The name Rwanda evokes images of amazing mountain gorillas in the mist, eating nettles on the slopes of the Virunga volcanoes. Rwanda’s captivating natural features continue to draw visitors in, from Lake Kivu and Rwanda’s majestic volcanoes, to the acres of lush vegetation, verdant tea plantations and dense rainforest. Rwanda is home to hundreds of species of trees, plants and birds, in which its varied wildlife and biodiversity can be seen across the stunning national parks.
A great place for nature loving travellers, Rwanda has three main conservation areas. The Volcanoes National Park is in the north-west of the country and is home to the impressive mountain gorilla. Time spent here tracking the gorillas on foot is for many travellers a lifetime dream come true. To the south you find the Nyungwe Forest, whose dense forest canopy is home to large chimpanzee and colobus monkey populations. In the east, Akagera National Park is home to a unique swamp ecosystem that is one of the largest protected wetland areas in eastern Africa.
Rwanda is known for its complex and tragic history, yet the Land of a Thousand Hills, with its stunning natural surroundings and impeccable wildlife mean that visitors have now returned to this beautiful country, allowing the capital Kigali and the shores of Lake Kivu to rebuild and redevelop. The people are charming and welcoming, keen to show off their tiny gem of a country to visitors.