All About Rwanda, the Land of a Thousand Hills

Rwanda Online is a free, authoritative, and comprehensive guide to Rwanda, the land of a thousand hills. On this resource find listings and directories, maps, reviews, tour and travel information plus articles of interest.

It highlights everything to do with Rwanda, from hospitals to hotels, shops to sporting events and from embassies to entertainment. Find listings of local businesses including regional airlines and tour operators, information offices, foreign diplomatic missions and NGOs, selected restaurants and bars, supermarkets and gift shops, hotels in Rwanda etc.

Best Places to Visit in Rwanda

There are several amazing places to visit in Rwanda, the land of a thousand hills. “The land of a Thousand Hills”, Rwanda is a green ondulating landscape of hills, gardens and tea plantations. It offers tourists a one of a kind journey – home to one third of the world remaining Mountain Gorillas that live in the Volcanoes Park Rwanda, one third of Africa’s birds spicies, several spicies of primates, five of the eight Virunga volcanoes, game reserve, resorts and islands on the expansive lake Kivu, graceful dancers, artistic crafts and friendly people.

Rwanda is a thriving, safe country with one of the lowest crime rates in Africa. All major attractions are located within 1-5 hour drive from the capital, Kigali. In a short vacation, a tourist can reach volcanoes, rainforests, savannah, lakes and the beautiful city of Kigali.

Hub for East African attractions Located in the heart of Central and East Africa with easy access to bordering countries of Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo as well as to Kenya, Rwanda is an ideal location for travel within the region for conference tourists. A visit here can easily expand to include many of the great African destinations.

The Volcanoes National Park

The Volcanoes National Park Rwanda managed and protected by the Rwandan Office of Tourism and National Parks (ORTPN) is home to almost a third of the world’s population of mountain gorillas. These great apes live peacefully within the forested slopes of the Virunga Volcanoes. Walks through the forest up to the gorilla’s habitats where you can watch them upclose and personal are commonly known as gorilla treks! You will meet the mountain gorillas as they go about their daily routine; feeding, playing and resting as you live under the wonder home of Dian Fossey who spent almost 18 years conserving the great apes.

The Volcanoes Park has a wealth of adventure after you are done with Rwanda gorilla trekking and these include: hikes to the Dian Fossey Tomb, explore the musanze caves, Ibywacu Cultural Experience at the Gorilla Guardian Village, visiting the Twin Lakes, hiking the Virunga Volcanoes including Bisoke, Karisimbi and more.

Akagera National Park

Great Savannas in Akagera National park with the large animals like Elephants, Lions, Buffaloes, Leopards, Giraffes, Zebras, Hyenas, Warthogs, Hippos and Crocodiles and a stunning scenery at Gisenyi on lake Kivu. Akagera National Park is the only savanna national park in Rwanda. Located in home to giraffes, elephants, hippos and soon – a new lion will be re-introduced! The park is managed by African Parks and its wildlife population is on the rise.

Nyungwe Forest National Park

Nyungwe National Park is one of the best places in Africa where you can track the endangered chimpanzees in their natural habitat. Located within a five hours journey from Kigali, this is the ultimate place to not only track chimpanzees but also do the unique canopy walk experience and nature walks. Meet Rwanda’s 13 other primates at Nyungwe National Park and take a walk across East Africa’s only canopy walkway.

Kigali City

Kigali is the vibrant capital, which is slowly regaining its former reputation of its great nightlife. Kigali’s international airport serves domestic and several international destinations. Kigali is also home to the Gisozi Genocide Memorial Site.

Homegrown Initiatives

Umuganda

The word Umuganda can be translated as ‘coming together in common purpose to achieve an outcome’. In traditional Rwandan culture, members of the community would call upon their family, friends and neighbors to help them complete a difficult task.

Girinka

As part of efforts to reconstruct Rwanda and nurture a shared national identity, the Government of Rwanda drew on traditional practices in Rwandan culture to adapt its development programmes to the country’s needs and context.