Rwanda

Rwanda has undergone one of the most remarkable transformations in modern African history, emerging from the 1994 genocide to become the continent's cleanest, safest, and most efficiently run country. This transformation extends to its tourism sector, which has been developed with a deliberate focus on high-value, sustainable experiences.

Volcanoes National Park, in the volcanic Virunga Mountains along the Uganda and DRC border, is Rwanda's flagship attraction. Twelve habituated gorilla families are visited daily by small groups of trekkers who hike through bamboo forest and hagenia woodland on the volcano slopes to spend one hour with these gentle giants. The park also offers golden monkey tracking and the chance to hike to the summit of Mount Bisoke with its stunning crater lake.

Nyungwe Forest National Park in the southwest protects one of Africa's oldest and most biodiverse montane rainforests. Home to 13 primate species including chimpanzees and L'Hoest's monkeys, Nyungwe also boasts a spectacular canopy walkway suspended 50 metres above the forest floor. Akagera National Park in the east completes Rwanda's circuit as the country's only savanna park, recently restored with reintroduced lions, black rhinos, and a growing Big Five population.

Rwanda's compact size means you can experience gorillas, chimps, and Big Five safari all within a 7-day itinerary — a concentration of highlights that few countries can match.