GENERAL
Official name of the state
Republic of Rwanda.
Capital
Kigali.
Geography
According to top-mba-universities, Rwanda is a small mountainous landlocked country in Central Africa and borders Uganda in the north, Tanzania in the east, Burundi in the south and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the west. A mountain range up to 3000 m high extends from north to south. The Virunga volcanoes rise steeply west of Lake Kiwu and slope towards the hilly central plateau. In the far west, on the upper reaches of the Kagera River, there is a region with marshland.
Government
Presidential republic since 1962. New constitution from 2003. National assembly with 53 members. Independent since 1962 (former Belgian trust territory).
Head of state
Paul Kagame, since 2000.
Head of government
Anastase Murekezi, since July 2014.
Electricity
220 V, 50 Hz.
Time zone
Central Africa Time: CET +3
LANGUAGE
Overview
The official languages are French, Kinyarwanda and English. Business language is Swahili.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
DUTY-FREE SHOPPING
Overview
The following items can be imported into Rwanda duty-free (16+):
250 g of tobacco products;
1 liter of alcoholic beverages (including spirits) or 2 liters of wine.
500 ml perfume and eau de toilette, of which perfume may not be more than a quarter of the amount.
There is always an obligation to declare.
Prohibited imports
Plastic packaging and bags, weapons, drugs and all kinds of pornographic material.
ECONOMY
Business etiquette
The best times to visit are April – October and December – January.
Business hours: Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-12 p.m. and 2 p.m.-5 p.m.
Economy
Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie du Rwanda (Chamber of Commerce and Industry)
BP 319, Kigali
Tel: 835 38, 835 41.
Business contacts
Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie du Rwanda (Chamber of Commerce and Industry)
BP 319, Kigali
Tel: 835 38, 835 41.
COMMUNICATION
Phone
Is available.
Cellphone
GSM 900. Network operator is Rwanda Cell. Cell phones can be rented. Cell phones can be rented or bought from large stores.
Internet
The Internet provider is Rwandatel (email: [email protected] ; Internet: www.rwanda1.com). Most cities have internet cafes and computer centers.
Post Office
Airmail to Europe takes around two weeks. Post office opening times: Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-12 p.m. and 2 p.m.-5 p.m., Sat 8 a.m.-12 p.m.
Radio
Since the use of shortwave frequencies changes several times over the course of a year, it is advisable to contact Deutsche Welle customer service directly (Tel: (+49) (0228) 429 32 08. Internet: www.dw-world.de) to request.
SHOP
Overview
Baskets with pointed caps, ceramics, wood carvings, talismans, knives, pangas or Umuhoro called whose blades are shaped like a question mark. Anyone who is offered gorilla hands or skulls should not hesitate and report the dealer to the police immediately.
NIGHTLIFE
Introduction
Apart from the many small bars and a few discos, the evening entertainment is not very diverse. There are several cinemas in Kigali.
CULINARY
ACCOMMODATION
Hotels
Are expensive, most can be found in Kigali. There are small, inexpensive hotels near tourist areas. Mission dorms are particularly recommended in small towns and more remote areas. The hotels of the Ruhengeri and Gisenyi missions offer excellent accommodation and good food.
Camping
Camping is prohibited.
CULTURE
Religion
Christianity (83%), Muslims (5%) and others.
Social rules of conduct
The traditional lifestyle is based on agriculture and cattle breeding. The population lives in the fertile parts of the country, but each family lives on their own land and not in villages. The majority of the Rwandans belong to the Hutu ethnic group, around 15% of the population belong to the Tutsi. The smallest minority are the Twa, a mixed pygmy people, possibly the oldest inhabitants of the country, who are still potters and hunters today. The usual forms of courtesy also apply here. Tip: 10% is common.
CLIMATE
Best travel time
Despite the proximity to the equator, the climate is rather cool due to the altitude. Most of the country is warm, but cooler in the mountains. Rainy seasons: mid-January to April and mid-October to mid-December.
COUNTRY DATA
Area code +250 Area (sqkm) 26,338 Population 12,661,733 Population density (per sqkm) 481 Population in 2015 Member of the EU No major emergency number 112
