Rwanda is one of the few places on earth where you can get into close contact with the impressive mountain gorilla. An experience that many say already makes the whole trip to Africa worthwhile. But with all this attention surrounding the gorillas, it's easy to overlook the fact that Rwanda also offers many other monkey species, the full Big Five, and other classic safari animals like cheetahs, hippos and giraffes.

 

Another amazing option is mountain biking, hiking or kayaking along the Nile Congo Trail: a renowned trail of approximately 140 mile, widely recognized as one of the best in East Africa. The Congo Nile trail can be done in five days by mountain bike, in eight days by kayak, or in ten days on foot. The trail will bring you through spectacular unspoiled hills, authentic rural villages, small scale tea plantations and even the Nyungwe National Forest Park. There are several campsites along the way, as well as some simple accommodations if camping is not your cup of tea. The cooks and guides that will come with you will take care of almost everything, except for the pedaling and rowing.