Rwanda Location and Country Profile
To ensure that you have enough information about Location Rwanda, we at Rwanda Fixer have compiled some import facts and profile about this small but beautiful country popularly known as “Country of a thousand hills” to assist you in planning accordingly. We encourage you to take time to read through and should you require any clarification, our logistics fixers are on standby to answer all your queries.
Location and Geography
Referred to as “Land of a Thousand Hills,” Rwanda is a small but beautiful country located in the heart of Africa, about two degrees or 75 miles south of the equator. Rwanda’s high elevation ranges from 1,000 to 4,416 meters above sea level, with a temperate climate that stays pleasant all through the year, with less variations. Rwanda’s year-round temperatures range from 24 to 27 degrees Celsius during the day and 14 to 16 degrees Celsius through the night making it one of the best places to do production work in Africa.
A mountainous ridge of about 2,416 meters high divides the basins the Congo and the Nile rivers and the Virunga volcanic range, which is home to rare mountain gorillas that production companies, film producers and Documentary makers come from almost every corner of the globe to see. Covering an area of 26,338 square kilometers with five extinct volcanoes, Rwanda is completely land-locked with no access to any see. The Karisimbi Volcanic mountain dominates the skyline as the highest point in the country.
Rwanda boarders Congo in the west, Burundi in the south, Tanzania in the east and Uganda in the north. As you travel around the rolling topography, you will be enchanted by lush greenery, which is the result of the 23 lakes and many rivers watering the landscape. The main lakes are Lake Kivu, Lake Mugesera, Lake Muhazi, Lake Ruhondo, Lake Ihema, and Lake Burera, and the 110-200 millimeters of rain that the country receives also contributes the verdant panoramas it’s famous for.
Should you choose to film in Rwanda’s National parks, you will discover that 40% of the mammals in Africa can be seen here, including 402 different species. Rwanda is also known for being home to 1,061 species of birds, 5,793 advanced plant species, and 293 species of amphibians and reptiles. Despite its small size, Rwanda has a various landscape with rolling savannah in the east and lush equatorial forests on the northwest and southwest. The Rugezi swamps and wetlands cover a vast area of 6,735 hectares (16,642 acres).
Rwanda’s Population size
The nation has a population of close to 13 million residents (2017), of which approximately 51% are women. Kigali is the capital and the people here call themselves Rwandans or Rwandese. Popular languages spoken in Rwanda are Kinyarwanda, English and French. Being a former colony of France, you will no doubt use the Rwandan Franc during your trip, the official currency of Rwanda.
The 1994 genocide killed many people in Rwanda and some went to exile hence affecting the number of people staying and living in Rwanda. Relative peace has ensured quick recovery and Rwanda is among the countries where population and the economy are growing steadily.
Rwanda History and Culture
History has it that, the Twa or Pygmy people were the original inhabitants of Rwanda and lived in the forests around the Virunga mountain collecting fruits and hunting. The Hutu only came to Rwanda between the 5th and 11th centuries and were majorly farmers, clearing the land for cultivation and driving the Twa deeper into the forests and woodlands. The Hutu social structure was based on the royal clan system, with the Bahinzas (kings) ruling the tribes.
These were later joined by The Tutsi people began to arrive in Rwanda around the 14th century and slowly integrated themselves into the local communities. The Tutsis not only owned cattle, which was considered an indication of prosperity and riches, but they were also well-versed in the art of warfare. Tutsis soon took over control of the political and socio-economic framework that the Hutus and Twa had created.
As time passed, ownership of land came under the Tutsi king, Mwami; they developed a contract system called Ubuhake, under which Hutus made use of the cattle and land and, in turn, delivered services and agricultural yield to the minority Tutsis. As you learn about Rwandan mythology during your vacation, you will come to understand that the ancestry of the monarchy was traced back to a divine child, Kigwa.
