Gorillas in the Mist

Pays des Mille Collines (aka Rwanda) is not called the Land of a Thousand Hills for nothing. Rolling lush jungle steeps the mountains of this small, land-locked country that is simply full of picture perfect views, an incredible African spirit and awesome natural phenomena – including the largest of the living primates, gorillas.

Until recently tourists were flocking to Uganda to see Mountain Silverbacks, due to the political difficulties of Rwanda. However, this is now changing. Over half of the world’s Mountain gorillas live in the Virunga Mountains of Rwanda – probably the best place to see gorillas in Africa.

With the rawness of the nation so openly exposed by brave and exploratory films and books such as Hotel Rwanda, Shooting Dogs and A Sunday at the Pool in Kigali, visitors have been wary of a macabre atmosphere in Rwanda but this is simply not the case. It is much more one of total sensory stimulation and inspiring survival.

A brand new premium eco-lodge, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, situated deep in the Parc Nationals de Volcans makes this one of the most exclusive kinds of eco experiences around. Guests living in harmony with their surroundings in a truly luxurious way – each room having its own private veranda and sitting room with fireplace.

By day, an experienced tracker guides you across the five extinct volcanoes through swamps and rainforests in search of the gorillas they know so well.

The male gorillas tend to live with a harem of females and babies and as such, when you come across one grooming or foraging for bamboo just feet from you, you will soon see more in close proximity. As well as the gorillas, the landscape is home to over 200 varieties of tropical birds, golden monkeys (the only ones in Africa) and one hundred species of orchids. This is a wildlife experience of a lifetime.

The renaissance of Rwanda is breeding an extraordinary air of modern African culture combined with eternal hope and optimism for the Rwandan future.