Why Rwanda? The ‘Land of a Thousand Hills’, while 15 years ago associated with 'genocide,' is now politically stable and was recently named by Lonely Planet among the top10 travel destinations for 2009. Rwanda is swiftly becoming the undiscovered wildlife gem of Africa! Visiting the Volcanoes National Park, made famous by Dian Fossey's work, and the film Gorillas in the Mist, is simply a must! Surely there is no more enchanting a wildlife experience, than sitting among a family group of the world's last mountain gorillas, in a park home to more than half of them! Not to forget though, Nyungwe forest's diverse species of primate, bird, butterfly and orchid; Akagera National Park's more conventional African wildlife; and the beautiful Lake Kivu! Why not look at our recommendations on places to stay below...BUT don't forget that we can arrange accommodation anywhere, just contact our dedicated Seyexclusive team.
Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge is located in the foothills of the mighty Virunga volcanoes. With awe inspiring views the Lodge is approximately 7,000 feet above sea level, only minutes away from the headquarters of the Volcanoes National Park, from where clients trek on foot to see the magnificent Mountain Gorilla. Its 5 guest cottages, 2 suite cottages and family suite, together with the main lodge building have all been beautifully constructed from local stone. All cottages are extremely spacious and private, comprising sheltered veranda, sitting room with with romantic open fire, bedroom, dressing room and en-suite. The main lodge building houses both a library and games room and their lush gardens have been extensively landscaped, for their guests pleasure and entertainment. Sabyinyo is the perfect base from which to explore this unique and fascinating corner of Africa.
Rwanda can be visited at any time of year. Just south of the equator, Rwanda's relatively high altitude provides it with a remarkably pleasant tropical highland climate, albeit also with plenty of rain. The average daytime temperature is around 24°C, except in the higher mountains, which take up a lot of the country, where the range is 10°C to 15°C (Kigali and Volcanoes National Park can become rather chilly although the areas around Lake Kivu are generally rather sunny and pleasant all year round). The wet seasons are the best time for a chimpanzee trek in Nyungwe forest, as they wander further away into the forest during the dry seasons and are harder to spot. Peak season for gorilla tracking is Jul- Aug; travelling outside this time means it is easier to arrange a permit. Nov-Mar is the best time for birding as flocks of migratory birds join the native species.
Rainy seasons Mar-May and Oct-Nov: Good time to travel if you are looking for a more exclusive experience as there are lower numbers of tourists and better chance of seeing chimpanzees BUT the rain is heavy and persistent in the long rainy season.
Dry seasons Jun-mid Sept and Dec-Feb: There is often light cloud cover in both dry seasons. This helps to moderate the temperatures but occasionally brings light rain showers. The long dry season is generally thought easier for tracking mountain gorillas, BUT the endless hills are barren, a contrast to the verdant greens of the wet season.
The air holidays and flights shown are ATOL Protected by the Civil Aviation Authority.
Our ATOL number is ATOL 9318. For further information, visit the ATOL website at www.atol.org.uk
