RWANDA

Summary
When to go
Where to stay

Rwanda is a tiny, landlocked, mountainous republic in Equatorial Africa, lying on the eastern rim of the Albertine Rift and the watershed between Africa’s two largest river systems: the Nile and the Congo.

Often called the “land of a thousand hills” it is also the most densely populated country in Africa with 10 million inhabitants.  Rwanda has a number of unique experiences on offer; Nyungwe Forest, one of the largest montane forests in Central Africa, is renowned for its large troops of Colobus Monkeys and rich variety of orchids, Akagera National Park is a savannah park with elephants, hippo and crocodile and Lake Kivu is a beautiful inland sea enclosed by steep terraced hillsides.

Rwanda has a rich culture with its second city, Butare, having one of the finest cultural museums in Africa but the main attraction is Parc National des Volcans in the Virunga volcanoes being home to the Mountain Gorillas to which Dian Fossey dedicated her life. Undeniably the most unique primate that survives in these forgotten forests of Africa is the Mountain Gorilla. Gorillas are the largest of the great apes, the group that includes Chimpanzees and Orang-utans, they contain 97% of the genetic make-up of humans – a paper statistic that is meaningless until you come face to face with these gentle giants.

Similarities in the physiology of humans and apes are striking but more fascinating are the similarities in social behaviour, intellectual behaviour and expression of emotions. They express emotions similar to those we call joy and sadness, fear and despair. They can suffer mentally as well as physically. In contrast to the six billion human beings living on our crowded planet, there are only some 650 Mountain Gorillas remaining

The best time to visit Rwanda is during the dry season, which runs from June to September and late December to February. During these months, the weather is warm and sunny, with less rain. This makes it ideal for Gorilla trekking.

The March-May and October-November seasons are the rainy seasons and while it is still possible to go trekking to see the Gorillas it can be very wet; especially in the March to mid-May season when the rains are at their heaviest. The short rains season of October to November are better than March-May.

 

Virunga Lodge

Virunga Lodge is set on a stunning hilltop ridge overlooking two beautiful lakes with views of the Virunga Volcanoes. It... Find out more

Wilderness Bisate

Wilderness Bisate has set a new level of luxury and service to Rwanda and is an incredible addition to their... Find out more

Wilderness Magashi Camp

Deep within the untamed beauty of Akagera National Park in Rwanda lies the remarkable Wilderness Magashi Camp. This extraordinary eco-luxury... Find out more

Wilderness Sabyinyo

Wilderness Sabyinyo is located in the foothills of the vast range of 15,000 ft Virunga Mountains. The lodge is named... Find out more

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