Kibumba Tented Camp

The beautiful thatched-roof and wood-framed main area sits perched atop a hill, with mesmerising tree-canopy views. The lovely open-sided dining and bar areas are where both meals and icy cocktails are served and downtime is spent between activities. There's a wood-burning fireplace that keeps things cosy when temperatures drop, as they do at night. Electric fencing surrounds the camp, so wildlife wandering in and out of camp is unlikely – however, listen out for woodland owls and other jungle sounds.

The 18 two-person tents are not only adequate but extremely comfortable, furnished with queen-sized beds and starched white linens, with hot-water bottles tucked neatly between the sheets for chilly evenings. En-suite bathrooms have flush toilets and hot showers. There are even two wall outlets for your camera or phone, overhead lights and plenty of bottled drinking water that is readily replenished.

Guided gorilla treks and hikes to Nyiragongo volcano require permits, available at the Virunga office. For the former, anticipate 1–2 hours of hiking each way, and an hour with the gorillas. Nyiragongo can be summited in a day, although we recommend an overnight stay at the top as the best time to view and photograph the lava lake is at night. (Temperatures at the top can be icy – pack or hire a thermal sleeping bag and hiking gear.)