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10 Day Classic Uganda

Gorillas, chimps, lions, wildlife and birds.

Launched in July 2022 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Volcanoes Safaris, this 10-day safari allows guests to experience trekking the gorillas in both Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and the Virunga mountains of Mgahinga National Park. You will also see the endangered golden monkeys, experience the ancient Batwa culture in Mgahinga, search for the lost chimps of Kyambura Gorge, before finishing your safari in the savannah of Queen Elizabeth National Park to see the famous tree-climbing lions.

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge

Golden monkey tracking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Visit the Gahinga Batwa Village at Mount Gahinga Lodge

Enjoy local street food at Bwindi Bar

Community visits at all lodges

Safari Activities and Wildlife

Gorilla tracking, chimpanzee tracking, lion research safari, waterfall walk, boat cruise, golden monkey tracking, climb a volcano, conservation and community.

Kyambura Gorge Buffer

Gahinga Batwa Village

Tea Processing

Kyambura Women’s Coffee Cooperative

Kyambura Community Playground

Classic Lodges for Gorilla and Chimpanzee Tracking

Virunga Lodge

The original gorilla experience, rwanda.

Mount Gahinga Lodge

The batwa culture and gorilla lodge, uganda.

Bwindi Lodge

The jungle gorilla lodge, uganda.

Kyambura Gorge Lodge

The chimpanzee and wildlife lodge, uganda.

Kibale Lodge

The chimpanzee lodge, uganda (opening in july 2024).

Stay in Touch

Connect with us.

Write to us on [email protected] or send us a message via the form on our contact page .

Rwanda: +250 (0) 252 502 452 Uganda: +256 (0) 414 346 464

Useful Information

© Volcanoes Safaris 1997 – 2024. All Rights Reserved

Booking Enquiry

Safari Itinerary

Arrive at Entebbe airport where a staff representative will assist you with the check-in and transfer to your domestic flight to Kisoro which departs at 7am. Upon arrival at Kisoro you will be welcomed by your expert guide who will provide knowledge and assistance throughout your journey.

The lodge is located at the foot of the Virunga Volcanoes and near the entrance to the national park. Enjoy your pre-dinner cocktails on the terrace with stunning views of the Volcanoes or warm yourself inside by the cosy fire.

Overnight at Mount Gahinga Lodge (lunch, dinner)

After enjoying an early breakfast, you set off gorilla tracking. Trekking through the steep, densely forested hills and then finally coming across the gorillas camouflaged in the vegetation is an inspiring and privileged moment.  

After a climb of between one and three hours the moment you find the gorillas camouflaged in the vegetation is an inspiring and privileged one. You will spend one hour in the company of the majestic and gentle mountain gorillas before returning to the lodge in time for a late lunch.  

Gorilla trekking requires stamina and can sometimes take a full day, especially if it is wet and muddy.

Later in the afternoon visit the Gahinga Batwa Village and experience the culture and history of one of Africa’s oldest tribes. On your tour, you will visit their new village and community centre and will participate to the Batwa Heritage Tour to gain insight into their traditional life as hunter gatherers in the forest.  

Overnight at Mount Gahinga Lodge (breakfast, lunch, dinner)

A relaxed morning during which you can track the rare golden monkeys through the bamboo forests of the mountains. The monkeys travel in large groups and are as energetic as they are photogenic, often seen playing in the high branches or foraging on the ground for bamboo shoots.

If time allows, you can visit the Batwa Vocational Center and or hike the Gisozi caldera in the afternoon. The lodge has beautiful terraced gardens where you can choose to sit and relax while enjoying afternoon drinks and canapes.

After an early breakfast transfer from Gahinga Lodge to Kisoro airstrip. Fly to Kihihi and transfer to Bwindi Lodge. Spend the day relaxing at the lodge and exploring the walks in the gardens along the stream, have a signature ‘Rungu’ massage in the Bwindi Humula Forest Spa, and enjoy a demonstration of our local tea processing cooperative.  

Enjoy pre-dinner cocktails on the veranda that overlooks our namesake forest with the calls of more than 150 bird species echoing in the distance.

Driving time approximately 2 to 3 hours. Flying time 20 minutes.  

Overnight at Bwindi Lodge (lunch, dinner)

After enjoying an early breakfast, you set off gorilla tracking. Trekking through the steep, densely forested hills and then finally coming across the gorillas camouflaged in the vegetation is an inspiring and privileged moment. Tracking in the Bwindi forest can be steep and requires stamina as some gorilla families can be more elusive, and tracking can take a full day, especially if it is wet and muddy.

Visit the award-winning Bwindi Bar on the way back to the lodge after your gorilla trek and celebrate with the signature Gorillini cocktail! Bwindi Bar provides hospitality training to young disadvantaged youth from the neighbouring communities.  

Overnight at Bwindi Lodge (breakfast, lunch, dinner)

• Take a guided walk in the rainforest to a beautiful waterfall.
• Visit a local village and learn about community life.
• Visit the Bwindi Community Hospital.
• Visit Conservation Through Public Health to learn about their gorilla conservation programs.
• Enjoy a demonstration of our local tea processing cooperative at Bwindi Lodge.
• Enjoy a guided birding walk along the Munyanga River Trail

Your safari now continues to Kyambura Gorge Lodge. Travelling via Ishasha you can observe the unusual behaviors exhibited by the tree-climbing lions. The journey through the rapidly changing landscape takes you through Queen Elizabeth National Park and to Kyambura Gorge Lodge.  

In the afternoon you can visit the Kyambura Gorge wildlife buffer zone and plant a tree seedling. See how coffee is grown and then processed by hand by the Kyambura Women’s Coffee Cooperative. Walk back to the lodge through the Kyambura wetland reclamation project.

Enjoy pre-dinner drinks on the veranda overlooking the savannah plains with the magnificent Rwenzori Mountains on the horizon.

Overnight at Kyambura Gorge Lodge (lunch, dinner)

Enjoy an early breakfast and set out for a morning game drive for the best wildlife viewings in the park. Depending on the season the wildlife seen varies. The Kasenyi plains are excellent for sighting lion and large herds of Uganda kob. The Mweya peninsula is one of the best places to look for leopard, which live in the dense, scrubby thickets.

After lunch, you will walk from the lodge directly down into Kyambura Gorge, to search for the ‘Lost Chimpanzees of Kyambura’. The gorge is an extraordinary natural environment and forms a stark contrast to the surrounding grasslands. Here you can track one of our closest animal relatives: the chimpanzee. This group of isolated chimps are quite mobile and viewing can be unpredictable but the walk itself is exciting and enchanting.