As the Mwami Tutsi kings consolidated their borders, the colonial advent in Rwanda began in 1894 with the coming of the Germans. Rwanda, along with its neighbor Burundi, became a bone of contention between the Germans, Belgians, and British. By 1910, both territories came under the sole control of the Germans, who maintained the existing political system of the Mwami and took areas that still retained autonomy under Hutu chiefs through the use of military force.
By the early 20th century, Germany had replaced the traditional barter system with cash and imposed currency taxes. You will find many remnants of the country’s colonial era when holidaying in the various regions. After the fallout of World War I, Rwanda and Burundi came under the control of the Belgians by way of a trusteeship mandated by the League of Nations.
The influence of the Mwami kings began to decline under this rule, and the Belgians removed the existing ubuhake system. Post-World War II, Belgium was forced to allow the Rwandan people into the political framework and implemented the Ten-Year Development Plan in 1952. While this move aimed to bring about socio-economic reforms, political changes, and social peace, it ended up creating discord between the Tutsis and Hutus.
The United Nations attempted to defuse tensions by creating a united Rwandan-Burundi state, but in April 1962 the General Assembly voted to give Rwanda its independence. While the country’s three communities had lived co-dependently in the past, the colonial era created significant tension that eventually erupted in the form of a horrific genocide; over 100 days, Hutus systematically decimated the Tutsi population. Elections were conducted soon afterward and, with the coming of President Paul Kagame in 2003, the country was able to leave behind the specter of the genocide and begin rebuilding its social, political and economic structures. For those interested in shooting documentaries and films about the history and culture of Rwanda, this should provide an insight.
Rwanda Economy
Rwanda is one of the few countries in Africa where the majority of the population lives in the rural areas; a scarce 8% live in the capital city of Kigali and other towns. The nation is largely dependent on subsistence agriculture, with an annual economic growth rate of 7-8% over the last few years. Rwanda suffers from a shortage of arable land and lack of access to sea routes, limiting the possibility of developing a thriving export industry.
The rapidly growing population and an influx of refugees in the early 1990s added to its woes, and food production is simply not adequate to meet the needs of the people. Consequently, the country is forced to import food and other products, including construction materials, petroleum products, steel, machinery, and tools.
Rwanda’s history of social and political unrest contributed to its economic problems. For example, the country’s main crops–tea and coffee–suffered a major setback in 1994. With assistance from global sources this industry is being rejuvenated, and agriculture, including tea and coffee, now represents 32% of Rwanda’s foreign exchange, totaling 2.5 billion dollars of the country’s GDP.
Only about 22% of the population are employed in industrial sectors, like breweries, and small cottage industries such as producing household goods, farm implements, textiles, footwear, furniture, plastics, and cigarettes. Some of the population engages in processing agricultural produce and raising livestock, including sheep, goats, and cattle. Tourism and service-based industries like banking, health, education, insurance, transportation, and real estate account for 45% of all employment.
Rwanda is recovering from economic instability, in part thanks to government assistance and liberal economic policies aimed at the privatization of large industries and developing transportation infrastructure. On your shoot, you will notice that numerous construction projects are underway, increasing demand for skilled labor such as carpenters, masons, bricklayers, and other such workers. The government is also attempting to increase exports of its goods to raise foreign exchange.
It surprises many film and documentary makers to learn that, according to a 2015 rating by the World Bank, Rwanda has the 14th most favorable environment for starting a new business. The administration is also offering tax benefits and other incentives to invite foreign investment into the country. The low corruption and crime rates are other factors that make Rwanda an attractive destination for living, holidaying, and working. Aside from coffee and tea, the country produces cash crops including potatoes, pulses, sorghum, pyrethrum, and bananas. Rwanda also earns foreign revenue from its mining industry, thanks to substantial deposits of wolframite (tungsten), cassiterite (tin), columbite, tantalite, gold and beryl, and natural gas in Lake Kivu.
