THE MOUNTAIN
GORILLAS OF RWANDA AND SO MUCH MORE BY JACKIE MUINDE
R
eferred to as the land with a thousand hills, Rwanda is characterized by an enormous stretch of mountains to the northwest that plays host to some of the world's last remaining mountain gorillas in and among the bamboo forests. The land of a thousand hills is blessed with extraordinary biodiversity, with incredible wildlife living throughout its volcanoes, montane rainforest, and sweeping plains. From Gorilla tracking to cycling along the scenic countryside, Rwanda has so much to offer, which also explains why tourism in Rwanda is one of Rwanda's top foreign exchange earners. Efforts to clean the streets have gathered momentum in recent years, elevating the tiny East African country back to its rightful place as a revered natural beauty destination.
AN UNFORGETTABLE TOURIST EXPERIENCE If in need of an African adventure, then the Gorilla trails of Rwanda are something to have on your bucket 72 AFRICA CEO VOICES
DECEMBER 2022
list. They offer a unique opportunity to see gorillas in their natural habitat. Those who have visited them term the experience as unforgettable. Some even describe it as life-changing. Encounters with gorillas as they go about their daily lives are carefully managed, with expert trackers and guides leading small groups of tourists up bamboo-covered slopes to spend a precious and awe-inspiring hour just a few feet away from the gentle creatures. The largest living primates are spread across much of the equatorial African rainforest. Broadly speaking, the species is split into lowland gorillas and mountain gorillas. The endangered mountain gorilla is, however, only found in Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.These are the animals you meet when you embark on one of the many annually organized tours.
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