Languages in Rwanda

Unusually for Africa, Rwanda is essentially a mono-linguistic state, with the first language of practically all citizens being Kinyarwanda. In addition, most Rwandans speak a little of at least one international language. Historically, French was the most widely recognised European language, thanks to almost 50 years of Belgian colonisation. These days, however, English probably has the greater presence, partly because so many long-term exiles who returned after the genocide were educated in Uganda, Kenya or Tanzania, partly because it replaced French as the international language of education in 2009. In rural areas, KiSwahili, a coastal Bantu language that has come to serve as the lingua franca of East Africa, is still more widely understood than either English or French. From a visitor’s perspective, it is pretty easy to get around in either English or French, both of which are recognised as an official language alongside Kinyarwanda, but English is undoubtedly the primary language of the tourist industry.

Our Recommended Itinerary

The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda

day 1

Entebbe, arrival
at The Boma Entebbe
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda

day 2

Your drive to Kibale is well worth it
at Primate Lodge Kibale
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda

day 3

Full day with the Chimps
at Primate Lodge Kibale
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda

day 4

Onwards to Queen Elizabeth
at Ishasha Wilderness Camp
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda

day 5 to 6

Witness the unusual tree climbing lions
at Ishasha Wilderness Camp
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda

day 7

Bwindi National Park all to yourself
at Buhoma Lodge
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda

day 8

Gorilla trekking, enjoy every minute
at Buhoma Lodge
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda

day 9

Buhoma Village walk
at Buhoma Lodge
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda

day 10

Drive via Kisoro to Rwanda
at Mountain View Gorilla Lodge
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda

day 11

Visit the Dian Fossey Tomb
at Kigali Serena
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda
  • The Primates of Uganda & Rwanda

day 12

Fly Home

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Medical emergencies in Rwanda

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Rwanda vs Uganda

Golden monkey in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda and Uganda host a broadly similar set of attractions. Foremost among these mountain gorilla tracking, and while neither country could be said to offer a definitively better tracking experience than the other, our experience is that the more open nature of the forest in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park makes it slightly more reliable…

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A couple safari in Rwanda

Comoran Lodge, Lake Kivu Rwanda is well suited to active couples whose idea of shared quality time entails forest hikes, game drives, engaging in cultural activities, and so on. It is not particularly suited to quiet romantic beach getaways, though lovely Lake Kivu provides a fair substitute for a bona fide beach resort. Highlights The top highlight for couples - as with most other…

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