Gorilla safaris in Rwanda

Rwanda is the kind of astonishing country that, once visited, will never be erased from our hearts and our memories. Also known as the Land of 10,000 Hills, this beautiful, but tiny and landlocked country is also a paradox. Deemed devoid of any natural assets it was left to stand alone during the darkness of genocide in 1994, yet it has shown it has an enormous surplus of dignity and human spirit. The flow of tourism is increasing again thanks largely to the excellent recent work of the government in protecting highly endangered mountain gorillas in the Virunga Mountains. There are no words that can accurately describe the point in time when humans come face to face with the gorillas; words cannot really describe such an overwhelming experience. Another highlight of Rwanda is found in Nyungwe Forest National Park, which is rich in both flora and fauna and home to one-fifth of Africa's primates. Not only do we have time to walk in the forest and absorb its astounding natural diversity, but also encounter other unique species of wildlife. A day of trekking gives us the opportunity to spot chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys and much more! Time spent at an idyllic spot along the shores of Lake Kivu is a wonderful way to reward ourselves after our active days of travelling and trekking. As well as amazing wildlife experiences, time spent in Butare and Kigali allows us to understand the recent history of Rwanda and the trials of its people. The Rwanda National Museum at Butare and Genocide Memorial in Kigali are sobering reminders of what had happened, but also help us to admire the tremendous resilience of the Rwandan people.