Known locally as the Parc National de Volcans (or PNV for short), Volcanoes National Park straddles 160km² of the Virunga Mountains that spread across Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). A 2-hour drive from Kigali, this dramatically beautiful and varied park has six active and three extinct volcanoes and is clad in thick rainforest and bamboo.

Although most famous for the mountain gorilla safaris that allow you to track and get right up close to these endangered primates, Volcanoes National Park has other wildlife drawcards: the fascinating golden monkeys, rarely sighted forest elephants, black-fronted duiker, spotted hyena, buffalo and bushbuck, as well as 178 recorded bird species.

Near the park, you can immerse yourself in the bustling and vibrant markets of Musanze, explore the Musanze Caves (which date back 65 million years), visit the small but beautiful Buhanga Ecopark, or deIve into Rwanda culture at the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village.