Beautiful, clean and green, Rwanda is known as the “land of a thousand hills”. It is a small, land-locked country located in East-Central Africa, bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Rwanda has a population of about 13.5 million people of whom 60% are under the age of 25. The majority of the population are subsistence farmers, but tea and coffee are grown for export. Tourism is one of the fastest-growing economic resources and became the country's leading foreign exchange earner in 2011.
Rwanda is an emerging leader in global environmental governance and is party to 18 Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs), which attests to the country's willingness to deter environmental degradation and address climate change. In 2020, Rwanda became the first African country to submit its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to UNFCCC, with ambition to reduce GHG emissions 38% by 2030.
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About Kigali
Extending across several hills and valleys, Kigali, a city of one million, is renowned for being clean, safe and green. It is blessed with a moderate high-altitude climate that belies its tropical location and is conveniently located within a three-hour drive from main tourist sites.
In 2008, the city of Kigali won the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UNHabitat) Scroll of Honour award for its many innovations in building a model, modern city signified by zero tolerance for plastics, improved waste collection and a substantial crime reduction.
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Places to visit in Rwanda
- Nyandungu Eco-Tourism Park
Located in downtown Kigali, the 121 hectare park features a medicinal garden, five catchment ponds, three recreation ponds, an information center, a restaurant as well as 10km of walkways and bike lanes. It is open from 6am to 6pm seven days a week. The project restored critical habitats, including a native fig forest and the wetland itself, and rehabilitated streams and ponds to alleviate floods and reed-beds to reduce pollution. - Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park is a stop center for all Rwanda gorilla safaris and shelters the highest number of mountain gorillas in the Virunga Conservation Area. The strategic location of the park, roughly two hours drive from Kigali International Airport, make it the most accessible gorilla national park in the world. Besides gorillas, the park is home to golden monkeys and many species of birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects, which together create an attractive Rwanda safari package. - Akagera National Park
Akagera National Park is located in north-eastern Rwanda near the country’s border with Tanzania. It is dominated by swamps and small lakes with flow in the wake of River Kagera. The network of water sources and unique landscapes create spectacular scenery and a remarkable ecosystem. - Nyungwe Forest National Park
One of the oldest rainforests in Africa, Nyungwe is rich in biodiversity and spectacularly beautiful. The mountainous region is teaming with wildlife and hosts a small chimpanzee population along with 12 other primate species, including the L’Hoest’s monkey endemic to the Albertine Rift. - Lake Kivu
Part of Africa’s Great Rift Valley, Lake Kivu in western Rwanda is surrounded by magnificent mountains and contains deep emerald green waters covering a surface area of 2,700km2. It is Rwanda’s largest lake and the sixth largest in Africa. - Kigali Genocide Memorial
The Kigali Genocide Memorial commemorates the 1994 Rwandan genocide. It is the final resting place for over 250,000 victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi.