Rwanda is a tiny, mountainous, land-locked country offering warm hospitality and a variety of experiences. The ‘land of 1,000 hills’ is impressively mountainous, the highest peak being nearly 15,000-foot Karisimbi in the volcanic Virunga chain. The country is most well-known for its gorilla trekking, which was made famous by prominent primatologist Dian Fossey (Gorillas in the Mist).
We’d be remiss not to begin with Rwanda’s most famous park – Volcanoes National Park. Its impressive peaks are home to Africa’s mountain gorillas, and trekking to see the great apes is one of the greatest nature experiences on earth. It is also possible to climb some of the volcanoes, visit beautiful local lakes or visit the site of Dian Fossey’s grave and hut where she lived and worked.
But there is more to Rwanda than gorillas! We love clean, safe, cosmopolitan Kigali. With vibrant markets, luxury hotels, impressive museums, memorials and incredible dining, it’s worthy of exploration. From there, travelers can visit Akagera National Park – Rwanda’s largest – to see the Big 5 and learn of the Park’s impressive conservation history.
To get a bit off-the-beaten-path and expand your primate viewing opportunities, we recommend a visit to Nyungwe Forest National Park. It is home to 13 primate species (25% of Africa’s total!) including chimpanzee and golden monkey. There is also a diversity of mammal and bird species. Guests can trek through the forest to see the primates, or walk through the forest canopy on metal walkways, bringing you eye-level with the birds and tree-dwelling species.
See for yourself how beautiful Rwanda is in the video above
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Rwanda is often called the “Land of a Thousand Hills” because of its mountainous terrain and rolling landscapes, including the volcanic peaks of the Virunga mountain range.
Rwanda is best known for gorilla trekking, where visitors hike through the forests of Volcanoes National Park to see endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.
Mountain gorillas can be seen in Volcanoes National Park, one of Rwanda’s most famous parks and one of the best places in the world to experience gorilla trekking.
Yes. Rwanda’s capital city, Kigali, is known for being clean, safe and cosmopolitan, with vibrant markets, museums, memorials, luxury hotels and excellent dining.
Yes. Chimpanzee trekking is available in Nyungwe Forest National Park, where visitors can hike through dense rainforest to observe these fascinating primates.
Photos courtesy Bisate Lodge, Anisha B., One Zone Studio and Nyungwe House