Overnight at Kyambura Gorge Lodge (breakfast, lunch, dinner)

After a bush breakfast overlooking the savannah will go for a second chimpanzee trek in Kyambura Gorge. In the afternoon take a cruise on the Kazinga Channel, which flows between Lakes Edward and George. Kazinga is home to one of the greatest concentration of hippo in Africa and herds of elephant, buffalo and other animals come to drink at the waters edge. The channel is a magnet for waterbirds, with great flocks of pelicans and others birds on the shore, and a great spot to see African fish eagle.

After your boat cruise harvest honey with the Kyambura bee-keeping cooperative, see a performance from the Omumushaka Dance Group, and go on a gorge walk to see birds, monkeys and other wildlife around Kyambura Gorge Lodge.  

After breakfast at the lodge transfer to the Kasese airstrip. Leave with the morning or afternoon return flight to Entebbe and connect in time for your international flight. Driving time approximately 2 hours. Flying time 1 to 1.5 hours.

Please book international flights departing after 8pm.

10 Day Classic Uganda: Safari Activities

Tracking mountain gorillas through the dense African forests is a magical experience. Only eight visitors are allowed per gorilla group each day, and to minimize possible transmission of human diseases, visitors are asked to maintain a distance of 10m from the gorillas. Typically, tracking can take from 3 to 8 hours and requires some agility and fitness; however, all fitness levels can be accommodated and no one should feel deterred from missing this once in a lifetime experience.

Safari Activities

Tracking chimpanzees in their natural habitat, as they swing from the branches in the canopy high above the forest floor is nothing short of exhilarating. The chimps effortlessly cross and scamper through the trees above the gorge, and visitors on the other hand must cross the river using natural bridges in order to keep up with the chimps. So although the walk usually lasts only 2–3 hours, descending the steep gorge and crossing the log bridges over the river requires some agility and fitness.

Chimpanzee tracking is also available in nearby Kalinzu, a forest reserve 30 minutes drive from Kyambura Gorge Lodge where there is a community of about 40 habituated chimpanzees.

Join a local scientific researcher on his daily game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park to locate and record the behavior of a lion pride he is studying. This activity is best done in the mornings when there is ample time to track the pride and chances of finding them are high.

The Kazinga Channel is a 32-kilometer long channel, rich in wildlife, that links Lakes Edward and George. Boat trips down the channel depart from Mweya Safari Lodge (about an hour’s drive through the park from Kyambura Gorge Lodge) and last 3-4 hours. The boat cruise provides a wonderful opportunity to photograph the many animals that come to cool off at the waters’ edge, including lion, buffalo, hippo, elephant, and leopard.

With only a small number remaining in the world, the Golden Monkey can be found in the foothills of the volcanic mountains of Mgahinga National Park in Uganda and in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. Characterized by its bright golden body, cheeks and tail, with contrasting black limbs, crown and tail end, these playful primates are a pleasure to watch. Whether you choose to do this on the Rwandan or Ugandan side, the walk will take you from the bamboo stands and forested gorge on the lower levels of the volcanoes, to the elevated heath and moorland higher up.

Guests staying at Virunga Lodge or Gahinga Lodge have easy access to the Virunga chain of volcanoes, which offer challenging hikes and stunning panoramas. The three most popular volcanoes to climb are Mt. Gahinga, Mt. Sabyinyo, and Mt. Muhavura. These hikes are of varying difficulty and typically take a full day. The treks starts at 7:00am from the park headquarters, from where visitors drive to the base of the volcano.

Virunga Lodge, Rwanda

Mount Gahinga Lodge, Uganda

Bwindi Lodge, Uganda

Kyambura Gorge Lodge, Uganda

Kibale Lodge, Uganda

Lodge Rates

4 Day Gorilla Safari

7 Day Community and Conservation Safari in Uganda

7 Day Gorilla, Golden Monkey and Batwa Culture Safari

7 Day Gorilla and Chimpanzee Safari

10 Day Primates of the Great Rift Valley Safari

Safari Rates

Connecting Volcanoes Lodges to Communities and Great Ape Conservation

Virunga Community Projects

Gahinga Community Projects

Bwindi Community Projects

Kyambura Community Projects

Kyambura Lion Monitoring Project

Meet the Team

Press Coverage

Albertine Apes Alliance

Dian Fossey Map Room

Frequently Asked Questions

Volcanoes Safaris 

Location: Kampala Uganda and Rwanda

Welcome to the unique world of Volcanoes Safaris! Our visionary approach to great ape eco-tourism is centered around our eco-lodges near the threatened gorilla and chimpanzee populations. We look forward to sharing this magical experience with you.

The Volcanoes Safaris Group is a unique great ape ecotourism business which was set up in Kampala, Uganda in 1997 and specializes in mountain gorilla safaris. Over the last decade, we have taken over 6,000 clients on gorilla safaris and we currently employ over 100 people globally. This track record makes us the No. 1 Gorilla Safari Company. We offer an unrivalled, integrated set of services including safaris and our own eco safari lodges; international sales offices in London and Atlanta; ecotourism partnership programs with communities and conservation organisations to give communities a stake in the development of eco-tourism; great ape ecotourism advisory services for governments and donors.

Type of vehicle used:

• We use 4WD minibuses and Toyota Landcruisers which are comfortable, well maintained and in good condition.

Description of the types of guides used on the tours

• The ‘Volcanoes family’ – from the guides and waitresses to the lodge managers and tour team – are committed to ensuring that clients have a distinctive and memorable experience in this frontier area of Africa. Many of our staff, drawn from different countries and ethnic groups, are from families which have survived conflict. All have benefited from Volcanoes’ extensive training program and today they manage our Uganda safaris, Rwanda safaris, Tanzania Safaris and lodges. This approach to empowering local staff is unique among leading safari companies.

Available languages: English, Frech and Local languages

National Parks included in itineraries:

• Bwindi Impenentrable National Park
• Mgahinga Gorilla National park
• Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Murchison Falls National Park

Responsible Travel

• We believe that ecotourism in these remote areas needs to respect the culture of local communities, their modest economic means and the fragility of the environment. Providing western standards of comfort needs to be balanced with the pressure local people face in obtaining food and clean water. In designing our eco-lodges, therefore, we ensure that water consumption is reduced and waste disposal controlled, and solar power is used instead of generators.
• As award winning pioneers in ecotourism we ensure our safaris respect the culture of local communities, the fragility of the environment and the need to use resources in a sustainable way.
• The Volcanoes Kyambura Gorge Eco-tourism Partnership project promotes the protection of chimpanzees and creates a buffer zone between the Gorge and the local communities.

