Congratulations and Welcome!
You are embarking on a journey to a country often described as the Switzerland of Africa". Never a dull country, the people, topography and dynamic political changes make Rwanda one of the continuous riddles on the continent. Blessed with superb wildlife, beautiful green mountains as well as sublime Lake Kivu, this is one of the 'must visit' countries in central Africa.

Rwanda became a German colony following the 1885 Berlin Conference. In 1918 the country was mandated to the King of Belgium who exercised indirect rule that exacerbated the divisions between the majority tribes of Tutsis and Hutus,

Rwanda today is a nation undergoing a remarkable renaissance. Since the 1995 genocide, there has been a high level of political stability and the creation of a climate more conducive to foreign investment. The country's economy is small and predominantly agrarian but with an impressive 9.9% GDP growth and acceptably low inflation of around 3%, a recently liberalized foreign exchange controls and a pragmatic leadership, the country is rebounding at high speed.

The transport system is improving with Rwanda's mountainous road network being constantly upgraded. And with Rwandair Express spreading its wings to serve Burundi, Kenya, South Africa and Uganda, the country is experiencing entirely new business opportunities.

This mountainous and beautiful countryside, sometimes referred to as being "the Switzerland of Africa" is never less than impressive. How the Rwandans built mountain top terraces for top grade coffee and food production is always an enigma.

Located at Rwanda's geographical heart, the rapidly growing city of Kigali is not only the national capital, but also the country's most important business centre and main port of entry, served by a functional ICT terminal and modern airport. The city offers a range of hotels catering to all tastes and budgets. Well known among the leading accommodations are the Kigali Serena Hotel, the Novotel Umubano and the Intercontinental. Well frequented restaurants include the India Khazana, Lalibela Ethiopian, Sola Luna with its secret garden, Chez Lando and of course the restaurants offered by the leading hotels.

For household moves in and out of Rwanda, there is Worldwide Movers Africa, the continent's leading international relocation experts with branches in ten countries. Initially formed in 1993, the company has grown cautiously and organically with its pristine reputation as the business driver. With its liaison office in Dubai and a full African network of professionals, Worldwide Movers Africa (Rwanda) is a member in good standing in the leading and most demanding of the international moving associations.

Geography
Topography: A hilly plateau dominates the central portion of Rwanda. Eastward toward Tanzania, the land slopes downward to a series of marshy lakes along the upper Kagera River. To the west of the plateau lies part of the volcanic Virunga Mountains, which form the watershed between the Nile and Congo river systems. Volcan Karisimbi, on the border between Rwanda and Congo (DRC), is the range's highest peak at 4,507 meters (14,787 feet).
Rwanda shares the deep waters of Lac Kivu with Congo (DRC). This otherwise landlocked country has few rivers.
Climate: In Rwanda's highland climate, wide temperature variations occur because of elevation differences. The average daily temperature in the Lac Kivu area is 23°C (73°F). In the mountains in the northwest, frost occurs at night. Rwanda's three main seasons include a short dry season in January, a major rainy season that lasts from February through May, and a long dry season from May through September. The average yearly rainfall is 790 millimeters (31 inches) and is heaviest in the western and northwestern mountain regions.

Language
The official languages are Kinyarwanda, which is a Bantu language, and French. Swahili is also widely spoken. English is becoming more popular and is now taught in many secondary schools.

History
The first known inhabitants of Rwanda were the Twa, a people thought to be related to the forest foragers. The Hutu, probably from the Congo Basin, were well established by the 15th century, when the Tutsi came down from the north and conquered the area. The Tutsi kings became the absolute monarchs of the region; each was known as a mwami. The monarchs' rule was enforced by chiefs and subchiefs, who each ruled an umusozi, a domain that consisted of a single hill.
Political and economic relations were based on an unequal feudal relationship, known as ubuhake, in which the Hutu became a caste of serfs forced into slavery and economic dependence by the Tutsi. This caste system was rigidly upheld, and intermarriage was almost nonexistent. The indigenous rulers maintained good relations with the Germans and Belgians, who controlled the area in the late 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, respectively. The Belgians forced the Tutsi to phase out the ubuhake system by 1958.
Today the population of Rwanda is almost entirely rural. Most of the people live in family groups scattered throughout mountainous regions. Three ethnic groups make up the population: the Hutu, who constitute about nine-tenths of the population; the Tutsi, the largest minority; and the Twa. A civil war that broke out in Rwanda in 1994 greatly disrupted the ethnic and geographic distribution of the population and caused massive numbers of deaths. Ethnic conflict continues.
Rwanda's population density is one of the highest in Africa. Kigali, the capital, is also the country's largest city.

Media
There are several newspapers in Rwanda.The majority are writen in Kinyarwanda, although there papers in French and English. The New Times is a new paper in English and is quite popular. The Invaho is the most popular paper written in Kinyarwanda.

Religion

About one-half of the population is Roman Catholic. Muslims and Protestants each comprise one-tenth. Many people also follow traditional indigenous beliefs and practices.

Safety
The following security hints are applicable anywhere in Africa: Most casual thieves operate in busy markets and bus stations. While walking in the cities and towns its best to keep your money in a hidden money belt. Visitors are encouraged to leave their money and valuables in their hotel rooms. In general it is safe to move around at night and there are security patrol cars throughout the night.

