RWANDA
RWANDA – THE LAND OF A THOUSAND HILLS AND THE HOME TO THE MOUNTAIN GORILLAS
Famed for its gorillas, Rwanda is a country of ever changing landscapes and friendly people. It is a country full of surprises.
Perhaps most surprising of all is the beauty of the country. With much more to offer than gorilla trekking, Rwanda is a land locked gem just half the size of Scotland. It is spectacular to behold and more than worthy of its epithet of the land of a thousand hills, Mille Collines. Misty, moody rainforest in the south gives rise to lushly forested volcanoes and bamboo in the north. Dugout canoes ply the tranquil waters of Lake Kivu in the west and undulating grass plains of Akagera in the east are interspersed with light acacia woodlands.
A Rwanda safari will introduce you to its lovely people who are wonderfully friendly. They have courage and warmth and yet there is an innocence to them that is not always so evident in other parts of Africa.
Every successful gorilla-tracking safari in Rwanda brings a surprise. No matter what you are told beforehand, little can prepare you for the privilege – their eyes are so compelling, soft and brown, full of curious gentleness, inquisitive yet also accepting. As Dian Fossey said in ‘Gorillas in the Mist’, “The expression in his eyes was unfathomable. Spellbound I returned his gaze – a gaze that seemed to combine elements of enquiry and acceptance.”
HIGHLIGHTS OF A RWANDA SAFARI
Tracking the world’s remaining mountain gorillas
Beautiful and undulating plains of Akagera National Park
Gisozi Genocide Memorial
Best time to visit Rwanda
The driest months are generally from July to September and December to January
Rains tend to be between April and May and during October and November
Nyungwe’s rainy season is September to May, with the main dry season from June to August
June to September is the most popular time for gorilla trekking. It can be muddy year-round when gorilla trekking
Temperatures at higher altitude can be cold at night.