Tel: +256 (0) 414 346464/5 +256 (0) 312 263823 Mobile: +256 (0) 772 741718 Fax: +256 (0) 414 341718 +256 (0) 312 265248 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.volcanoessafaris.com/

Contact us for more information about Pearls of Uganda

Email: [email protected]

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Volcanoes Safaris: Luxury Lodges in Rwanda and Uganda

Volcanoes safaris is the only African gorilla safari company to have built its own exclusive luxury safari lodges near a selection of the gorilla and chimpanzee parks of Uganda and Rwanda.

Virunga Lodge in Rwanda is one of Africa’s most loved lodges. Perched high on a ridge with dramatic views overlooking the Virunga Volcanoes, Musanze valley, Lake Burera and Lake Ruhondo.

The iconic property has defined Rwandese Afro-chic since the lodge was built by Praveen Moman in 2004. The timeless, hand-made style makes it the first accommodation choice for tracking the endangered mountain gorilla.

Exceptional hospitality, locally-inspired food and a private butler are hallmarks of the guest experience. Each of the ten elegant Banda’s has a private terrace overlooking the dramatic landscape. The three deluxe Banda’s offer a private suite.

Enjoy complimentary spa treatments and massages, including the famous Rungu massage at Ikirunga Spa & Sauna. Wi-Fi throughout the lodge and all-inclusive premium wines, whiskies and cocktails.

Hike to Dian Fossey’s grave in the Volcanoes National Park and visit the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund in Kinigi while at Virunga lodge.

Bwindi lodge overlooking the primeval Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and with stunning views of the forest canopy across a serene stream, Bwindi Lodge is one of Africa’s unique lodges.

The property has dramatic views of the impenetrable forest and is a great place to spot the monkeys and birds hidden in the foliage. During 2021 two new deluxe Banda’s have opened, standard Banda’s have been rebuilt and upgraded, and the lounge and library have been re-imagined.

The award-winning Bwindi Bar, in the high street of the village nearby is the most stylish and colourful bar in the area! Guests also enjoy informal tapas style meals inspired by Ugandan dishes. It’s the Harry’s Bar of Bwindi! Guests can make their ‘Rolex’ wrap and the delicious Gorillini Cocktail, a must-have after a gorilla tracking.

Enjoy complimentary spa treatments and massages, including the famous Rungu massage at the Humula Forest Spa.

Mount Gahinga Lodge is the perfect base to go gorilla trekking on the Ugandan side of the Virunga’s, track the rare golden monkey, climb a volcano, and walk through local villages and most of all to share the culture of the Batwa, the oldest inhabitants of the Central African rain forest.

The charming property, inspired by traditional design and building techniques, has been re-imagined in 2019: the lounge, dining room, and gardens have been remodelled, and two new deluxe Banda’s have been launched.

The beautiful hand-built Banda’s reflect the magic of the aesthetic traditions of the Bafumbira people. Each Banda has an en-suite luxury shower room, fireplace and private porch.

Enjoy complimentary spa treatments and massages, including the famous Rungu massage at the Gushimisha Spa & Sauna.

Visit the Gahinga Batwa Village and share the culture of the oldest inhabitants of the Central Africa rain forest while here.

Kyambura Gorge Lodge , has entirely remodelled public areas and gardens and been converted from a coffee store to create a breathtakingly beautiful space. The lodge is located on the edge of Queen Elizabeth National Park with sweeping views of the rolling Savannah, the distant mountains of the moon, and the sunken Kyambura Gorge.

The guest Banda’s have an afro – chic theme with the accent on local artefacts re-imagined in a new context. Each Banda offers a unique view either across the Savannah or the gorge. There are four new deluxe Banda’s and four standard Banda’s. A new spa and swimming pool was launched in 2019.

The lodge is the ideal location for tracking the lost chimps in the sunken forest of Kyambura Gorge nearby and seeing the amazing game in one of Africa’s most beautiful parks, centred around the waterway of the Kazinga Channel. The park has six hundred amazing bird species, the highest in an African park.

Guests can participate in the Kyambura Gorge Eco-tourism project, a series of community and conservation activities developed since 2009 to safeguard the Kyambura Gorge ecosystem.

New walking safaris have been created around the lodge to experience the dramatic landscapes of Kyambura gorge and the Queen Elizabeth Savannah, and visit a reclaimed wetland. Guests can walk along the Kyambura gorge buffer zone we have created to protect the fragile ecosystem from encroachment and contribute to its long-term conservation project by planting a seedling.

Kibale Lodge is also yet another one in Kibale and this is mainly for chimpanzee trekking in Kibale national park.

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Since 1997, Volcanoes Safaris has been leading the way in gorilla and chimpanzee ecotourism in Uganda and Rwanda. Our team is enthusiastic about showcasing the culture, history, and hospitality of the Great Lakes Region of Africa. We are proud to be the pioneers of gorilla and chimpanzee ecotourism and own five luxury lodges in Uganda and Rwanda, including our new chimpanzee lodge, Kibale Lodge, set to open in 2024.

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Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge Uganda

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Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge is a luxury lodge situated in Bwindi, just close to Buhoma Village overlooking and outside the beautifully primeval Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and only 500 meters from the start of the gorilla trail! 

Bwindi Lodge is accessed via an hour flight from Entebbe International Airport or an 8-hour road transfer from Kigali. The lodge has stunning views of the forest canopy across a serene stream, a great place to spot the monkeys and birds hidden in the foliage.

Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge has 10 unique luxury bandas (2 deluxe and 8 standards). All rooms offer spectacular views of the forest. The rooms are complete with en-suite bathrooms with a flushing toilet, double vanity, and shower with hot & cold running water.

The stone-and-timber bandas at Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge do a wonderful job of keeping guests comfortable during the sometimes cool and misty weather experienced in this unique forest environment. 

With just 10 guest units, this luxury Bwindi safari lodge feels extremely intimate, which seems appropriate given that the main activity here is gorilla trekking. Encountering a habituated group of mountain gorillas is in itself perhaps one of the most intimate and affecting African wildlife experiences and one which never leaves people unmoved.

Other amenities at the lodge include; a restaurant, bar, lounge, garden, massage Spa deck, fireplace, Complimentary laundry service, Wi-Fi, Power sockets/charging facilities, a hair dryer in the rooms, and internet access only in the main lodge. There is personal butler service for all guests.

The dining area is elegantly furnished and adjoins the homely bar. Take a slightly longer walk, into the high street of the nearest village, and you reach Bwindi Bar. The award-winning Bwindi Bar is the most stylish and colorful bar in the area! Guests also enjoy informal tapas-style meals inspired by Ugandan dishes. 

Activities at  Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge include; Gorilla tracking, Visiting the award-winning Bwindi Bar, a tour around the tea plantations, a walk to the river below the lodge, a Waterfall walk, Munyanga River Trail, Muzabajirro Loop Trail, visiting Bwindi Community Hospital, etc.

Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge Uganda Accommodation Rates

Volcanoes bwindi lodge uganda accommodation rates per night include;.

Full board accommodation including all soft drinks and house alcoholic beverages (excludes premium drinks)

* Community Fees – 50 US Dollars * Gratuities are at the discretion of the guest * Check-out time for all guests is 11 am on the day of departure * Children under 15 years of age are not permitted to track the gorillas * Children under 15 years are welcome at the lodge, but please be advised there are no childcare facilities

Lodge Overview:

* Complimentary laundry service * Personal butler service for all guests * Power sockets/charging facilities and hairdryer in the rooms. No air conditioners * Terrace overlooking the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest with scenic panoramic views * Wi-Fi and internet access are available in the main lodge only (connection can be slow) * 8 newly renovated luxury bandas + 1 new deluxe banda (opened June 2019). All rooms offer spectacular views of the forest * All rooms are complete with en-suite bathrooms with a flushing toilet, double vanity, and shower with hot & cold running water * New Humula Forest Spa. One 30-minute complimentary massage per guest per stay. Extra massages are available at extra cost

Accommodation Rates Exclude;

*  Taxes *  Flights *  Laundry *  Champagne *  Gratuities/ Tips *  Airstrip transfers *  Drinks & Extra Meals *  Items of a personal nature * Community Fees – 50 US Dollars *  Premium brand spirits and wines *  Excludes entrance and activity fees *  Game drives and excursions from the Lodge *  Flying doctors/ medical evacuation insurance   *  Drinks and beverages served from the bar and restaurant *  Transportation, airport, and flight taxes. Transfers to and from the Lodge

Activities:

*  Waterfall walk *  Gorilla tracking  *  Munyanga River Trail *  Muzabajirro Loop Trail *  Visit Bwindi Community Hospital *  Visit the award-winning Bwindi Bar *  Take a tour around the tea plantations *  Take a walk to the river below the lodge *  Visit Conservation Through Public Health headquarters (Dr. Gladys Kalema’s laboratory)

Booking & Reservations Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge Uganda Contact

Mobile: + 254-721-242-711 WhatsApp: +254-721-242-711 Reservations: +254 718-179-967 Email: [email protected] Website: https://africanspicesafaris.com

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Kibale forest welcomes volcanoes safaris nov 4, 23 8,401 views no comments.

Diary of a Muzungu is excited to share that Volcanoes Safaris “the pioneer of gorilla and chimpanzee ecotourism in Uganda and Rwanda since 1997” will soon be opening their fifth lodge, right on our doorstep: Kibale Forest!*

Although best known for its group of 1500 raucous chimpanzees, Kibale Forest’s chimps even have their NetFlix series . The whole Toro region has a mesmerizing landscape: mile after mile of rolling green hills, crater lakes and the essence of rural Ugandan life.

Built by hand, Kibale Lodge is thoughtfully designed to harmonize with the rocky outcrop that dominates the 150-acre site. The new luxury lodge will feature eight deluxe rooms, a villa, swimming pool, sauna and spa. I can’t wait to see the final result! The main lodge building will overlook Lake Lugembe in the lodge grounds, with sweeping views of the Rwenzori Mountains, famously known as the “Mountains of the Moon,” and a glimpse of Queen Elizabeth and the Kazinga Channel to the south.

This clip makes me fall in love ♥ with Kibale Forest all over again!

Like other Volcanoes Safaris properties, Kibale Lodge has been a long time in the making. Although we had wanted a lodge there for many years, there were no attractive large sites available. So five years ago we started assembling this site, centred on the breathtaking ridge above Lake Lugembe. Finally it has come together. We have been assessing the topography, light, and weather patterns. The design and build style will ensure the lodge remains consistent with our ecological principles as well as retaining our Afro-chic ethos. The lodge will fit into the landscape in a seamless way, as if it always existed and just grew out of the earth. Our style of building boutique lodges develops informally and in a fluid way. We like to bring out the natural essence of buildings. Praveen Moman, the visionary founder of Volcanoes Safaris and a seasoned figure in Ugandan and Rwandan tourism

Kibale Lodge is the natural addition to Volcanoes Safaris’ existing circuit of four “great ape lodges,” these being: Bwindi Lodge , Mount Gahinga Lodge and Kyambura Gorge Lodge in Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda, Virunga Lodge in Rwanda. In 2023 alone, Volcanoes Safaris have won a series of awards including Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards, Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards and Marie Claire Sustainability Awards.

Volcanoes Safaris not only provides high levels of services (think: complimentary massages and personal butlers) in awe-inspiring locations but also distinguishes itself through unwavering dedication to great ape conservation and long-term investment in the local community.

We believe that the conservation of species such as the mountain gorilla has to be part of the economic mainstream to succeed; sensitive and controlled tourism has an essential role to play in conservation; and most of all, if an endangered species is to survive, the focus of conservation and tourism must be on communities getting tangible long-term benefits. Praveen Moman

In Kibale Forest, the Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust will collaborate with the Jane Goodall Institute Uganda. This is modelled on the successful community-based conservation projects that have been running at Kyambura Gorge Lodge for over a decade.

Drive times to Kibale Lodge

• An hour from Fort Portal.
• An hour from the airstrip at Kasese, ideal for daily flights to and from Entebbe, and the other Volcanoes Safaris lodges.
• 30 minutes to the starting point for chimp tracking at Kanyanchu in Kibale Forest, one of Africa’s best parks for viewing chimpanzees. Read Diary of a Muzungu’s firsthand account of chimp tracking in Kibale Forest in “Pant hoots and knuckle spins.”

Read more about Volcanoes Safaris’ lodges and conservation commitment on Diary of a Muzungu:

• The Challenge of Protecting the Great Apes and the Albertine Rift Albertine Rift Ecosystems and Great Apes: Conservation Challenges 2022 to 2050 (Volcanoes Safaris retreat 2022)
• Kyambura Gorge: wake up and smell the coffee, Rift Valley style
• Virunga Lodge: a 360-degree view of Rwanda’s volcanoes and lakes
• Mount Gahinga: can you name Mgahinga’s volcanoes?

Opening offer in 2024

Looking ahead, Kibale Lodge’s first three deluxe bandas will be ready for guests by May 2024; an additional five bandas will be unveiled by the year’s end. To celebrate this milestone, Volcanoes Safaris are offering a special opening promotion. Guests can combine their Kibale Lodge experience with gorilla trekking at Bwindi or Mount Gahinga Lodge and enjoy five nights for the price of four.

