Rwanda

The small, landlocked country of Rwanda is packed so full of rolling green mountains that it’s also known as Le Pays des Mille Collines, or “Land of a Thousand Hills”. Ancient rainforest and bamboo groves are home to golden monkeys and highly endangered mountain gorillas. Added to this, Rwanda has a diversified culture, which encompasses numerous ethnic groups and languages, and it’s easy and safe to travel around the country.

Rwanda is famous for the spectacular Volcanoes National Park, home to five forested volcanoes, including the 4,507-metre-tall Mount Karisimb. Both mountain gorillas and golden monkeys are also found here, as are fabulous hiking trails, and climbs up the towering Virungas. Head to southwestern Nyungwe National Park for one of the most biodiverse areas in Africa: a sprawling tract of ancient, montane rainforest which is home to numerous primates including chimpanzees, olive baboons, and vervet monkeys. For even more relaxation, explore Lake Kivu’s secluded inland beaches, including beach resorts in Gisenyi. Capital Kigali is known for safety and a lively nightlife and dining scene, as well as the Kigali Genocide Memorial, a sobering monument to Rwanda’s 1994 genocide.