Weather
In Rwanda's highland climate, wide temperature variations occur because of elevation differences. The average daily temperature in the Lac Kivu area is 23°C (73°F). In the mountains in the northwest, frost occurs at night. Rwanda's three main seasons include a short dry season in January, a major rainy season that lasts from February through May, and a long dry season from May through September. The average yearly rainfall is 790 millimeters (31 inches) and is heaviest in the western and northwestern mountain regions.

Telephones
Telephones can sometimes be unreliable in rwanda, altrhough the lines are always better in large communities and cities. A satelite phone would be ideal if you live in a remote area, as if the lines are down it took take too long to get help in an emergency.

Water
The water supply is is reasonably stable throughout urban areas, although almost all expatriate offices and residences install generators. The water supply is lacking except for Kigali town. It is reccomended that you pick up bottled water whenever you are at the grocers, in case the water supply does fail, or if you just want the peace of mind that bottled water assures you.

Electricity
The electricity supply in the larger towns and villages is wobbly an cannot be counted on to supply an unbroken supply. Most houses and offices use the European three/two round pin system. All Embassies, most larger hotels and restaurants have generators.

Housing
Good housing, both for rent and for purchase can be found without too much trouble.
Furniture and appliances: There is very little of quality available apart from the very simplest of utilitarian furniture. Given the shortage of good furniture shops, we would suggest that you bring it with you, including kitchen appliances (240 volts/50 Hz), stereos, computers etc.
Moving to RWANDA
Choose a quality mover for your relocation to Rwanda. Worldwide Movers is the most experienced professional international moving company in the country and we have seen all sorts of insufficiently packed shipments arrive by air and sea. Select a moving company that specializes in overseas moves: they know how to pack and they know how to load your possessions to prevent damages. We would suggest that you designate and international mover that belongs to the Fédération Internationale des Déménageurs Internationaux (F.I.D.I.): membership manifests competency. Don't worry about customs clearance and delivery, we do it every day. If you need any special information, Anne Gahima knows the country backwards and will be pleased to speak with any of your potential shippers: there's nothing like first hand expertise.

Domestic Staff
Domestic staff are available at very modest wages. Ask around at your embassy or post an advertisement in one of the clubs. Better still, try to find someone who is leaving and wishes to find employment for their staff.

Schools
There are no international schools in Rwanda for the moment. Most expatriates send their children to boarding school overseas, mostly France, Belgium and Kenya, and no doubt there will be an International School opening shortly. Pre-primary care is available though the various embassies in Kigali.

Clubs
The Golf club in Nyarutarma is in a beautiful site some 12 km from the city but in addition are 2 Tennis clubs as well as the American club that is open to the public.The cuisine is basically American but they often have say Italian nights or other such themes where they may show multicultured movies and serve different cuisines of food.
Pastimes include poetry recitation, storytelling, and mancala, a board game common throughout Africa.
Soccer is also popular.Fine Arts: The richness of Rwandan culture is apparent in the wide range of fine crafts. These include pottery, basketry, painting, wood carving, metalwork, sewing, needlepoint, embroidery, and the creation of jewelry and gourd containers. Rwanda has produced a number of writers, including Alexis Kagame and J. Saverio Naigiziki, both of whom have written primarily in French. Kagame's and Naigiziki's main themes include religion and the conflict between tradition and modernity.

Embassy Registration
It's always a good idea to register with your Embassy as soon as you arrive in Kigali. Not only is it appreciated by the mission, but also a good way to meet other nationals at the cocktail parties that are held from time to time. Most of the diplomatic missions are fairly laid-back in Lusaka and can be more helpful than in other larger countries.

Special Occasions
Many a time one hears "I wish I had brought that with me from home!" Very little is available in the way of 'supermarket' food and it's a good idea to bring all those things you may miss with you. Things like Cranberry Sauce, Smoked Salmon or Foie Gras might be a nice addition from time to time.

Restaurants and Hotels
The Two major hotels are the Novotel and Hotel Mille Colline. Both are very popular seminar and relaxation hotels. They have swimming pools and popular eateries as well as formal dinning rooms. The restaurants in Kigali are good but mostly quiet. There are various Italian restaurants, Pizza shops, and Chinese and Indian restaurants scattered throughout the city.

Vehicles
Vehicles are expensive in Rwanda and we would suggest that you bring one with you, a 4 x 4 if you are adventurous and don't mind some awful roads. A normal car is not really suitable for most Rwandan roads, particularly during the rainy season.

Driving Licenses
The carrying of driver's licenses is mandatory whilst driving. All other licenses are valid for 6 months only but must be in French. For a stay longer than 6 months licenses can be freely exchanged for a Zambian licence or an international permit must be obtained. Most Rwandans drive fast and sometimes erratically so wean yourself into the madhouse slowly.

Popular Destinations
The Volcano National Park for Gorilla Tracking is well known for its is here that the renowned work of Diane Fossey started. The Akagera National Park offers site seeing for various animals whereas the Butare National Museum is exceptional. The museum was opened in 1978 and was presented to Rwanda by Belgain's King Baudouin. It's spacious rooms illustrate the country and its people from the earliest times until the present day.

Currency Exchange
Foreign Cash and Travellers cheques can be changed into Rwandan Francs at any bank in Kigali. There are as well several forex beureaus within the city located at the airport/hotels etc.

And Finally....
Rwanda is a truly adult-strength country with vivid green mountains, superb game parks, tough and resilient peoples where the resident can have total liberation from the humdrum of western urban life. The more you put into it, the more you get out of it!