Rwanda is known as Le Pays des Mille Collines (Land of a Thousand Hills) thanks to the endless mountains in this scenically stunning little country. Nowhere are the mountains more majestic than the Virunga volcanoes in the northwest, and hidden among the bamboo forests are some of the world’s last remaining mountain gorillas. For a change of scene, the shores of Lake Kivu conceal some of the best inland beaches on the continent, while Nyungwe Forest National Park protects extensive tracts of montane rainforest, and is home to many primates. But it’s not all monkey business – Kigali, the capital, is safe and sophisticated.

Sure, Rwanda’s name may evoke memories of the horrific genocide that brutalized this country in 1994, but it’s all over and the country has embraced a promising and dynamic future. Rwanda remains stable, tourism is once again a key contributor to the economy, and you’ll feel absolutely welcome