Short guide to Rwanda
Rwanda is best known by the world as the scene of the 100-day genocide in 1994, sparked by racial tension between the Tutsis and the Hutus, immortalised in the award-winning film Hotel Rwanda.
Since the slaughter, in which an estimated three-quarters of a million people lost their lives, Rwanda has struggled to rebrand itself as an ecotourism destination worthy of a slice of the global tourism industry.
For those who do venture to Rwanda, there is plenty to see. The location for the film Gorillas in the Mist is in Rwanda, in the Virungas. Nyungwe Forest National Park. Here gorillas are protected and studied, preserving their low numbers and using tourist dollars to initiate breeding and rehabilitation programs for gorillas and other primates. The prime tourist destination in Rwanda is also gorilla-focused; the Volcanoes National Park is home to the world's largest gorilla population, while Akagera National Park is pure African savannah. Home to the popular large animals of Africa (elephants, hippos and giraffe), the Akagera is the best place in Rwanda for safari enthusiasts.
Rwanda's geographic location is near a fault line, and the underground activity gives the country its volcanic countryside. Most of the volcanoes are now dormant, and there are lakes in the craters for hikers to take a dip after a long, hot climb.
Despite the horrific history of Rwanda, the Land of a Thousand Hills, the local people are renowned for their friendliness to strangers and the warm welcome to be had in Rwanda, along with its flavourful local cuisine and stunning scenery makes this emerging tourist destination a country worth putting on the itinerary.
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