Above Lake Kivu
Mugonero Hospital is situated on the hills overlooking the great Lake Kivu, in the administrative Sector of Gishyita, District of Karongi, 33 kilometers south of the town of Kibuye and 150 km west of Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda. Latitude: 2°10’31″ south; Longitude: 29°17’32″ east. Elevation: 1,800 meters above sea level.
Rwanda is a gem to be discovered:
Rwanda is a land of great diversity and beauty. Popularly known as ‘the land of a thousand hills’, Rwanda has six volcanoes, twenty-three lakes and numerous rivers, some forming the source of the great River Nile. The landscapes in this green country are truly breathtaking. Many a visitor to Rwanda has remarked that the physical beauty of the country is without equal on the African continent. Spectacular volcanoes and dense tropical forests dominate the north of the country, while gentle hills and valleys, calm lakes and turbulent rivers in both savannah and dense tropical vegetation dominate the rest of the country. Rwanda boasts a wide variety of wildlife. The Parc National des Volcans, in northern Rwanda is home to the world’s largest number of endangered mountain gorillas. Numbering in the hundreds, the gorillas live in a protected area, free from poachers. The gorillas can be viewed in their natural mountain habitats at a fairly close range. Best known for its wealth of primates, Rwanda also has one of Africa’s richest bird life. A staggering 670 different bird species have been recorded in Rwanda. For botanists, the gorgeous wildflowers of the forests and mountains are capped by more than 100 orchid species in Nyungwe alone. The Akagera National Park in eastern Rwanda is teeming with wildlife both large and small. They range from Lions, Giraffe, Elephant and Hippopotamus to Hyena, Impala and Gazelle. There is a rich variety of bird life at Akagera as well. Rwanda also has water bodies which are ideal for water sports and fishing, particularly Lake Kivu in the west of the country and Lake Muhazi in the east. Lake Kivu also offers beautiful beaches, jutting peninsulas and an archipelago of beautiful islands. Rwanda, in a nutshell, is a nature lover’s paradise. It is also one of the friendliest of countries. A warm welcome is complemented by comfortable facilities, fine food and a rich cultural heritage.
Visit the Rwandan Department of Tourism for more information.
Interactive map of Rwanda
Wikimapia map showing hospital, schools and church.
Travel tips
Getting to Rwanda: One can fly to Rwanda with Sabena, Alliance Express/Alliance Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, Air Tanzania and Air Burundi. All international flights land at Kanombe Airport which is 10kms away from central Kigali.
Passports and visas: A valid passport is mandatory. VISAS ARE NOT REQUIRED FOR NATIONALS OF THE USA, GERMANY, CANADA, UGANDA, TANZANIA, KENYA, BURUNDI AND THE DRC. For further information, please call the Rwandan Embassy/Mission nearest to you. (Phone numbers provide below and in the Useful Contacts section of this website).
Health: A certificate for yellow fever vaccination is required. Malaria is present and anti-malarial drugs are recommended.
Money: The unit of currency is the Rwandan franc, which is traded at US$1=Rfr 430- 450 in April 2001. The US dollar is the hard currency preference. It may be impossible to exchange travelers’ cheques at a good rate (or at all) away from Kigali. All major credit cards can be used at hotels and good restaurants in Kigali.
Language: In addition to the indigenous language, Kinyarwanda, French and English are the official languages. French is widely spoken throughout the country, while many people speak English in Kigali and the main tourist areas. Kiswahili is also widely spoken around the country.
