What to Know About Rwanda before You Visit

The Republic of Rwanda is a small landlocked country found at the border of East and central Africa, and as at 2013, it had a population of about 11.78 million people. It is just a couple of degrees south of the Equator-line with Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania and Burundi neighboring it. The country is generally hilly and the western side is dominated by a mountainous terrain, the east is dominated by the savanna-grasslands plus lakes. The country annually experiences 2 rainy seasons and 2 dry seasons.

The History of the Rwandan People

Rwanda has 3 main tribes: the Twa, Hutu and Tutsi. The Twa are generally pygmies and descendants of the earliest inhabitants, however scholars don’t agree on the true origins and also differences between the Tutsi and the Hutu people. A number of them think that they were derived from previous social castes, and then some see them as tribes or simply races. Rwanda Kingdom started in the middle of the eighteenth century under the leadership of Tutsi Kings who had centralized power, however policies that were anti-Hutu where enforced..

Language and Religion

Christianity as the dominant religion within Rwanda, and Kinyarwanda is the commonly spoken language.

Political History

The country was colonized in 1884 by the Germans, however, Belgium invaded in 1916 during World War I.

Through the King-ship these two European countries ruled Rwanda and effected pro-Tutsi policies. The Hutu people revolted in 1959, killing several of Tutsi people and eventually leading to the establishment of an independent state dominated by the Hutu in 1962.

The Rwanda 1994 Genocide

In 1990 The Rwandan Patriotic Front- RPF led by the Tutsi started a civil war, which resulted into the brutal 1994 Rwanda Genocide. During the genocide, Hutu extremists murdered almost one million Tutsi plus moderate Hutu people. That year, the RPF got military victory over the country.

Effects of the Genocide, and Today’s Rwanda

The economy of Rwanda severely suffered during that 1994 Genocide, however, the current ruling government has tirelessly worked to revive the economy. Rwanda’s economy primarily survives on subsistence agriculture which includes exporting its cash crops – coffee and tea.

Tourism on the other hand is a speedily developing sector and currently the number foreign currency earner to the country. The country receives millions of people each year who travel to enjoy a Safari in Rwanda during which they will track mountain gorillas, view the different animals as well as watch the beautiful birds in the country.

The people of Rwanda are very hospitable and during our thrilling cultural safaris, you will get an opportunity to meet and interact with them.