Africa:Rwanda
Slowly recovering from dark times, Rwanda is once again becoming recognized as home to amazing mountain gorillas and breathtaking mountain views. Much of the country has been rebuilt and the economy and tourism resurrected. It has some of the last-remaining wild populations of mountain gorillas in the world, which visitors can see on Rwanda gorilla tours. Rwanda shares a common border with Uganda, and forms part of the Great Western Rift Valley. The countryside is covered by grasslands and small farms extending over rolling hills, with areas of rugged mountains that extend southeast from a chain of volcanoes in the northwest. The divide between the Congo and Nile drainage systems extends from north to south through western Rwanda at an average elevation of almost 9,000 feet. On the western slopes of this ridgeline, the land slopes abruptly toward Lake Kivu, which, at an altitude of 4,829 feet, is the highest lake in Africa. Extending north of the lake are the Virunga Mountains, including the volcano Karisimbi, 14,187 feet, Rwanda's highest point. The eastern slopes are more moderate, with rolling hills that evolve into the plains, swamps and lakes of the eastern border region. For a truly amazing experience with luxury Rwanda tours, travel with Big Five Tours and Expeditions.