For more details, contact Volcanoes Safaris directly [email protected] – and do mention Diary of a Muzungu sent you 😉

*Regular Diary of a Muzungu readers know I am “blogger in residence” at Sunbird Hill , a few minutes drive from Kibale National Park.

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Volcanoes Safaris

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Pioneers of gorilla and chimpanzee eco-tourism in Uganda and Rwanda since 1997.

We have had a clear vision during our 25 year journey: to develop lodges that are sensitive to local culture and aesthetics, connect to local communities and conservation of great ape species and seek to use resources responsibly.

The Volcanoes team is excited to welcome you to our lodges and to share the rich culture, history, and hospitality traditions of the Great Lakes Region of Africa.

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Volcanoes Safaris Opens Kibale Lodge on 1 July 2024

Uganda: Volcanoes Safaris, the pioneer of gorilla and chimpanzee ecotourism in Uganda and Rwanda since 1997, announces the opening of Kibale Lodge in Uganda on 1 July 2024.

Volcanoes Safari Fam Trip - 7 Day Chimpanzee and Gorilla Safari in Uganda and Rwanda

Experience ancient Batwa culture at Mount Gahinga and participate in the Kyambura Ecotourism Project.

Volcanoes Safaris Announces May 2024 Opening of Kibale Lodge in Uganda

Volcanoes Safaris, the pioneer of gorilla and chimpanzee ecotourism in Uganda and Rwanda since 1997, is opening its fifth lodge in May 2024.

Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust launch lion and carnivore monitoring project in the Queen Elizabeth Conservation Area

Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust (VSPT) is pleased to announce the launch of a lion and large carnivore monitoring project, based at Kyambura Gorge Lodge in Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda.

A panel discussion on ‘The Future of Gorillas and Chimpanzees in the Albertine Rift’

In January 2023 Praveen Moman, Founder Volcanoes Safaris, hosted ‘The Future of Gorillas and Chimpanzees in the Albertine Rift’, a panel discussion to mark our 25th anniversary.

Volcanoes Safaris partners with Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund for the new Ellen DeGeneres Campus in Rwanda

Kigali, Rwanda (20 May 2022): Volcanoes Safaris is pleased to announce a long term partnership to support the new Ellen Fossey Campus for its vital work to protect gorillas in the wild.

Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust and The Jane Goodall Institute Announces Partnership to Support Kyambura Gorge Chimpanzees and Communities

Volcanoes Safaris is delighted to announce a long-term partnership between the Jane Goodall Institute Uganda (JGI) and Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust (VSPT) for supporting the lost chimpanzees of Kyambura Gorge.

Volcanoes Safaris and DEG partnership for Covid-19 healthcare and training to support job security, conservation and communities in Rwanda and Uganda

Volcanoes Safaris and DEG are pleased to announce a joint partnership to provide Covid-19 healthcare and training to support job security, conservation and communities in Rwanda and Uganda.

Volcanoes Safaris welcomes you back to the magical world of gorillas, chimpanzees and the unique wildlife of the Western Rift Valley!

Volcanoes Safaris Lodges have reopened and we are delighted to be sharing our magical and unique world with you again. The gorilla parks in Rwanda and Uganda are now open with protocols in place to protect gorillas and guests.

Virunga Lodge celebrates its 15th anniversary!

Virunga Lodge celebrates its 15th anniversary! Volcanoes Safaris has been at the forefront of reviving gorilla and chimpanzee tourism in Uganda and Rwanda since 1997. To celebrate the 15th anniversary of Virunga Lodge, plans for re-imagining the property will be unveiled on 18 November 2019.

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Getting from Uganda to Volcanoes National Park

• Volcanoes National Park

Embarking on a transcendent journey from Uganda to Volcanoes National Park is a thrilling adventure that requires careful planning and seamless coordination. However, Safari Vacations and Travel Services is here to guide you through the process, ensuring your transition from Uganda to Rwanda for an unforgettable experience in Volcanoes National Park is smooth and enjoyable.

Starting Your Journey

From Uganda’s Wilderness to Rwanda’s Volcanoes: Safari Vacations and Travel Services sets the stage for your cross-border adventure. Begin your journey from Uganda, immersing yourself in the rich landscapes and also diverse wildlife that characterize this part of East Africa.

Choosing Your Mode of Transportation

Options for a Scenic Transition: Delve into the transportation options available with Safari Vacations and Travel Services . Whether you opt for a private transfer, shared shuttle, or a combination of modes, discover the flexibility that allows you to enjoy the scenic transition from Uganda to Volcanoes National Park.

Private Transfers

Comfort and Convenience at Your Fingertips: Safari Vacations and Travel Services details the advantages of private transfers. Enjoy the comfort and also convenience of a dedicated vehicle and knowledgeable driver, ensuring a personalized and leisurely journey to the border.

Shared Shuttles

Connecting with Fellow Travelers: Explore the benefits of shared shuttles with Safari Vacations and Travel Services . Connect with fellow travelers, share experiences, and then appreciate the camaraderie as you collectively journey toward the awe-inspiring Volcanoes National Park.

Border Crossing Formalities

Navigating the Uganda-Rwanda Transition: Safari Vacations and Travel Services guides you through the border crossing formalities. Understand the documentation requirements, visa considerations, and also the efficient support Safari Vacations and Travel Services provides to ensure a smooth transition from Uganda to Rwanda.

The Scenic Route

Immersing Yourself in Rwanda’s Beauty: Enjoy the breathtaking landscapes along the route from Uganda to Volcanoes National Park with Safari Vacations and Travel Services. Marvel at the changing scenery, from rolling hills to vibrant communities, building anticipation for the gorilla trekking adventure that awaits.

Accommodation En Route

Restful Stops for Your Journey: Safari Vacations and Travel Services presents accommodation options en route. Discover comfortable and also restful stops where you can relax, recharge, and savor the local hospitality as you make your way to Volcanoes National Park.

Timing and Scheduling

Optimizing Your Travel Itinerary: Understand the optimal timing and scheduling considerations with Safari Vacations and Travel Services. Learn how careful planning ensures a well-paced journey, allowing you to arrive in Volcanoes National Park with ample time to prepare for your gorilla trek.

Arrival in Volcanoes National Park

Setting the Stage for Gorilla Encounters: Safari Vacations and Travel Services concludes the journey, setting the stage for your arrival in Volcanoes National Park. Moreover, immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the surroundings, prepare for your gorilla trek, and anticipate the extraordinary encounters that await with Safari Vacations and Travel Services.

