The Land of a Thousand Hills and Gorillas
Rwanda is a small, landlocked country in East and Central Africa, nicknamed the land of a thousand hills and best known for its mountain gorillas, lush highlands and a capital, Kigali, admired for its order and creativity. Rolling green ridges, terraced tea and coffee farms and mist-wrapped forest give the country a landscape that feels almost sculpted. Its compact size is an advantage: from Kigali, the principal national parks are reached within a few hours' drive, so a single trip can include primates, savannah wildlife, a lake and a city.
The headline experience is gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, in the Virunga range in the north-west, where small groups follow experienced trackers into bamboo and montane forest to spend an hour with a habituated family. It is among the most memorable wildlife encounters on the planet. Kwita Izina, the annual gorilla naming ceremony, celebrates the conservation story, and the country has become a reference point for community-led wildlife tourism. Travellers who love wildlife often pair Rwanda with the Galapagos Islands or the Seychelles for a year of remarkable nature.
Nyungwe, Akagera and the Shores of Lake Kivu
Rwanda's variety is its strength. Nyungwe Forest National Park, one of Africa's oldest montane rainforests, offers chimpanzee tracking, colobus monkeys and a canopy walkway above the treetops, while Akagera National Park in the east has savannah, lakes and a Big Five safari following the return of lions and rhinos. Lake Kivu, on the western edge, is the place to relax, with beaches at Gisenyi and Kibuye, boat trips between forested islands and sunsets across the water. The Congo Nile Trail follows the lake shore by foot or bike.
Kigali itself rewards a day or two. The city has a growing scene of cafes, galleries and craft markets, with local coffee a point of pride and imigongo, geometric cow-dung art, a distinctive cultural craft. Cultural experiences in the countryside include dance performances by Intore troupes and village walks. For a airline or lodge operator, Rwanda's combination of primates, lakes and a modern capital forms a clear, compelling pitch, and the wider region links with Qatar and Doha for long-haul connections.
Read the full Rwanda guide on Visit Travel Group, or see RwandaHolidays.co.uk on Visit Travel Group.