Rwanda

Rwanda is a small, mountainous country with good roads and short distances, which makes it the easiest place in Africa to see mountain gorillas. Volcanoes National Park is two to three hours' drive from Kigali airport, so a trek fits into a trip of three days.

A gorilla permit costs US$1,500 per person and allows one hour with a habituated family in a group of no more than eight. The same park has golden monkey tracking and the trail to Dian Fossey's former research camp.

There is more to the country than gorillas. Nyungwe National Park in the south-west is one of the oldest rainforests in Africa, with chimpanzees, thirteen primate species and a canopy walkway. Akagera National Park in the east has been restocked with lion and rhino and now has all of the Big Five. Lake Kivu has quiet lakeside towns for a day or two of rest.

In Kigali, the Genocide Memorial is an essential visit for understanding the country. The drier months are mid-June to September and mid-December to early February. Direct flights link Kigali with Kilimanjaro and Dar es Salaam, so Rwanda adds easily to a Tanzania safari.