In conclusion, booking Your Adventure with Safari Vacations and Travel Services: Safari Vacations and Travel Services invites you to book your cross-border adventure from Uganda to Volcanoes National Park today. However, let Safari Vacations and Travel Services be your guide, ensuring a seamless and enriching experience as you traverse East Africa’s breathtaking landscapes on the way to encounter Rwanda’s majestic mountain gorillas.

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Shopping cart items, volcanoes safaris announces opening of kibale lodge.

Volcanoes Safaris , the pioneer of gorilla and chimpanzee ecotourism in Uganda and Rwanda since 1997, announces the opening of Kibale Lodge in Uganda on 1 July 2024.

Volcanoes’ fifth lodge is a landmark development: it creates a unique circuit linking the finest gorilla and chimpanzee sites in Africa. 

Kibale Lodge sits on a ridge with stunning views of the Rwenzori Mountains looking towards the west, and the Queen Elizabeth plains and the Kazinga channel to the south. The 150-acre site is surrounded by lush homesteads on the rolling hills around Fort Portal, known for its warm and welcoming climate. 

Kibale Lodge will comprise eight bandas, plus spa and pool. Four bandas will open in July and four more by the end of the year. The lodge has been hand-built to a new level of elegance and luxury by Volcanoes’ in-house teams of African artisans in the renowned Volcanoes style led by Ugandan-born founder, Praveen Moman.

Moman said, “We are delighted to be opening Kibale Lodge. There are three important things to share about this lodge. Firstly, as with our other lodges, it has been hand-built by our artisans. Secondly, we are honoured to work with key partners to promote conservation and community activities around Kibale. Finally, Kibale Forest - the Primate Capital of the World - is one of the best parks to view chimpanzees in Africa, with a community of 1,500 chimps.”

At Kibale, Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust (VSPT) will be launching new community and conservation projects in which Volcanoes lodge guests can participate. VSPT is partnering with the Jane Goodall Institute to build up women leaders in conservation through the Roots and Shoots program, promoting responsible ecotourism in Kibale Forest with participants of the Albertine Apes Alliance , creating a new cultural partnership with the Rwenzori Sculpture Foundation and building a new vocational centre at Sadhguru School, located near the lodge.

Kibale Lodge is an hour’s drive from the historic hill town of Fort Portal and an hour from the Kasese airstrip, from which there are daily flights to and from Entebbe, and to Volcanoes Safaris’ four other lodges. Kibale Forest, the base for chimp trekking, is a thirty-minute drive from the lodge. Read more on the opening of Kibale Lodge here .

Contributing members are responsible for the accuracy of content contributed to the Member News section of AdventureTravelNews.

REYA COMMUNICATIONS

Specialists in mountain gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda and Uganda, Volcanoes Safaris comprises four luxury lodges. Volcanoes Safaris guests have exclusive access to the organizations' many eco-tourism and conservation & community initiatives.

www.volcanoessafaris.com @volcanoes.safaris

"A pioneer on the accommodations scene, Virunga Lodge opened in 2004, perched on a mountaintop with panoramic views of six volcanoes and two crater lakes. After the treks, guests tend to get massages at the lodge’s spa, then assemble around the stone fireplace for

cocktails before dinner."

Deborah Dunn, Wall Street Journal

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Volcanoes safaris, great ape trekking.

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"Through his nonprofit Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust, lodge owner Praveen Moman had opened a new Gahinga Batwa village in 2018: 18 homes and a community center constructed on a 10-acre plot."

"A pioneer on the accommodations scene, Virunga Lodge opened in 2004, perched on a mountaintop with panoramic views of six volcanoes and two crater lakes."

"Volcanoes Safaris maintains a buffer zone along the Kyambura Gorge in Uganda — one of the most significant areas in Africa for avian, primate and wildlife biodiversity — to protect the ecosystem from encroaching development." 

With four luxury lodges in the Volcanoes Safaris Collection, guests can enjoy all the highlights of Uganda and Rwanda in comfort and style while primate trekking through the jungles of Africa. Gorilla trekking experiences are offered at Virunga Lodge, Bwindi Lodge, and Gahinga Lodge, while chimpanzee trekking is offered at Kyambura Lodge.

Rwanda & Uganda

Starting at $700 pp/pn, accommodates, kgl, kigali | ebb, entebbe, ibirunga and ibiyaga deluxe bandas come with stone fireplaces, open living room, private terrace, butler, and the most scenic views of the six virunga volcanoe mountains and lake burera. , unique fact, volcanoes safaris was started by uganda-born praveen moman, who first explored the virungas as a 12-year-old boy alongside his father prior to the asian expulsion in 1972., social impact, established in 2009, the volcanoes safaris partnership trust (vspt) is a non-profit organization that connects four luxury lodges to the neighboring communities and conservation activities. guests can participate in give back activities and a portion of proceeds from each trip goes to the vspt..

Celebrating Excellence: Three REYA Clients Named to Travel + Leisure's A-List of Top

Travel Advisors

At REYA Communications, we take immense pride in our clients. Today, we are thrilled to announce that three of our esteemed partners have been recognized among the best in the travel industry. Praveen Moman of Volcanoes Safaris, Jimmy Caroll of Pelorus, and Maija de Rijk-Uys of Go2Africa have been named to Travel + Leisure's prestigious A List of Top Travel Advisors.

N ewsweek  Magazine

Future of travel visionary award 2022, afar magazine, travel vanguard award 2022, international sustainability awards, sustainable eco-tourism award 2023, conde nast traveler reader's choice awards, top hotels in africa 2017-2023, w orld boutique awards, africa's most romantic retreat 2016, travel + leisure magazine, world's best awards best safari lodges 2022-2023, marie claire sustainability awards, most sustainable - independent hotel 2023, pure life experiences awards, community engagement award 2016.

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Volcanoes Safaris to Open Kibale Lodge in Uganda 1 July

Volcanoes Safaris, the pioneer of gorilla and chimpanzee ecotourism in Uganda and Rwanda since 1997, will open Kibale Lodge in Uganda on July 1, its fifth lodge in Africa.

Kibale Lodge will comprise eight bandas, plus a spa and pool. Four bandas will open in July and four more by the end of the year.

The lodge has been hand-built by Volcanoes’ in-house teams of African artisans in the Volcanoes style led by Ugandan-born founder,   Praveen Moman .

Moman said: “There are three important things to share about this lodge. Firstly, as with our other lodges, it has been hand-built by our artisans. Secondly, we are honoured to work with key partners to promote conservation and community activities around Kibale. Finally, Kibale Forest – the Primate Capital of the World – is one of the best parks to view chimpanzees in Africa, with a community of 1 500 chimps.”

Kibale Lodge is an hour’s drive from the historic hill town of Fort Portal and an hour from the Kasese airstrip, from which there are daily flights to and from Entebbe, and to Volcanoes Safaris’ four other lodges.

