Rwanda, ‘the Land of a Thousand Hills’ is a place of great diversity and beauty. Spectacular volcanoes and dense tropical forests dominate the north, while gentle hills and valleys, calm lakes and turbulent rivers dominate the rest of the country.

Rwanda boasts a wide variety of wildlife and is one of our favourite destinations. The Parc National des Volcans (PNV), in northern Rwanda is home to some of the world’s last remaining mountain gorillas.

Rwanda provides an incredible experience and is a great combination with other safari destinations. It is now even possible to seamlessly combine a safari into Southern Africa with a gorilla safari experience since Rwanda Air Express now flies daily between Johannesburg and Kigali.

The gorillas can be viewed year-round although the wet months of April, May and November are best avoided if possible. That said, being located on the equator and in the rain forest (they don’t call it that for nothing!) the weather can be unpredictable.

We generally suggest a minimum of a three-night stay to enable two days of gorilla viewing. The first day is always overwhelming and a second day allows an immersion into the experience. It also allows us to mitigate against the weather and maximize the possibility of quality viewing.

Many people ask about the chances of not seeing the gorillas. It is very rare not to see the gorillas since every gorilla family group has national parks observers with them throughout daylight hours and radio contact is kept with observers and approaching client groups.

The gorillas live in a protected area, free from poachers, and can be viewed in their natural habitats at a fairly close range. The exhilarating climb offers fantastic views in all directions. The trackers are immersed in the mysterious intimacy of the rain forest, alive with the calls of colourful birds and the chattering of rare golden monkey.

Nothing can prepare you for the impact of encountering a fully-grown silver back gorilla, up to three times the size of an average man, yet remarkably peaceable and tolerant of human visitors. The lush forested slopes of the mountains form a dramatic natural setting for what is arguably one of the most poignant and memorable wildlife experiences in the world.

Rwanda is a fascinating country and a modern-day success story.  It is now one of the most secure African nations. The Rwandese people are incredibly hospitable and will no doubt leave you with a deep respect for their resilience and culture.