Rwanda is located in the heart of Africa and also known as “the land of a Thousand Hills”.

It is truly a stunning country, the ancient forest of Nyungwe, the lakes and rolling savannah of Akagera, the hillside roads twisting among tea and banana plantations, sunsets over the silver waters of Lake Kivu, colorful local markets, intriguing hand crafts, thrilling displays of traditional dance, rich culture, museums and old royal places and of course the un missable mountain gorillas up there “in the Mist” among the virunga volcanoes. All of this is crammed into an area of 26,340 sq Km, so that nowhere is more than a day’s drive from anywhere else.

The Tourism sector in Rwanda has grown tremendously, despite the 1994 massive genocide.

Volcanoes National Park

This is home to the endangered species of the mountain gorillas; it located in the Virunga Mountain (Birungas), a range of six extinct and three active volcanoes, which straddles the border with Uganda and DRC. It lies in an altitude from 2400m to 4507m.

The park is best known to the outside world as the place where the American primatologist Dian Fossey undertook her pioneering studies of mountain gorilla behavior. It is largely thanks to Fossey’s single-mindedness, that poaching was curtailed while there were still some gorillas to save!

The park is also a habitat to other mammals, which include elephants, buffaloes, bushbucks, the threatened golden monkey and many others. The bird life is great as it holds a large number of the Albertine Rift endemics, - Rwenzori turaco, Regal sunbird, Grauer’s wabler, Rwenzori double collared sunbird and the Shelley’s crimsonwing.

Giysenyi/Goma

These two towns lie on the border of Rwanda and Congo respectively, these are a two hours scenic drive from the Volcanoes NP head quarters, the beautiful sceneries include the western arm of the Rift Valley, lakes, and terraced mountain slopes. The active volcanoes and the famous Lake Kivu found here. Hence you will be chanced to see the lavas of 2002 volcanic eruption.

Nyungwe Forest National Park

This natural forest reserve in the southwest of Rwanda, rises from 1700m to 3000m through scenery of exceptional beauty. It is part of the Congo Nile crest and the source of the (Alexandria) Nile is found here.

Nyungwe Forest protects the largest single tract of montane forest remaining anywhere in east or central Africa. As such it is remarkably rich centre of biodiversity, habouring 86 mammal species, 280 birds, 120 butterflies and about 200 varieties of orchid.

The main attraction of Nyugwe forest is its primates, such as chimpanzees, acrobatic Rwenzonri colobus in troops of up to 400 (the largest arboreal primate troops in Africa), the beautiful and highly localized L’Hoest’s monkeys, the race of the more wide spread Angola colobus which is restricted to the Albertine Rift, the silver monkey, owl faced monkey, the red tailed monkey, the vervet monkey and the Dent’s mona monkey.

Nyungwe forest is also a home to about 280 bird species recorded, of which the majority are forest species, and 26 are regional endemics.

Accommodation

Since Rwanda is a relatively small country, places to stay are located around the national parks and towns, which range from budget to up market.

Up Market Hotels

Inter Continental, Mille Collins, Novotel, these luxury rooms, swimming pool facilities, restaurants and bars, conference/business facilities including Internet access, these are located in Kigali.

Kivu Sun Hotel and Palm Beach hotel, both located on the bank of Lake Kivu in Gisenyi offer similar facilities to the hotels in Kigali.

Mountain Gorilla Nest

Closest to the Volcanoes NP, Mountain Gorilla nest is nestled under a grove of trees, with all the rooms surrounding a large courtyard. There are comfortable nicely appointed rooms with en  suite chalets with modern bathrooms and hot water. It has a spacious restaurant with large bar and reception area and friendly service. 

Budget Facilities

Kinigi Guest house and Muhavura Hotel, have spacious and airy en suite rooms, restaurants and bars.

Kingi is located at the foothills of Sabyino volcanoes near the Volcanoes NP head quarters, while Muhavura hotel is located in Ruhegeri town.