Rwanda being known as ‘the land of a thousand hills’’ is located in East – central Africa. It lies 121 Km South 75 miles of the equator in the Tropic of Capricorn 1416 kilometers, 880Miles west of the Indian Ocean and 1250Km, 777Miles east of the Atlantic Ocean – literally the heart of Africa.
Rwanda is bordered by Democratic Republic of Congo to the west, Burundi to the south, Uganda to the north, Tanzania to the east. The country has a temperate climate, with two rainy seasons February to April, November to January. Average temperatures range from 16-22 degree Celsius. Anyone visiting the “land of a thousand hills” gets much of wonders. First are the security and stability, personal safety, peace enjoyed by both citizens and tourists of the country.
The high altitude forests of the Virunga volcanic mountains, in northern Rwanda are typically natural habitats of the world’s largest number of remaining endangered mountain gorillas. Numbering in the hundreds, the gorillas live in protected areas, free from hunters. The mountain gorillas are easily spotted in their natural mountain home at a relatively close angle.
The landscapes in this green country are truly breathtaking. Many visitors to Rwanda have remarked that the physical beauty of the country is without an equal on the African continent. Rwanda has five volcanoes, numerous beautified rivers, twenty-three lakes some forming the source of River Nile. Spectacular volcanoes and dense tropical forests dominate the north of the country, while gentle hills and valleys, calm lakes and turbulent rivers in both savannah and dense tropical vegetation dominate the rest of the country.