemented the ban for the use of plastic bags for environmental protection .Residents, bound by a shared sense of responsibility, actively participate in a communal effort to clean their neighborhoods every last Saturday of the month.
The country is also considered as one of the best county with high internet network connectivity in Africa, as Rwanda’s government is putting much efforts in connecting internet facilities like communication of Fiber optic in all parts of the country.
The country experiences temperate climate with 25-30 degrees Celsius during the day and 15 degree Celsius during nigh throughout the year.
