Deemed “Land of a Thousand Hills,” Rwanda is a beautiful country located in the heart of Africa, about two degrees or 75 miles south of the equator. It has a high elevation ranging from 1,000 to 4,416 meters above sea level, giving it a temperate climate that stays pleasant all through the year, with minor variations. Year-round temperatures range from 24 to 27 degrees Celsius during the day and 14 to 16 degrees Celsius through the night.

A mountainous ridge about 2,416 meters high divides the basins the Congo and the Nile rivers and the Virunga volcanic range, which is home to rare mountain gorillas that touring guests come from almost every corner of the globe to see. Covering an area of 26,338 square kilometers with five extinct volcanoes, Rwanda is completely land-locked. The Karisimbi Volcano dominates the skyline as the highest point in the country.

The Democratic Republic of Congo lies to the west of Rwanda, while Burundi is located in the south. The country shares its eastern border with Tanzania and enjoys Uganda as its northern neighbor. As you travel around the rolling topography, you will be enchanted by lush greenery, which is the result of the 23 lakes and many rivers watering the landscape. The main lakes are Lake Kivu, Lake Mugesera, Lake Muhazi, Lake Ruhondo, Lake Ihema, and Lake Burera, and the 110-200 millimeters of rain that the country receives also contributes the verdant panoramas it’s famous for.

Renowned for its scenic vistas and being one of the largest lakes in Africa, Lake Kivu offers golden beaches and tranquil spots for rest and relaxation for both local and global holidaymakers. The lake houses a collection of islets, which support rare and distinct biomes. The country’s reserves, including Volcanoes National ParkAkagera National Park, and Nyungwe National Park, protect Rwanda’s precious wildlife. The Rwandan people contribute to this conservation in a big way.

Should you vacation in these parks in Rwanda, you will learn that 40% of the mammals in Africa can be seen here, including 402 different species. The country is also famous for being home to 1,061 species of birds, 5,793 advanced plant species, and 293 species of amphibians and reptiles. Despite its small size, Rwanda has a diverse landscape with rolling savannah in the east and lush equatorial forests on the northwest and southwest. The Rugezi swamps and wetlands cover a vast area of 6,735 hectares (16,642 acres).

The nation has a population of close to 13 million residents (2017), of which approximately 51% are women. Kigali is the capital and the people, who call themselves Rwandans or Rwandese, speak Kinyarwanda, English, and French. You will no doubt use the Rwandan Franc during your trip, which is the official currency of Rwanda. Those who will be renting a car and driving themselves around must remember to stay on the right side of the road. The government administration is a multiparty system, with the president as the head of state and a prime minister as second-in-charge.