She is a small, land locked country neighbored by Uganda in the north, Tanzania in the East, Burundi in the south and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to the west and North West. Rwanda is in found in the East African plateau, with the divide between the water systems of the Nile and DRC rivers going through the north-south direction via the western area of the country.
The land drops greatly to Lake Kivu - west of the divide in the Great African Rift Valley; to the east, the land cascade slowly across the central plateau - its grassy highlands are the main areas of settlement of Rwanda’s inhabitants - to the swamps and lakes on the country’s eastern border.

The part of Rwanda that is located in the northwest, on the border with DRC, are the volcanic Virunga Mountains; the highest peak, Mount Karisimbi (14,870 ft) is snowcapped. Lake Kivu, almost 4,700 feet altitude, drains into Lake Tanganyika, via the sharply moving down Ruzizi River. The Kagera River, which makes up much of Rwanda’s eastern border, powers into Africa’s largest fresh water mass - Lake Victoria.
Size: 26,338 km².
Time: +2 GMT.
Climate: the majority areas of Rwanda get over of 1000 mm of rainfall. Temperatures range from f 25-30°C throughout the day and 15° during night all year round. Two rain seasons are received in Rwanda and these make up the short rains between September and December and the long rains between Februarys to June. The dry months are January, July, and August to mid-September.
Currency: The Rwanda Franc (both coin and paper) is the unit of currency in operation. Money exchange takes place in bureau de change, banks and some hotels.
Banking: Banks are in operation from 8 am -5 pm on weekdays (with a lunch break between 12 noon and 2 pm) however on Saturday they operating from 8 am -12 noon.
Languages: French, English and Kinya-rwanda are the official languages even if Kiswahili just as in the other East African Countries is also spoken.
Electricity: 230/240 volts at 50Hz.
Public Holidays:
1 January - New Year
28 January - Democracy Day
Good Friday
Easter Monday
7 April - Genocide Memorial Day
1 May - Labour Day
1 July - Independence Day
4 July - National Liberation Day
1 August - Harvest Festival
15 August - Assumption Day
8 September - Culture Day
25 September - Republic Day

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