In addition to encouraging the growth of the filming industry as well travel and tourism industry, the government of Rwanda developed the “Vision 2020” program, under which it aspires to create a country of middle-income people. Accordingly, it is encouraging the development and expansion of technology through the installation of a high-capacity fibre-optic cable network, instituting anti-corruption laws, propagating gender equality, and developing the rural economy. Rwanda trades with countries including China, Uganda, Belgium, Germany, Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya, but must still rely on foreign aid to assist with its national budget.
Governance of Rwanda
Rwanda is a Republic and has an executive President at its helm. The people elect their leader by way of a democratic vote, and the President remains in office for 7 years. He or she can be re-elected to office for a second term only. The country’s Parliament also has a Prime Minister, who is nominated by President, and a cabinet of ministers that are selected by recommendation of the Prime Minister.
Rwanda follows a bicameral form of legislature, which includes a Chamber of Deputies and a Senate. The chamber has 80 members that are elected by the people for 5 years. These members represent the entire population demographic with 53 officers, including 24 women, 2 youth, and 1 disabled member. The Senate is comprised of 29 members that serve for 8 years and represent the provincial government councils (12), academic institutions (2), and Parties’ Forum (4). It also has 8 Presidential nominees.
While Rwanda achieved independence on the July 1, 1962, the present constitution was instituted as recently as June 2003. Its prime focus is on consolidating the unity of the people, as well as protecting human rights and personal freedoms. Even as you holiday in the country and learn about the terrible genocide of 1994, you will see that the people are trying to make amends for the atrocities and punish those responsible. After bringing the new constitution into force, the Rwandese elected Paul Kagame of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) to office. The former President, Pasteur Bizimungu, was tried for his role in the violence and embezzlement, eventually receiving a 15-year sentence before being pardoned.
In November 2006 a French judge issued a global arrest warrant for Kagame for his role as head of the RPF. The party was accused of bringing down an aircraft that was carrying former President Juvénal Habyarimana, triggering the April 1994 genocide. The following year, the government of Rwanda initiated their own inquiry and found that the army, headed by Habyarimana, was responsible for the violence, along with 30 chief French officers. While France and Rwanda sorted through their issues from 2006 to 2009, relations remained tense, with the latter breaking diplomatic ties and resuming them in November 2009.
Vacation in the country today and you will find that it has entered an era of economic and social stability under the leadership of President Kagame. When the parliamentary elections were held in September 2008, the RPF won a majority of seats with close to 100% of the population voting. The next presidential election, in August 2010, saw the reelection of Kagame as President for a second term, with 99% of the population casting their votes. Born in the south of Rwanda in October 1957, Mr. Kagame led the RPF through the struggle for independence and, later, in overthrowing the government responsible for the genocide. Today he also leads as Commander in Chief of the Rwandan defense force. On your tour, you will see that President Kagame is revered and respected by his people.
Getting around in Rwanda
As a landlocked nation, Rwanda does not have a harbor or access to sea routes; the main point of entry into the country is through the international airport at Kigali, its capital. If you opt to visit Rwanda, you will have a wide variety of flight choice from Europe. Brussels Airlines carries passengers from Brussels, while Turkish Airlines flies from Istanbul. Other international airlines offering flights to Kigali include Rwanda Air, Qatar, Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, Etihad Airways, Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, and EgyptAir. These flights carry you into the country from destinations in Africa including Nairobi in Kenya and Entebbe in Uganda, as well as cities across Europe.
Driving was once a challenge in Rwanda, with notoriously bad, pot-hole ridden roads awaiting repair. Thanks to the efforts of the government to improve and upgrade them, the country now has some of the best-maintained roads in all of Eastern and Central Africa. Travelers can travel to other countries within the African Great Lakes region by road with ease. These paved roads also serve as the conduits for Rwanda’s import and export industries; the major cities and towns, including Kigali, Gisenyi, Kibuye, and Ruhengeri, all have dual carriageways. Note that there are no highways and all national roads that traverse the country are single-lane.
Personal Safety while in Rwanda.
