Location: Central Africa
Rwanda has undergone a radical transformation since its devastating 1994 genocide, with increased political stabilization, dramatic infrastructure improvements and impressive economic growth fueled by a burgeoning ecotourism industry. At its heart are the Virunga Mountains, whose majestic summits tower from 10,049 to 14,787 feet: It’s easy to see why the country is called “the land of a thousand hills.”
Most people visit to see the critically endangered Mountain Gorillas, of which around 900 remain in the wild (half of which are in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park). But these dynamic landscapes, which stretch from Lake Kivu in the south to Uganda’s Lake Edward in the north, rank among the most beautiful we’ve ever seen, offering plenty of other adventures for active travelers and nature lovers alike. We recommend trekking to see the endangered Golden Monkeys in the Virungas, visiting Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village (which provides alternative revenue streams for former poachers), and exploring Nyungwe Forest National Park (where you can see Chimpanzees and four monkey species in the wild).
Rwanda is easily one of the best places to vacation in Africa!
