Rwanda

Landlocked and compact, verdant Rwanda is often affectionately called the ‘Land of a Thousand Hills’. In this absolutely charming little country, visitors can explore a spectrum of habitats and ecotypes that range from the dramatic Virunga volcanoes to the quintessentially African savannah, light woodland and plains of Akagera National Park. There is also the impressive and very beautiful Nyungwe Forest National Park, which protects the largest remaining swathe of tropical montane forest in East and Central Africa. Scenic, high-altitude Lake Kivu is one of the 20 deepest lakes in the world. Among Rwanda’s many other scenic highlights are pretty lakes such as Burera, Ruhondo, and Karago, which are ringed by steep hills; there are many waterfalls, and in often intensively cultivated rural areas, villages punctuate the farmlands, with the stunning Virungas providing a breathtaking backdrop.

Much of the western and central regions are hilly or mountainous, eastern Rwanda is characterized by lower and flatter terrain. There, the River Kagera, with its network of marshlands and lakes, runs along the border with Tanzania.

While Rwanda is still known for a bloody civil war - the ‘genocide’ - that lasted 3 months in 1994, the country has since returned to near normality; it is a peaceful place where the democratic government promotes harmony and a tangible optimism. Today, Rwandese are keen to share with the world what happened in 1994, so as to prevent it from ever happening again. Today’s Rwanda is regarded as a fine adventure and eco-tourism destination, with its capital, Kigali, being one of the most advanced hi-tech, cleanest, and orderly of African cities.