Rwanda is one of Africa’s smallest nations, but it is proudly home to an abundance of excellent wildlife diversity. Its modest size means that getting between places of interest is relatively quick and simple, which is just as well given the vast array of spectacular places to visit in Rwanda.

Despite the country’s small size, Rwanda’s breath-taking environment and kind, welcoming people provide one-of-a-kind experiences. The capital city of Kigali is the country’s entry and exit point for prime gorilla trekking in Rwanda.

You will fly in from East Africa’s logistics hubs such as Entebbe or Nairobi and, depending on your itinerary, will either transfer straight to the Volcanoes National Park or overnight in this compact and safe city for immersive and captivating Kigali tours and safaris on offer.

Gorilla trekking is Rwanda’s unrivalled main attraction, and the Volcanoes National Park is where to stay in Rwanda to do it. Its mountainous terrain and dense forests make for tough walking conditions, but the rewards are matchless: butterflies, birds and primates, headlined of course by families of habituated mountain gorillas.

Volcanoes National Park is the site of primatologist Dian Fossey’s Karisoke Research Station, where she led a team to study gorillas in the wild. You can undertake about a 2-hour hike to her tomb, which is – like so much in Rwanda – both moving and inspiring, or discover more about the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.

The hike is considered one of the best, most intimate tours in Rwanda, and offers a great opportunity to look out for primates, hogs, forest elephants and a plethora of bird species. There are a few troops of habituated golden monkeys, whose antics are great fun to watch. Golden monkeys are endangered, and permits are required for trekking.

This trip is massive and refreshing when combined with Lake Kivu tour. After all the fatigue in locating the gorillas in the jungle, relax and refresh on the sandy beaches of Kivu. Lake Kivu is a massive expanse of water ringed by verdant hills that offer excellent hiking, chimp trekking, bird watching and canopy walks.

Lake Kivu has also become a benchmark for the unparalleled scenery you will encounter at the top Rwanda tourist attractions. Here you will stay at Gisenyi, a small town on the northern shore from which you can go kayaking or boating.

Kivu is a tranquil place to get over jet lag from a long-haul flight or to relax after the rigors of gorilla trekking and the many other incredible tours in Rwanda.