Rwanda is a land of sprawling lakes, cultivated green hills and smoking volcanoes made famous by Gorillas in the Mist. Of course, it’s gorillas that most visitors come here to see – and they do provide a magical experience – but there is so much more to this tiny, lush, land-locked gem. For much of the post-colonial era the country faced relentless social and political upheaval, culminating in the 1994 genocide. But over the past two decades Africa’s most densely populated country has embarked on a remarkable journey, winning global acclaim for tackling ethnic divisions and dragging millions off the poverty line. The population is young and a stable government has helped develop roads, create accessible and affordable broadband, and fed a budding private sector economy that is seeing increasing foreign investment. Crime and corruption levels are some of the lowest on the continent. In various independent surveys in recent years Rwanda has been named the safest country in Africa, and Kigali the cleanest and most live able city on the continent.
