Going further, 1,000 square kilometres passed the majestic hills of southeast Rwanda, Nyungwe Forest National Park is the biggest block of montane forest in East or Central Africa, and one of the most ancient, dating back prior to the last Ice Age.

A centre with a difference, rich in floral variety, the forest has over 200 distinct kinds of tree, and a myriad of flowering plants constituting the other-worldly giant labelia, and a host of colourful orchids.

Nyungwe is most charming, because of its primates: the species tantamount to 13, involving human kind’s nearest living relative the chimpanzee, and the handsome L’Hoest’s monkey and hand red-strong troops of the pleasurable acrobatic Angola colobus. The most important ornithological site in Rwanda, Nyungwe, shelters about 300 bird species, out of which 24 are limited to a handful of montane forests on the Albertine Rift. The avian highlight of Nyungwe is the great blue-turaco- an outlandish blue, red and green bird, which streams from tree to tree like a procession of streamlined psychedelic turkeys.

An extensive network of well-maintained moving trails goes through the forest to many waterfalls as well as sporting sites. A comfortably rural rest house and properly located campsite is found alongside the highway, and the reserve can willingly be toured as a day trip from the towns of Butare and Cyangugu. However, Nyungwe does need more time: anyone who wishes to pursue chimps and look at many diversities of smaller primate, will deserve two days there-and those dedicated to bird watching may not wish to leave.