Facts About Rwanda | Culture, Wildlife & Geography

Rwanda is a landlocked country in east-central Africa, known as the “country of a thousand hills.” Its capital, Kigali, is located in the center. Despite its small size, Rwanda has a high population density. The monarchy was overthrown in 1962, and ethnic tensions peaked in 1994.

Rwanda is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Virunga Mountains are in the northwest, while Lake Kivu lies to the west.

The climate is warm, with heavy rainfall in some areas. Wildlife includes gorillas, zebras, and lions. Rwanda has four official languages and a rich cultural heritage.

18 Rwandan Facts you should Know

See detailed facts about Rwanda below.

Rwanda is a landlocked country in east-central Africa, located south of the Equator. Known as the “country of a thousand hills” because of its stunning environment, Kigali, the capital city, is situated on the Rugánwa River in the center of the country.
Rwanda has one of the highest population densities in Sub-Saharan Africa despite its small size. Both Burundi and Rwanda share a lengthy history of monarchical rule.
Unlike Burundi, Rwanda’s monarchy was overthrown by a Hutu-led uprising just before the country gained independence in 1962. In 1994, ethnic tensions between the majority Hutus and the minority Tutsi factions reached a peak.
Rwanda’s economic and social fabric was devastated by civil conflict and genocide. The years that followed were marked by reconciliation and reconstruction between these ethnic groups.
Rwanda is bordered to the north by Uganda, to the east by Tanzania, to the south by Burundi, and to the west by Lake Kivu and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
A range of mountains runs north to south along the Congo-Nile divide. The elevation decreases from the magnificent volcanoes of the Virunga Mountains in the northwest, where Mount Karisímbi peaks at 14,787 feet, down to 4,000 feet in the swampy Kagera River valley in the east.
The interior highlands consist of valleys and rolling hills, which give way to a low-lying depression along the shores of Lake Kivu, west of the Congo-Nile divide.
Most of Rwanda’s rivers are located on the eastern side of the Congo-Nile divide. The Kagera River, the primary eastern river, defines much of Rwanda’s border with Tanzania and Burundi.
The best volcanic lava and alluvial soils are found along the lower parts of the main river basins in the northwest.
Temperatures in Rwanda are warm year-round, averaging 21°C in Kigali. However, there are considerable variations in the northwest, where volcanic regions experience constant rainfall and cooler average temperatures.
The northwest region receives approximately 1,140 millimeters of annual rainfall, concentrated in two wet seasons (February-May and October-December).
A variety of animal species, including zebras, buffaloes, impalas, lions, warthogs, hippos, and baboons, can be found in Akagera National Park. Reforestation projects have reintroduced eucalyptus trees, though not in sufficient numbers to effectively combat erosion.
The white sandy beaches of Lake Kivu are surrounded by rich, Mediterranean-style vegetation, contrasting with the papyrus swamps along Rwanda’s eastern border. The mountain gorilla, Rwanda’s most famous tourist attraction, lives among these volcanoes.
While in Rwanda, don’t miss the chance to explore the exciting national parks, including Nyungwe Forest National Park, Volcanoes National Park, Akagera National Park, and Gishwati-Mukura National Park.
Rwanda has four official languages: Kinyarwanda (also spoken in Rwanda), Swahili, French, and English. Rundi, a language spoken in Burundi, is closely related to Kinyarwanda.
Although English was declared the primary language of education in 2008, traditionally, only a small percentage of the population spoke English and French. Swahili is widely used in urban areas and remains the primary language in other neighboring countries.
Rwanda’s cultural heritage includes dynasty poems, praise songs, and dances that strengthened the Tutsi kingship. A new set of customs has evolved, emphasizing a distinct cultural stream associated with Hutu ancestry.
Regional dances, such as the famous “hoe dance” of the north, are celebrated throughout Rwanda.