Istanbul, Turkey to Kigali, Rwanda from €491

🌍 About kigali

Kigali is famously the cleanest city in Africa, and it's not an accident: single-use plastic bags have been banned since 2008 (they'll confiscate them at the airport), and on the last Saturday of every month the whole country stops for Umuganda, a mandatory three-hour community clean-up when shops shut and traffic halts. The thing to eat is goat brochettes — marinated skewers grilled over charcoal, served with fried plantain and a cold Primus. Head to Nyamirambo, the lively Muslim-influenced quarter, where they're a fraction of hotel prices and the street life is real. Built across steep hills, the city is walkable in stretches but moto-taxis fill the gaps. Come in the long dry season, June to September: easiest weather, firm trails if you're continuing to the gorillas, though that's also peak demand, so book fares early.