Rwanda flag

Rwanda

History

The Kingdom of Rwanda expanded under successive mwami.
Germany claimed the territory; Belgium took over after 1916.
Independence came on 1 July.
The genocide against the Tutsi killed an estimated 800,000 people in about a hundred days.
A new constitution was adopted and reconstruction accelerated.
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CapitalKigali
Population14.1M
Area26k km2
CurrencyRwandan franc

Short facts

RegionEast Africa
LanguageEnglish, French
Time zoneCAT (UTC+2)
Drives onRight

Worth seeing

  • Volcanoes National Park: Mountain gorilla trekking on the Virunga slopes.
  • Kigali Genocide Memorial: The memorial and burial site for over 250,000 victims.
  • Nyungwe Forest: Montane rainforest with chimpanzees and a canopy walkway.

Find a city in Rwanda

Showing all cities

Kigali thumbnailKigaliCity

Planning questions

What is Rwanda known for?Volcanoes National Park, Kigali Genocide Memorial, Nyungwe Forest.
What is the capital?Kigali.
Which language is useful?English, French.
When is the national day?1 July.
How should I browse it here?Start with the facts, jump to linked cities, then check events and topics.

Upcoming events

Kwita Izina thumbnailKwita IzinaSep 2026 ยท Rwanda

Use Kigali as the first planning anchor for Rwanda, then compare the city, food and worth-seeing notes on this page.

Food & drink

Street food thumbnailStreet foodSignature dishCoffee thumbnailCoffeeLocal drink

Known for

Volcanoes National ParkKigali Genocide MemorialNyungwe ForestKigaliStreet foodCoffee
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