Bookings for Kibale Lodge are now open.

Community and conservation partnerships

At Kibale Lodge, Volcanoes Safaris will work in partnership with the Jane Goodall Institute to organise community outreach programmes through the Roots and Shoots programme, particularly to develop women leaders in conservation.

It is also working with the Jane Goodall Institute and wider participants of the Albertine Apes Alliance to promote responsible ecotourism in Kibale Forest.

Established in 2022 as part of Volcanoes Safaris’ 25 th   anniversary celebrations, the Albertine Apes Alliance is an informal advocacy network that brings together stakeholders involved in conservation and ecotourism in the Albertine Rift Valley.

A new cultural partnership with the Rwenzori Sculpture Foundation, set up by the Rungwe Kingdom based near Kibale Lodge, will also bring sculptures relating to the traditional clans of Uganda to the lodge.

Volcanoes is also building a new vocational centre at the local Sadhguru School, located near the lodge.

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How locals are protecting the wildlife of the Queen Elizabeth Conservation Area

Beneath the Virunga and Rwenzori mountains in Uganda’s southwestern corner, villagers live side by side with wildlife. Though famous for exciting encounters with mountain gorillas, this rugged, tropical region also offers serene viewing at the water’s edge — and plenty more besides.

Pelicans preen and glide. Jacana birds, precise as ballerinas, point their improbably elongated toes. Pied kingfishers flit in and out of their lakeside nest holes, saddle-billed storks patrol the grassy banks and skimmers speed across the silver-blue water, scooping up beakfuls mid-flight.   Everywhere I look, there are birds in abundance. The safari boat is the perfect platform from which to watch: open-sided, smooth and near-silent.

Southwest Uganda’s Kazinga Channel is south of the Equator, but only just. On the journey here, I passed from one hemisphere to the other, pausing at zero degrees to take photos and hear the cheerful patter of a roadside opportunist with a pair of painted funnels, one on either side of the line. With practised sleight of hand, he poured water into each. Down it swirled, clockwise in the north, anticlockwise in the south. “It’s the Coriolis effect!” he declared.

Now, as I putter along the channel, it’s my mind that’s spinning. Like a theme park stocked with flocks of animatronics, it’s all too perfect to be true. But on this squiggle of fresh water, roughly 22 miles long and 2,500ft wide, there’s no trickery: it’s a naturally magical spot. “Often, we’ll spot 60 or 70 species of bird on a single excursion,” says Yasin Mubiru, my softly spoken skipper for the afternoon, who lives locally and knows the channel’s natural history inside out.

Many of the birds are so unfazed by our approach that there’s barely any need to reach for my binoculars, and the Kazinga Channel is so calm, you could count the ripples. Though officially a river, its flow is almost imperceptible. Lying within the Albertine Rift, the 750-mile arc of lakes and mountains that separates Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania from the Democratic Republic of Congo, the channel connects two natural basins at a near-identical altitude — Lake Rutanzige (also known by its colonial name, Lake Edward) and Lake Katunguru (also called Lake George). Together, they provide year-round water for the forest-scattered grasslands that surround them: the Queen Elizabeth Conservation Area (QECA), Uganda’s most biodiverse protected zone.

The channel bisects this area’s core: the 764sq-mile Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP). Bird-wise, it’s booming. Though smaller than East Africa’s blockbuster safari destinations — Kenya’s Maasai Mara or Tanzania’s Serengeti — QENP harbours considerably more avian species: over 600, in fact, a number that, according to BirdLife International, no protected area in Africa can beat. A relaxed and accessible wildlife haven, it also has low-cost entry fees, friendly guides and an excellent mix of places to stay, ranging from bare-bones accommodation to eco-luxury lodges. If you’re fairly new to safari and have a budding interest in birdwatching, it’s the ideal choice.

A short cruise on the Kazinga Channel is a great way to dip a toe in the water, so to speak. For birdwatching, it’s far less challenging than Uganda’s mist-wreathed forests, where tiny LBJs (twitcher-speak for ‘little brown jobs’) chime like bells from afar, rarely seen. And the megafauna can prove distracting in the tawny protected grasslands; at the slightest whiff of a lion, your companions may forget all thoughts of birds and vote to set off in pursuit. In all respects, the channel offers a pleasing balance. On our waterborne safari, I watch an elephant shaking its mighty ears on the channel’s fringes, spot crocodiles bathing on the banks and hear hippos grunting like portly old gentlemen in the shallows, but it’s the dizzying numbers of birds that impress me most. “There’s plenty of phytoplankton, crustaceans and fish for them to feed on,” says Yasin. It’s little wonder the channel’s a-flutter.

Yasin hails from the village of Kazinga, a fishing settlement at the Rutanzige end of the channel. We ease round a bend to a spot where Kazinga’s barias (fishermen) have hauled their slender wooden boats onto the shore. In the many African parks and reserves where settlements are banned, this would be incongruous, but QENP is different: it’s part of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve where rural communities, visitors and wildlife coexist. When the park was created in 1952, its dozen or so villages remained, their residents scratching a living by growing bananas, tending smallholdings and fishing for ngege   (Nile tilapia, delicious grilled) or emamba, emale and semutundu (lungfish, mudfish and catfish). Over time, the park’s population has grown.

Local rules allow the barias   free rein to fish these peaceful waters, as long as they don’t use harmful gear, such as cheap fine-mesh nets that trap juvenile tilapia. With so many families fishing here and living hand-to-mouth, the restrictions aren’t universally popular, but Yasin sees the benefits. “People have to understand that in the long, run, it’s better for everyone,” he says. “Allowing the fish to mature and reach their full size relatively undisturbed improves yields. It’s better for other wildlife, too, which in turn is good for tourism, of course. And that, for Uganda, is unquestionably the future.”

Protecting forests

Mountain gorillas are the country’s star wildlife attraction, but they are particularly vulnerable. Their stronghold, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, is in the highlands around 30 miles south of QECA’s southern tip. Like all great ape habitats, this rainforest feels uncompromisingly wild. In reality, however, it has a fragility that keeps conservationists awake at night.

This year, it’s three decades since Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) rangers began leading tourists on mountain gorilla-tracking expeditions in Bwindi. UWA partners with local communities in protecting the forest and its gorillas from threats such as mining and logging as well as snares, which are intended for bushpigs and antelopes. Due to the rangers’ diligence, Bwindi’s gorillas increased in number from 300 in the 1990s to 459 in 2018. But there’s still much to be done.

