Rwanda is bordered by Uganda to the north, Tanzania to the east, Burundi to the south, and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west. The country is often referred to as the “Land of a Thousand Hills” due to its hilly and mountainous terrain and it is located in Central/Eastern Africa. With a surface area of 26,338 square kilometers, Rwanda stands as the 149th largest country in the world and the 4th smallest country in Africa after Gambia, Eswatini and Djibouti. Lying a few degrees south of the equator, Rwanda is a landlocked country.
The central and western parts of Rwanda are mountainous and its highest point is Mount Karisimbi at 4,507 meters. These mountains are part of the Albertine Rift mountains that flank the Albertine branch of the East African Rift which runs from north to south along Rwanda’s western border. This western section of the country lies within the Albertine Rift montane forests and has an elevation of 1,500 to 2,500 meters. The central of Rwanda is predominantly rolling hills while the eastern border consists savanna plains and swamps.
Capital
The capital city of Rwanda is Kigali. It is located in the central part of the country on the Ruganwa River. At first, the city was a trade center during the German colonial administration and then became a regional center during the Belgian colonial period and in 1962 upon Rwanda’s independence, it became the capital city.