Known as the land of a thousand hills (Le Pays des Mille Collines) thanks to the endless ‘ups and downs’ in this stunning country. Rwanda’s breathtaking scenery and warm, friendly people offer unique experiences in one of the most remarkable countries in the world. It is blessed with extraordinary biodiversity, with incredible wildlife living throughout its volcanoes, mountain rainforests and sweeping plains. Of note, Rwanda is one of the only places in the world where you can visit the endangered Mountain Gorillas.
Located a few degrees south of the Equator, Rwanda is a land locked country and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Rwanda is ranked as the 8th safest country in the world by the World Economic Forum and 11th by the 2017 Gallup poll.
This safety and stability has dramatically increased investment, tourism and economic growth over the last 10 years. The relaxed and welcoming feel will be apparent from the moment you land and get your ‘visa on entry’ and continue right through your cycle adventure!
2022 will mark the 28th year since the Rwandan Genocide which took place in 1994. Since then all in Rwanda have taken huge leaps forward in creating an incredible nation …. one that is perfect to experience from the saddle!
Cycling – Getting on 2 wheels and peddling really is a national way of life! The sturdy single speed is an ever present, and the 2019 ‘Tour de Rwanda’ saw over 1 million Rwandans line the roads to support the spectacle. Rwanda has surfaces and routes to challenge all types of rider from pure road riding on extremely smooth rides ( to the well known ‘Congo Nile Trail’ mountain bike route…
Flights – Kigali boasts some super connections to Europe and other parts of the world. There are a large number of direct flight options (UK, Belgium, Turkey, Dubai, Qatar and most of Africa) and all other countries are a short connection away!
Weather – Rwanda has a temperate tropical highland climate, with lower temperatures than are typical for equatorial countries because of its high elevation. Kigali, in the centre of the country, has a typical daily temperature range between 12 and 27 °C (54 and 81 °F), with little variation through the year.
Some interesting facts:
- Women make up 64% of the parliament (6th ranked in world for gender gap).
- Kinyarwanda is the mother tongue, but French, English and Swahili are widely spoken.
- Tourism is one of Rwanda’s fastest growing industries.
- Rwanda’s coffee ranks top of the world alongside that of Brazil, Ethiopia, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.
- Rwanda is GMT+2