A small country in the heart of Africa, Rwanda is known the world over as the home of the mountain gorillas, and as the Land of a Thousand Hills, a vast central plateau of steep mountains and deep, wild valleys.
It is a destination that rewards the curious: gorillas within arm's reach, misty forests alive with chimpanzees, a lake you can actually swim in, and a capital that has become one of the continent's most surprising cities. Here is how we like to travel it.
1 Kigali, the capital
Nestled between the hills, Kigali is the gateway. Two days are enough to feel its warm, creative energy: the Genocide Memorial to understand the country's history, a tasting of Rwandan coffee (among the finest in the world), and the Kimironko market for its hand-woven Agaseke baskets. A modern city that has kept its soul.
2 Nyungwe Forest & the canopy walk
One of Africa's oldest rainforests. Trails from one to eight hours lead to a suspension bridge with its canopy views, and to two primate species, chimpanzees and colobus monkeys. A rare encounter, in deep quiet.
3 Lake Kivu
On the Congolese border, one of Africa's largest and most beautiful lakes, and one of the few where you can swim, with neither hippos nor crocodiles. Kayak, sail, or simply pause here between two adventures.
4 The gorillas of Volcanoes National Park
On the slopes of the Virunga volcanoes live around 300 mountain gorillas, the ones Dian Fossey devoted her life to. To protect them, only eight visitors a day are allowed near each family. For the sportier, the two-day climb up Karisimbi, Rwanda's highest peak, is unforgettable.
5 Safari in Akagera National Park
Three and a half hours from Kigali, Akagera is home to the Big Five. Stay at least one night and explore by 4x4, by boat, or on foot with a ranger. Its conservation work, reintroducing species, rebuilding populations, is a story worth hearing first-hand.
Rwanda leaves a deep, lasting impression. Few places combine wildlife, landscape and a sense of renewal quite like it.
Dreaming of your own journey through Rwanda? Let's talk it through with our specialists.
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