Rwanda

A tiny nation by African standards, Rwanda has emerged as one of the world’s leading ecotourism destinations.

In its north, towering conical volcanoes blanketed in jungle are home to mountain gorillas. A handful of troops of these gentle giants have been habituated, allowing a strictly limited number of visitors to spend time in their humbling presence. Watching mothers care for their young as adolescents play under the eye of an impressive silverback is one of the most astonishing wildlife experiences anywhere, and it has funded conservation efforts that make this the only population of great apes that is increasing in number.

To the west, the great Nyungwe Forest protects some of Africa’s rarest primate species, including chimpanzees you can track, while to the east, Akagera National Park is undergoing one of the most ambitious restoration projects in Africa with its savannahs once more playing host to lions, black rhinos and giraffes.

Rwanda’s success is down to how the benefits of tourism are shared with communities, and country-wide efforts to reforest and protect biodiversity, helped by a collection of incredible luxury lodges that let you be a part of the story.