Geography
Republic of Rwanda is located in Central Africa. Rwanda is bordered on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda to the North, Tanzania to the East, and to the South by Burundi. Topography of Rwanda mainly produces low hills on the western border of the heights of buildings ends abruptly near the shores of Lake Kivu and the Rusizi River on the East, gradually shrinking in the direction of Tanzania, which are mostly valleys and swamps. In Rwanda located some sources of the Nile.
The capital city is Kigali (Kigali). The main town is Huje (former Butare), Gisenyi, Musanze, Kibungo, Kibuye, Gitarama.
Vaccinations
To visit Rwanda requires vaccination against yellow fever will not be unnecessary vaccinations against hepatitis a and meningitis. The country has a significant number of HIV carriers
Customs
Import and export of foreign currency is allowed without restrictions; on entering the country must fill out a declaration. Bring back national currency is prohibited when leaving the country before the passport control to make a reverse exchange. You can bring into the country duty-free 200 cigarettes, 1 l of alcoholic beverages of any fortress, photo and video equipment for personal use, personal decorations. It is prohibited to import weapons and explosives, narcotics, pornography. It is prohibited to export from the country of items made from ivory, skins and body parts of animals. Articles made of gold, diamonds and spices must be accompanied by documents to acquire them.
Currency
International name: RF
Rwandan franc is equal to 100 centimes. Current banknotes: 100, 500, 1000 and 5000 francs. Coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 francs. Exchange without the risk of encounter fraud can only be achieved in the National Bank of Rwanda, Credit cards and travelers ' checks are hardly used, cash only. Foreigners pay for hotel and airfare to freely convertible currency. Credit cards can pay only a few high-level hotels and restaurants in the capital. Most ATMs are connected to the international network, and cash in them is made only with local banknotes. You can only get cash from foreign banking cards in the offices of the Bank of Kigali (Banque du Kigali).
Security
When visiting countries, we recommend that you strictly comply with the rules of hygiene and protection from blood-sucking insects (protective netting accommodation required!). Locals refer to tourist’s warmth and friendly, but desirable markets appear accompanied by Trustees from the local population or group. In public transport, we recommend that you never leave anything-steal everything and instantly. Rwandan society is quite conservative, so do not appear publicly in outright clothes and publicly express emotions (this applies to both the manifestation of tenderness and of discontent). It is not customary to eat and drink in public. The conversation should not deal with racial themes (for example, ask an interlocutor of his ethnicity) and bypass the policy issues.
Climate
The climate is subequatorial, seasonally-wet, and soft due to a considerable height above sea level. In Kigali (at an altitude of 1550 m) average temperatures year round 17-21° c. Rainfall is about 1000-1500 mm per year. The dry season is from June to September.
Miscellaneous
Language: official language: French, Kinyarwanda and English.
In Rwanda the most common African language, Kinyarwanda, which belongs to the Bantu Niger-Congo language family, in trading operations it is widely, used Swahili.
Transport
In the cities of Rwanda, particularly in Kigali, you can move around on the motorcycle and ordinary taxis (less common). This is a very cheap form of transport: a pretty long trip will cost approximately 600 francs. In rural areas there are also bicycle taxis. Moto-taxi drivers dressed in green vest and a helmet with an individual number. Helmet and is offered to the passenger. To cover longer distances take advantage of minibuses intended for 7 passengers. Unlike neighboring countries, Rwandan drivers comply with matching seats and quantities of people that makes the journey more comfortable. Popular tourist destinations are served by separate bus routes: Gorilla Express Bus, Belvedere Bus Volcanoes Bus and Impala Express Bus. Internal Rwandair flight can fly from Kigali to Shangugu port on Lake Kivu
Cuisine
National cuisine of Rwanda experienced virtually no outside influence, and most of the dishes here are purely local. In restaurants you can enjoy grilled fish and chicken as well as kebabs from goats. Meals are served French fries or fried bananas, generously sdobrennymi onions and hot peppers. Decent restaurants are concentrated in the capital; here you can find not only local, but also Indian, Chinese and Mediterranean cuisine. Lunch will cost approximately 7000 francs. Dine in the so-called "melange"-restaurants, working on the principle of "smorgasbord". To choose from — all the same in the many variations of potatoes, beans, bananas, rice, cassava, vegetables and in much smaller amounts of meat and fish. In such institutions is permitted only one approach to the buffet. Depending on the rank of the melange lunch prices range from 700 up to 7000 francs. In Rwanda, all three kinds of local beers are popular.
