Enclosed by Tanzania to the east, Uganda to the north, Burundi to the south and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, Rwanda a country of stunning beauty.

The country boasts an incredibly wide array of flora and fauna that includes rare species of animals such as  silverback mountain Gorillas.

The 26,338 square kilometre country comprises of two dominant tribes; Hutu and Tutsi.  The Hutu are the majority people consisting of around 83 per cent of the population and are mostly peasant farmers of southern Bantu stock. The Tutsi are around 16 per cent of the population and are the descendants of the herds people from the Horn of Africa.

More than 80 per cent of Rwandese are christian with the rest being Muslim. Their rich cultural heritage can be seen in their huge array of fine crafts that comprises - among other things - pottery, jewelry, painting, basketry, metalwork and wood carving.

In 1994, an estimated 500000 Tutsi and thousands of Hutu were killed in the infamous Rwanda Genocide – one of the darkest moments in the history of Africa. The country has however gotten over the unfortunate occurrence and is now one of the fastest growing economies in the region.

French and English are the official languages, with French being widely spoken throughout Rwanda. English is used in the capital, Kigali, and other tourist centres. Kinyarwanda is the indigenous language of the country.

Rwanda is impressively hilly, the highest peak being Karisimbi (4,507m) in the volcanic Virunga chain protected by the Parc des Volcans. This contours of the steep mountains are the reason behind numerous erratic-shaped lakes that are dotted around the country; the largest being Lake Kivu.

Situated in the western Rift Valley between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lake Kivu is one of the five volcanic lakes of Rwanda with a maximum depth of 485 metres, a volume of 550 cubic kilometres and a surface area of 2370 square kilometres.

The lake is renowned the world over as it hosts Idjwi,the world’s eight-largest inland island. It is also one of the few exploding lakes in the world which are affected by fierce lake overturns resulting from volcanic activity. The lake is reported to contain a huge amount of methane gas which is formed when harmful chemicals from these volcanoes constantly get mixed with the lake water. The lake's temperature and salinity increases in the deep water layers.

There are two active volcanoes near the northern shore of Lake Kivu namely; Nyiragongo which erupted in January 1977 and January 2002 and  Nyamulagira which erupts every few years. Other volcanic lakes are    Ruhondo, Bulera, Bunyonyi and Mutanda. The lakes not only offer numerous opportunities for water-skiing, canoeing and water gliding, but they also make Rwanda a great getaway destination.

In the recent times Rwanda has emerged as one of the most popular tour destinations in East Africa. One of the major tourist attractions in the country is  Parc National des Volcans – the home to more than half of the world's remaining population of mountain gorillas. Visits to Parc National des Volcans, situated in the far northwest of  Rwanda, provide magnificent opportunities to view the primates in their natural mountain habitats at close range.

Gorilla visits can take anything between 1 to 4-hours trek through the dense forest, led by experienced trackers. Gorilla tracking requires a permit that should be booked ahead of time through the Office Rwandaise du Tourisme et des Parcs Nationaux (ORTPN).

Other major attractions are the two genocide memorials south of Kigali; both accessible as a day trip, Akagera National Park, volcanic lakes and Nyungwe Forest which protects the largest single tract of mountain forest remaining anywhere in East or Central Africa.

Rwanda can be accessed through Nairobi, Johannesburg and Brussels. Flights from Nairobi to Kigali International Airport arrive daily while those from Brussels and Johannesburg arrive at the airport twice a week.  All International flights arriving in at Kigali International Airport,10 Km from the city centre, are with SN Brussels, Kenya Airways Ethiopian Airlines, Air Burundi,South African Airways and Rwandair Express.

A valid passport is a must for a visitors. Visas are also required by all visitors except nationals of the UK, USA, Germany, Uganda, Canada, Tanzania,  Burundi, Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mauritius, Sweden and South Africa. A certificate of yellow-fever vaccination is also required.

Getting around Rwanda is quite easy as all of the major centres are connected with local and luxury bus services. Air charter services are available anywhere in the country.

Rwanda can be visited throughout the year. However, the best months to visit Rwanda are June to mid-September which comprise the dry season and are followed by short rains that last until early December. February to May is generally very rainy. The tropical location and high altitude give Rwanda a temperate climate.

Gorilla tracking and other forest walks are less demanding during the drier months. The European winter is the best time for birds, as Palaearctic migrants supplement resident species.

Daytime temperatures are generally warm, so you should carry lots of light clothing, supplemented by light sweaters for the cool evenings and heavier clothing for the Parc des Volcans and Nyungwe. When tracking gorillas on a Rwanda Safari , you should wear sturdier clothing to protect against stinging nettles. Solid walking shoes are also recommended and so are hats and sunglasses to shield you against the sun.