rwanda
we had been warned about rwanda for the last few weeks. uganda was quite hilly. but people kept saying that uganda was flat and rwanda was hilly. it didnt quite make sense until we actually got there. in fact, rwanda is not hilly, it is mountainous. in some ways mountains are easier to ride than constant small sharp hills, as you get into the rythm and just sit back and enjoy the views (and pedal round and round). the views we enjoyed in rwanda were some of the best so far. we spent a few days in the area around the virunga volcanoes, but unfortunately only had a short glimpse of them on the first day. the highlight of rwanda was easily our trek to the mountain gorillas, who live in the rainforest on the sides of these volcanoes. we opted to trek to the largest and most remote group, the susa group, made famous in the movie, gorillas in the mist. it was three hours straight up the side of the volcano, through lushious thick jungle. the trek was special in itself, through a landscape unlike any ive ever seen before, but the special bonus of sitting and following about 30  huge gorillas for an hour made it a truely magical day.
after a few more days riding in the mountains we headed across to burundi.