Nyungwe Forest National Park, Rwanda

With over 1,000 plant species (including 200 orchids), more than 300 species of bird and north of 100 species of butterfly, nowhere in Rwanda quite matches the biodiversity of Nyungwe Forest National Park. One of Africa’s oldest rainforests, Nyungwe Forest is a verdant jungle of ancient trees and ferns that has thankfully been left to beautifully grow wilder and wilder over the centuries. The main attraction in Nyungwe is the chimpanzees, where it’s estimated around 500 can be seen among the ebonies and mahoganies. Tracking them on foot via is a thrilling experience and observing them in their natural environment is an incredible travel experience. But don’t just keep your eyes peeled for chimps, as there’s 13 other species of primates swinging through Nyungwe’s canopies, including Ruwenzori colobuses, L’Hoest’s monkeys, owl-faced monkeys and Dent’s mona monkeys. Aside from the primates, Nyungwe also promises beautiful hikes to waterfalls, canopy walks (complete with suspension bridge) and visits to the surrounding tea plantations.