Rwanda

Rwanda has been described as 'a new African dawn'. Despite its troubled past, Rwanda is becoming renowned for its accessibilty to the Mountain Gorillas.

Lying at the heart of Central Africa, it was the base for primatologist Dian Fossey's research into the rare mountain gorilla. Visitors will be rewarded by the sheer beauty of the country and the wonderful warm welcome of the locals.

The Volcanoes National Park (Parc des Volcans)

Bamboo and rainforest cover the slopes of the seven volcanoes that tower through the mist to almost 4,500 metres. Tracking the gorillas here is an experience not to be missed and normally takes between one and four hours.

Nyungwe National Park

Nyungwe National Park is the largest stretch of mountain forest in Eastern and Central Africa, extending for 1,000 square kilometres. Colourful orchids, giant lobelia and over 300 bird species can be found here. It also attracts 13 species of primates, with troops of up to a hundred using the forest as their adventure playground.

Lake Kivu

Lake Kivu is the largest lake in Rwanda and is the place to see local life with bustling, colourful waterside markets.

Flights & Facts

Fly to: Kigali via Nairobi Flying Time: 10 hrs 10 mins Time Difference: GMT+ 2 Visas: Not required for UK passport holders Health requirements: Yellow fever certificate required Best time to travel: Jul - Sep and Dec - Jan

Weather

The driest months in Rwanda are between July and September and from December to January. The rains tend to fall between April and May and then again from October to November. However, trekking for gorillas involves entering the rainforests so you need to be prepared to get wet and muddy most of the year.