Category: Rwanda

(1) You can fly in direct from almost anywhere Burundi to the south, Uganda to the north, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, Rwanda could be regarded as one of the most unreachable areas on the continent by both road and air. You can fly into Rwanda from just about anywhere on the planet and the country runs an airline (Rwand Air) that connects it to almost all major African cities. (2) The Mountain Gorillas Rwanda has an amazing Mountain Gorilla population. These inhabit Volcanoes National Park, in the far north-west of the country (where it rubs up against Virunga National Park in the DRC and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda to create one colossal cross-border expanse of wildlife and wonder). Access is, of course, carefully controlled – but, as of 2015, 10 Gorilla groups can be glimpsed by tourists, with 80 passes available per day. The experience is nonetheless inimitable. (3) More to mountains than Gorillas As its name suggests, Volcanoes National Park incorporates five of the eight volcanoes which give the ridgeline of the Virunga Mountains a lava-born grandeur. Mount Karisimbi is the highest of these behemoths – tall enough, at 14,787ft (4,507m), for snow to be present on its summit during the annual dry season of June-August (indeed, its name loosely translates as “snow” in the local language, Kinyarwanda). For all this, it can be conquered on foot (thankfully, the volcano is regarded as inactive). The hike upwards – which takes two days, and is described as “strenuous yet rewarding” – is detailed in full at the national park website (volcanoesnationalparkrwanda.com/activities/mount-karisimbi-hike.html). (4) The Lions Rwanda’s Akagera National Park (akageranationalpark.org) is home to a full quota of the Big Five (lion, rhino, elephant, buffalo, and leopard). Spreading out on the east flank of the