Just as you would when filming in any other country in the world, you must take special care of your personal and equipment security in Rwanda. Avoid attracting unwanted attention by wearing expensive jewelry — bangles, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and watches. Keep a watchful eye on your other possessions as well: backpacks, wallets, phones, cameras, and handbags. Despite the high processing charges involved with credit cards, you may want to carry a minimum of cash and use credit cards wherever that is possible.
Pre-paying for your pre-production and production logistics through a Local Fixer agency prior to arrival will allow you to avoid bringing extra cash. Do not leave cash lying around in your room. Bring multiple security envelopes so you can seal your cash in one before depositing it into a safety deposit box, commonly available at tourist camps, lodges, hotels, and most other accommodations in Rwanda. Count the money before sealing the envelope and depositing it, and take care to count it when retrieving the envelope.
While it is always advisable to avoid dark alleys and deserted streets, and refrain from moving around at night, if you absolutely must travel, use the services of your local fixer hired vehicles and driver. At Rwanda Fixer, we make the necessary arrangements to ensure the safety of your crew and equipment.
If there are any public rallies, political gatherings, or street demonstrations going on in Kigali or in other towns, it is best to avoid them. Your local fixer will keep you informed of such scheduled events and their locations so you can plan your production work around them. If you do need any kind of assistance on the ground, you can contact your Rwanda Fixers customer care personnel at any time.
Communication and Internet connectivity in Rwanda
Rwanda has well-developed systems for communicating with contacts within the country or at home when on vacation. You can use direct dialing services in major towns. Remote areas that do not have direct dialing can be contacted by using mobile phones and direct radio linking services. Should you need to use the postal service, you can expect that mail will take about seven to fourteen days to reach locations in North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
While in Rwanda, you can ask your production fixer to help you get a local GSM cell number for your use during your stay. He can also help you obtain a basic phone to use with a local SIM card, available in Kigali. Use the local SIM card for calling both local and international numbers instead of your roaming minutes, which can get very expensive.
Internet connectivity and emailing are possible from the major cities and many of the smaller towns as well. Main cities and business hubs often have Internet cafes, or you can use Wi-Fi provided by your hotel and lodges in Rwanda. You can also use Skype or WhatsApp to call or chat with your family and friends.
Public Holidays in Rwanda
When planning your tour in the country, you might want to keep in mind that Rwanda has 14 public holidays. It also observes an official week of mourning in memory of the genocide that starts on April 7, Genocide Memorial Day. Routine services also remain closed until midday on the last Saturday of every month. These hours, termed umuganda, are set aside for community service all over the country.
- 1st January: New Year’s Day
- 2nd January: Day after New Year’s Day
- 1st February: National Heroes Day
- Good Friday
- 7th April: Genocide against the Tutsi Memorial Day
- 1st May: Labor Day
- 1st July: Independence Day
- 4th July: Liberation Day
- Friday of the first week of August: Umuganura Day
- 15th August: Assumption Day
- 25th December: Christmas Day
- 26th December: Boxing Day
In addition to the above 12 holidays, Rwanda follows Eid-ul-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan and Eid al-Adha, or Feast of Sacrifice, that commemorates the day when Abraham offered to sacrifice Ishmael. Both these holidays are based on the Islamic Lunar calendar and may fall on different days each year.
Medical and Healthy services in Rwanda
Healthcare and medical facilities in Rwanda are of a standard just enough to provide basic care to residents and production crews in the country. Not only is medical care expensive, but you will find facilities offer only the most common medicines and do not have the advanced equipment necessary for extensive, specialized tests. Since doctors and trained professionals were targeted in the genocide of 1994, there is a dire shortage of medical staff, though the number increases year by year. Given these factors, it is advisable to come prepared with the proper medical/travel insurance to cover care in Rwanda and evacuation out of the country if the need arises.
