A HIGHLAND COUNTRY

Rwanda lies between the southern latitude 1°20 and 2°50 and a longitude of 28°50 and 30°55. It is situated on the edge of the western rift, part of the Great Rift Valley which stretches through Africa, from the Red Sea to the southern part of Lake Malawi.  (Read more)

THE SUBSOIL AND ITS RESOURCES

The constituents of the subsoil in Rwanda is mainly the first Precambrian age rocks, with the most ancient ones dating back to almost 2 billion years. Between L400 and 950 million years ago, the region was part of a range of mountains, known as Kibarian range, which ran through Central and East Africa. The rocks constituted this range in Rwanda were gneiss, granites and schist.  (Read more)

THE CLIMATE: TEMPERATE WITH MODERATE PRECIPITATION

Rwanda has a special climate. Its highland relief profoundly modifies the climatic characteristics which would normally be found at this latitude. Mild temperatures and moderate rain falls make it different from other equatorial hot and humid regions however, it retains its major annual rhythm. This climatic originality is shared with various highlands in East Africa.  (Read more)

THE VEGETATION

Two thousand years ago, before human intervention became a dominant factor, a major port of the Rwandan territory was covered in forest.  (Read more)

THE WILDLIFE. 'BETWEEN FOREST AND SAVANNAH'

Animals in Rwanda belong to two different fauna groups, due to the fact that the country transitionally touches central forest and eastern savannah.   (Read more)