Rwanda is also where you'll find the mountain gorillas...

Rwanda today is a peaceful and forward-looking nation with a fast-growing economy. The memorials found throughout the country are moving testimonies in memory of the horrific 1994 genocide.

It is a remarkable country, surrounded by volcano mountain ranges and rolling hills - which is why it is known as the Land of a Thousand Hills.

Rwanda is home to 1/3 of the world's remaining mountain gorilla population. Volcanoes National Park protects the steep slopes of the magnificant mountain range where the gorillas live.

Trekking this endangered species through the rainforest, alive with the calls from colourful birds and the chattering of the rare golden monkey, is one of the truly unique experiences in the area. The dry seasons are from June to September and from December to early February.

At 1122 square kilometres, Akagera National Park is relatively small, yet it's home to an impressive amount of wildlife. Lions, leopards, hyena, large herds of buffalos and antelopes and about 500 species of birds. Elephants congregate around the lakes, which are inhabited by over 800 hippos, as well as Africa's top freshwater predator: the Nile crocodile.

Within the Great Rift Valley lies Nyungwe Forest, home to 75 species of mammals, including habituated chimpanzees and 12 other primates. It is a birder's paradise with over 310 recorded species. This is also where you'll find the only canopy walk in East Africa, reaching 70 metres above the rainforest floor and spanning 200 metres in length.

Lake Kivu is an hour's drive from Volcanoes National Park. Once a colonial beach resort, Rubavu's waterfront is lined with fading old mansions, hotels and trendy bars. Lake Kivu is part of Africa's Great Rift Valley and covers a surface of 2700 square kilometres. For adventurous travelers an exciting way to explore Rwanda is kayaking on Africa's sixth largest lake or mountain biking and hiking on the Congo Nile Trail.