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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