Rwanda has been hailed as one of Africa’s biggest successes but did you know the following things about the country?
Rwanda is the safest country in sub Saharan Africa
Rwanda is located in the heart of sub-Saharan Africa, a region thought of an unsafe part of Africa due to the constant reports of conflicts and wars and sometimes epidemics. However, Rwanda has curved out herself as an oasis of safety and peace in this region. The government of Rwanda has built a robust domestic security system that guarantees safety of everyone. Petty crime that is a norm in nearly all modern cities is very uncommon in the Kigali City and all of Rwanda. One can walk the streets of Kigali or visit any remote part of Rwanda without any worry for their safety. Only in Kigali City can you comfortably use your phone on the busy streets without the fear of losing it to a snatcher.
Cleanest country in Africa
If one says Rwanda is the cleanest country in Africa, and one of the cleanest in the world, it may be difficult to believe because African countries are synonymous with disorder and dirt. It is actually difficult to imagine how clean Rwanda is until you have arrived in the capital Kigali City. When you have just arrived in Rwanda via the international airport you will be blown away by how clean and neat the streets of Kigali are. And, it does not end in the city, going deep into the villages of Rwanda the neatness and cleanliness is a constant.
To achieve what seems like a miracle in sub-Sahara Africa Rwanda adopted radical policies such as the banning of plastics bags, and introducing a day of general cleaning called “Umuganda” which is the last Saturday of the month on which every citizen is required to participate in the cleaning of their neighborhood.
There is only one tribe in Rwanda
Africa is a continent of ethnicities and tribes which is perhaps a good thing to see the diverse cultures and traditions of different tribes and traditions existing in every country in Africa. However, for Rwanda, the tribe identification became a tool of division and propagation of hate among the population which culminated into the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.
Rwanda therefore decided to do away with any identification based on ethnicity and tribe and adopted a singular tribe for all the people which is the Rwandan tribe. If you asked anyone in Rwanda what his or her tribe is, he or she will reply, “I am Rwandan”. Only in Rwanda is the nationality same as tribe!
Rwanda is an open country for all people in the world
Rwanda does not require one to book a visa to visit the country. Anyone can be issued the entry visa on arrival in Rwanda.
Rwanda is home to the famous Big Five animals
Rwanda has not been famous for big game as it is mostly popular for primates especially the mountain gorillas, and chimpanzees and lots of monkeys. Most people visiting Rwanda are expecting to see only the gorillas and monkeys, however Rwanda is now a formidable big game country and provides sightings of all the famous “big five animals”, i.e. lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, buffalo. These and more wildlife is found in Akagera National Park, the country’s only savannah park.
Rwandans speak two international languages
Rwanda is probably the only country in Africa where both English speaking and French speaking visitors will not have much trouble communicating as the two international languages are widely spoken in the country. Both English and French were adopted as official languages of Rwanda. The two language are taught in schools.
It is important to note though, as a former colony of Belgium Rwanda was a francophone and English has only been introduced in the last two decades, so you will find some people may not be fluent in English (the older generation) and some not so fluent in French (the younger generation).
The highest point of Rwanda is Mt. Karisimbi
The highest point in Rwanda is at 4507 meters above sea level on Mt. Karisimbi. Mt. Karisimbi is the highest mountain in the Virunga mountain range. You can see Mt. Karisimbi when you visit Volcanoes National Park and the mountain offers a beautiful 2-day hiking adventure in the Virunga Mountains
Rwanda is the most women-centered country in Africa
No other country (in Africa) puts women at the forefront like Rwanda. This is best seen in the composition of the Rwandan parliament which has 67% women (54 of the 80 slots in parliament are filled with women).
Violence or any kind of harassment against women in Rwanda is one of the cardinal sins you can commit.
Rwanda is home to mountain gorillas
Rwanda is probably most known for the gorillas, but did you know that the country has a third of the world’s mountain gorillas which in live in Volcanoes National Park? Rwanda is also one of the only three countries that have the Mountain Gorillas. Rwanda is arguably the best place to see the do gorilla trekking due to a short journey to the park, the neat roads, safety and availability of many high-end hotels and lodges.