Byumba, Rwanda

Capital City

The population of Byumba is just 34,544, a far cry from the bustling capital of Kigali. This sleepy northern city is home to an SOS Children's Village, but not much else - the local economy is dominated by a single bank branch, and the climate is unremarkable. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as evidenced by the fact that the official 2012 population figure is nearly double the current estimate. Unless you have a specific reason to be in this remote region, Byumba is unlikely to be an appealing destination for most foreigners.