Rwanda
Basic information
Rwanda is a landlocked country in eastern Africa called the “land of a thousand hills” due to its fertile landscape, green all year round. The majority part of the country is full of small farms, but there are also rugged mountains in the northwest, with the greatest attraction Rwanda offers: Volcanoes National Park, home to the mountain gorillas. Thanks to many years of research by the American zoologist, Dian Fossey, who devoted herself to the study of gorillas and set up the Karisoke Research Center in 1967, we have a chance to watch these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat. Every day, the government issues several dozen permits to tourists so that they can form small groups and catch sight of the gorillas and other primates. Visiting them will leave a permanent impression on you. In addition to Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda also has Nyungwe National Park, where more than 25% of African species of primates live; you can even see chimpanzees there. The eastern part of the country includes Akagera, one of the oldest parks in Africa, established in 1934 and named after the Kagera Rivera. A population of black rhinoceroses lived there, but unfortunately, they became extinct by 2007. However, eighteen rhinoceroses were relocated to the park from South Africa in 2017, and in June of 2019, Akagera received a further five rhinoceroses from European zoos, the Dvůr Králové (CZ) zoo among them. The park borders Tanzania, and with luck, you can spot Big Five game. You should not miss visiting the capital of Kigali, especially the Kigali Genocide Memorial, commemorating 250,000 victims who were buried there in mass graves during the 1994 genocide. Roads are of high quality in the country, so it is possible to complete the tour in a 4×4 car. For more demanding clients, we recommend flights via the local airline or by helicopter.
Weather and location
Rwanda lies in the heart of Africa, south of the equator, at a relatively high altitude that provides a pleasant tropical climate. The average daily temperature in the capital of Kigali is around 21 °C. Other areas are affected by altitude to a great extent. Although it is possible to visit Rwanda all year round, travellers must keep in mind the rainy season, which makes trekking conditions uncomfortable. The long rainy season lasts from March to May and the rain is heavy and persistent. Later, from June to mid-September, the dry season prevails, arguably the best time for a visit. October to November is the shorter rainy season, followed by a short dry season between December and February. It is often cloudy during both dry seasons, and this helps moderate the temperatures, but also brings occasional light rain showers.
