Rwanda Travel Guide

Rwanda — Country and Tourist Information

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Country Facts

Location: Central Africa.
Language: The official languages are Kinyarwanda, French and English. Kiswahili is used for trade and commerce.
Area: 26,338 sq km (10,169 sq miles).
Time Zone: GMT + 2.
Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz.
Population: 8.6 million (UN estimate 2005).
Population Density: 326.52 per sq km.
Capital City: Kigali. Population: 800,000 (2005 estimate).
Government: Republic since 1962. Gained independence from Belgium in 1962.
Head of Government: Prime Minister Bernard Makuza since 2000.
Head of State: President Paul Kagame since 2000.
Religion: Animist (50%), Christian (mostly Roman Catholic) and an Islamic minority.

Recent History

Domestically, the government faced a formidable task of reconstruction and reconciliation. The government, led by former army chief Paul Kagame, has a fairly impressive record under extremely difficult circumstances. The country relies heavily on western aid to sustain its economy. However, there are signs of an increasingly dictatorial attitude on the part of the government, manifested in the presidential and parliamentary elections held in the summer of 2003: amid numerous allegations of intimidation and ballot rigging, Kagame and the Rwandan Patriotic Front won both polls with a huge majority. Given the Tutsi dominance of the RPF, there is a clear danger of a future repeat of the ethnic violence which has disfigured Rwanda since Independence.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: +250. The country code is 250. There are no area codes. As mobile phones become more popular, landlines are becoming disused. If you want to contact home more than a couple of times it is best to get a local SIM - do check that you can use it to make international calls. You sometimes have to activate the message center in order to send texts, again check when you buy the SIM.

Mobile Telephone

Handsets are cheap at about £10 and local SIM cards are widely available from street vendors and shops. The two main mobile providers are MTN and Tigo. To make an international call you need to dial 000 before the country code (instead of the usual 00). Both international texts and calls from local mobiles are much cheaper than the roaming charges.

Internet

Wireless internet is now available throughout the country, either by using a dongle, which can be purchased in Kigali and other major towns, or by using hotspots. MTN hotspots are widespread and you can access them using your mobile phone credit if you have bought an MTN SIM card. There are also many internet cafes in Kigali and other large towns.

Media

Most of the media is state-owned and there is limited press freedom. The main newspaper is the New Times and the regional East African is also widely distributed. International newspapers may be found in upmarket hotels and copies of Time and The Economist are sold by street vendors. Many of Rwanda's broadcasters are government-owned. The first private radio station was launched in 2004.

Post

Airmail to Western Europe takes approximately two weeks.(Kigali) Mon-Fri 0800-1200 and 1400-1700, Sat 0800-1200.

Press

There is a growing number of English-language newspapers such as The New Times, Rwanda Herald and Rwanda Newsline. Umesco is a Kinyarwanda-language publication. Publications in French or Kinyarwanda are fortnightly or quarterly.

Radio

Radio Rwanda is state owned and operates in English, French, Kinyarwanda and Swahili.
Private radio stations include Radio 10, Flash FM, Contact FM, City Radio, Radio Izuba and Radio Maria.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2011
22 Apr Good Friday
25 Apr Easter Monday
1 May Labor Day
1 Jul Independence Day
4 Jul Liberation Day
15 Aug Assumption
1 Oct Patriotism Day
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec Boxing Day

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
1 Feb Heroes’ Day
6 Apr Good Friday
7 Apr Genocide Memorial Day
9 Apr Easter Monday
1 May Labor Day
1 Jul Independence Day
4 Jul Liberation Day
15 Aug Assumption
1 Oct Patriotism Day
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec Boxing Day

Contact Information

Office Rwandaise du Tourisme et des Parcs Nationaux (ORTPN)

Street address: Boulevard de la Révolution no 1, Kigali, Rwanda
Postal address: BP 905, Kigali, Rwanda
Tel: 576 514 or 573 396.
Website: www.rwandatourism.com

Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda in the UK

120-22 Seymour Place, London W1H 1NR, UK
Tel: (020) 7224 9832.
Website: www.ambarwanda.org.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700; 0900-1300 (visa section)