Like QECA, Bwindi lies amid low-income rural populations, but there, the similarity ends. Since 1991, it’s been protected by fortress conservation, whereby forest-dwellers were evicted and unauthorised people kept out. Local development projects do receive a share of park revenues, but at just $18 (£15) from the $740 (£610) each tourist spends on the entrance fee and gorilla permit, the percentage is small.

For Bwindi’s Indigenous Batwa people, the jolt of being uprooted from the forest, their ancestral home, was catastrophic. “The Batwa resent the implication they were poor conservationists, and have been requesting adequate support ever since,” Caleb Kahima tells me at a spirited Batwa cultural show for tourists ready to trek into hills in search of gorillas. The performers re-enact scenes from their forest-dwelling past, when they gathered plants rather than grew them, and procured just enough game and honey for their needs. Kahima, a former UWA conservation officer, chairs Community Initiatives for Biodiversity Conservation, an NGO based on the forest fringes. “We share sustainability skills such as climate-smart organic gardening,” he says. “We also make bricks from discarded bottles, then build 20,000-litre tanks to allow communities to harvest rainwater,” he continues. “This is much more biodiversity-friendly than seeking water in the forest.”

Partly tourist-funded, such initiatives are making life beyond the trees more viable. Gorilla tourism also helps keep UWA afloat. Behind the scenes, however, there’s a feeling that it’s not enough for ape-watching excursions to generate money: they should also be more responsible, ensuring gorillas themselves don’t lose out.

Tracking mountain gorillas can be one of Africa’s most thrilling and rewarding wildlife experiences. After jumping in a vehicle and driving past towering trees and through lush highland plantations, you head into the jungle on foot and are soon assaulted by the ripe, potent scent of vegetation. With every step, anticipation propels you forward, towards that moment when your hour-long encounter with a huge alpha male silverback and his family begins.

Getting close to the animals, however, is a contentious issue. There’s increasing scientific evidence that when tourists approach gorillas, it disturbs their wellbeing and jeopardises their health. Some believe it’s no coincidence that in 2020, when tourists were almost entirely absent, 12 of the 70 or so adult females in Uganda’s tourism-habituated gorilla families gave birth, rather than the normal three to five per year.  

UWA insists visitors stay at least 10m away from the gorillas and wear face masks in their presence. The aim is to avoid exposing gorillas to infections or stress-related illnesses and, as head ranger Benson Kanyonyi tells me, to foster respect. “Tourism is important,” he says. “But these animals aren’t just here for us. They belong to the entire world.”

The road to recovery

Mountain gorillas have spent 30 years in the limelight, but they’re by no means the only rare and charismatic creatures in southwest Uganda. Back in QENP, I’m hoping to glimpse some of its feline superstars: lions.

Normally, when scanning for lions, you look down. Often, they’re deep in the shade. But on a late-afternoon drive through the park, my eyes are cast up. It’s partly because the scenery’s so striking, with the Rwenzori Mountains on the horizon and spiky Euphorbia candelabrum succulents silhouetted against the steely sky. But it’s also because the lions I’m looking for climb trees. While I’ve occasionally seen this elsewhere, in QENP it’s a cultural norm, passed from mother to cub. For cats more than twice as heavy as leopards, it’s quite an impressive feat.

QENP received its name in April 1954, to commemorate the young Queen Elizabeth’s first visit. Over the years, it’s suffered what seems an unfair share of setbacks, particularly in the period following Idi Amin’s notorious 1971 coup. During the distress and unrest that followed the installation of the brutal dictator, wildlife poaching was rife. QENP, once magnificent, has been overshadowed by more fortunate East African safari areas ever since. Gradually, however, under UWA’s careful stewardship, the green shoots of recovery have emerged. An aerial survey completed in 2018 counted several thousand elephants, along with healthy numbers of the park’s signature herbivores, buffalos, hippos and Ugandan kob, handsome antelopes that are a crucial food source for lions. The park’s rangers have also forged fresh links with the UK, skill-sharing with Queen Elizabeth Country Park in Hampshire and even creating a Ugandan Queens Park Rangers football team.

We pause at a deep wallow where buffalos lounge contentedly, like mud-caked patrons at a spa. The lions have proved elusive, but it hasn’t dampened the good mood. For QENP’s communities, however, the lions are a serious matter. Despite the ecological benefits that apex predators provide, rural dwellers who consider them threatening persecute them or set snares to poach their prey, sometimes catching them, too. To measure how the area’s lions and other carnivores are coping, South African conservation biologist Alex Braczkowski is leading an annual survey. As well as gathering much-needed data, it will provide conservation education in the community and train young Ugandans in scientific techniques.  

Visitors luckier than me can contribute by taking GPS-tagged lion ID photos during their drives, which are then uploaded to a database Alex and his team are compiling. This and several other local conservation projects are tourist-funded via the Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust (VSPT), whose regional base overlooks Kyambura Gorge, south of the Kazinga Channel. The gorge, a sun-dappled forested gash in the savannah, is home to a community of around 30 wild chimpanzees. Visit and you may glimpse their knuckle prints, or hear their screeches reverberating through the trees. Like characters in a desert-island saga, the group has become isolated from other chimps by a growing cluster of villages, fanning out from a busy road. American primatologist Nicole Simmons, who’s been monitoring the situation since 2006, reports that only one female chimp from elsewhere has successfully found its way into the gorge and joined the group, making inbreeding almost inevitable.  

For the villagers, chimps make rowdy neighbours, but VSPT is helping to bring harmony. To explain, Partnership Trust guide Saidi Kakuru takes me on a stroll to the nearby Volcanoes Community Conservation Centre, home to several thriving agribusiness projects.

Donning protective gear, we visit the Omumashaka Bee Keepers Cooperative, watching as puffs of smoke from smouldering eucalyptus chips and banana fronds send the bees into a daze. We learn about organic coffee-growing with the Kyambura Women’s Coffee Cooperative, an enterprise run by disadvantaged local women, many of whom are widows or living with HIV. Their flourishing arabica and robusta crops adjoin an area of mixed planting that separates the villagers’ smallholdings from the gorge. “We’re very proud of this buffer zone,” says Saidi. “We’ve planted it with indigenous trees including figs, the chimps’ favourite food, to deter them from raiding banana and maize plots, and it’s been a total success.”  

Even more ambitiously, VSPT and the Jane Goodall Institute want to create a new wildlife corridor connecting Kyambura Gorge to Maramagambo Forest, a prime chimp habitat, around four miles away. If successful, it could prove a lifeline for the Kyambura chimps. And as with the many other future-focused initiatives that are blossoming in southwest Uganda, there’s every reason to hope.  

Related Topics

• NATIONAL PARKS
• PROTECTED AREAS
• WILDLIFE CONSERVATION
• WILDLIFE WATCHING

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