When planning to shoot any documentary or film in Rwanda, make sure you get the proper vaccination for yellow fever in case you are arriving from a country where there the disease is endemic. Officials at entry points will want to see a certificate of vaccination that indicates you have been treated at least 10 days before your arrival. You might also want to get a vaccination for cholera and carry the necessary proof. Contact the U.S. Centers for Disease Control or the appropriate health advice body in your country about the risk of contracting hepatitis, and come prepared. You must also bring with you the prophylactic drugs recommended by your healthcare practitioner to be taken for malaria, since there is a risk of getting it while in Rwanda.
The personal health insurance that you have in your country might not cover the medical expenses you incur on shoot. Before you leave, check with your insurance provider for any additional coverage you need to purchase and what risks they will cover, including the possibility of evacuating you out of the country to other locations for medical treatment. The hospitals in Rwanda and around Africa may ask you to pay for your medical expenses as you incur them and remit reimbursement when you return. Should you need health care in a Rwandan facility, you will have to pay in cash, so you may want to make arrangements accordingly.
When doing production work in African countries like Rwanda, it is advisable to buy insurance from a reliable provider that has the mandatory insurance licensing
While you can find pharmacies in Rwanda, obtaining prescription drugs involves a time-consuming process. So it strongly advised that you take an adequate supply with you for the duration of your shoot. Also, bring any over-the-counter medication you might need for minor illnesses and allergies. Since you will be filming in a tropical country, make sure you have with you enough sun protection, including sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat with a wide brim to shade your face. Your clothing must cover your full arms and legs. Like any other country, Rwanda has its share of HIV incidence, so it is advisable that you refrain from sexual encounters.
Shopping in Rwanda
During your shoot days, take time to check out the beautiful arts and crafts created by the artisans of Rwanda. They make beautiful additions to your house, or perhaps bring them back as gifts and souvenirs for friends and family at home. Incredibly lovely and as unique as the country, look for carved artifacts, enchanting jewelry, music, and artwork produced by the young local talent. Colorful fabrics with awesome prints represent the culture of Rwanda. Make sure you buy some tea and coffee, which the country is famous for.
While you may be tempted to shop in the boutique store at the camp, hotel, or lodge where you are staying for the duration of your production work, try to resist. Small markets and stores run by the artisans themselves offer an incredible opportunity to dabble in the fun art of bargaining, as well as meet and support the artisans directly. Haggling is an expected activity, and you can often buy goods for less than half the marked price. With that said, keep in mind that the items you purchase likely took months of intricate, hard work; it is important to pay a fair price for them. Endorsing local shops will also help encourage the artisans and their entrepreneurial spirit.
Banking services in Rwanda
The Rwandan currency is the Rwandan Franc, in denominations of 500, 1000, 2000, and 5000 notes. The coins come in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100, issued by the central bank, the National Bank of Rwanda. It is recommended that you exchange currency you are carrying with you at the Kigali International Airport, where you will find bank booths and exchange bureaus that are likely to give you a better rate than banks in Kigali city. The airport banks are also open for longer hours than ordinary bank branches elsewhere in the country.
While you may carry different currencies for your travel, bringing the US dollar, UK pound or Euro is the best option. These currencies can be easily exchanged at the various banks in the country. Most hotels, lodges and camps price their accommodations in US dollars. Note that you will be expected to pay the entry fee for your mountain gorilla viewing expeditions in American currency.
When on tour, take care to carry US dollars to Rwanda that are dated no earlier than 2009, and make sure they are in good condition, not torn or soiled in any way. Such notes are likely to be accepted without a problem, and you might get a better exchange rate when you exchange dollars in $50 and $100 denominations. Presenting notes in smaller numbers can result in a lower exchange rate.
While you can bring credit cards, you may incur a bank service charge of 5% to 10% for using them, and many vendors may not accept credit cards. Only the major hotels may allow you pay by credit card. For any kind of banking services you may need on your vacation, you can visit your preferred bank from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. A few banks are open on Saturday mornings.