Primates and Wildlife

Accompanied by a guide, you will follow the forest trails and look out for different types of birds. Of the 325 that are recorded in this national park, 6 species of birds are endemic to the Albertine Rift region, including the Black-capped Apalis, Blue-headed Sunbird, Collared Apalis, Dusky Crimsonwing, Purple-breasted Sunbird and Red-faced Woodland Warbler.

The forest opens its doors for a sensational chimp tracking! Enjoy a guided primate walk in the lush expenses of the tropical rainforest, in search of the wild chimpanzees. The ranger guide will explain you more about the animals and plants species that you encounter on your way. Also look out for other primates like the Red-Colobus Monkeys and Mangabey, birds, tracks of mammals and much more!

Be educated and entertained by experienced ranger guides. This walk especially caters for children who are too young to participate in the chimp tracking. While the parents enjoy their chimpanzee experience, the young ones will go for a forest walk and learn more about the ecosystem, followed by creative activities and games.

Another project initiated by the community is the Village Walk. This guided walk takes you for a closer meeting with the Bigodi Trading Centre. Accompanied by a guide, who can tell you everything about the traditional customs and lifestyle of this tribe, you will follow the village path and visit a primary school, Catholic church, traditional homesteads, learn about the crops and listen to the story telling of a Mzee (elderly man).

As you drive from Fort Portal to Kibale Forest you will pass the area of the Bunyaruguru Crater Lakes region. Here you can simply enjoy the beauty of the numerous small lakes, surrounded by gentle hills, and the stunning views. Take a hike at Lake Nkuruba to encounter different species of primates and birds. Or visit the hidden Mahoma Falls while you meet the local people as you walk through their villages and learn more about the customs of the Batoro tribe.

This part of Kibale Forest is located 12 km from Fort Portal in the direction of Kampala. The area offers different walking trails for excellent bird and primate viewing in moist evergreen forest.

Kibale Forest is located almost at the foot of the “Mountains of the Moon”. Here you can enjoy a guided nature walk, with scenic views of the rolling hills, green valleys and large banana plantations. You will get a glimpse of the village life and visit a traditional healer at this home.

Kibale Forest is surrounded by large, green tea plantations and therefore your stay at Primate Lodge Kibale cannot go without a visit to one of the tea estates. Touch the fresh tea leaves and watch the workers tipping, plucking and weeding. Of course you are invited to participate! At the tea factory you will witness the progress of transforming the leaves to black (made) tea and you will get a taste of the final product!

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.

For an in-depth understanding of the behaviour and conservation of gorillas, guests can be accompanied by a veterinary doctor from the Gorillas Doctors or by a researcher from the Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH) organisation in Buhoma.

Gorillas Doctors are dedicated to conserving wild mountain and eastern lowland gorillas through life-saving veterinary medicine and a One Health approach.

CTPH is a non profit organisation, founded by Dr. Glady Kalema, which focusses on the interdependence of wildlife and human health in and around the protected areas of Uganda. They are located in Buhoma, walking distance from Bwindi Lodge.

This exclusive experience allows a total group of 8 guests to track a gorilla group in the forest on their own. This enables guests to have a deeper connection with these fascinating animals, accompanied by their own guide who can give them personal briefing.

The cost is 5600 USD per trek per day in Uganda, for a maximum of 8 guests.

In 2013 the VSPT began simple tea processing in partnership with the local communities, at the Volcanoes Safaris Bwindi Lodge, which is located at the edge of the primordial Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, World Heritage Site and home to the famous Mountain Gorilla, in South West Uganda.

Tea has proven to be a very useful buffer crop when planted between forest areas with protected wildlife, and local human communities. Animals do not eat tea so feel no need to come out of the forest to “crop raid” which is the source of much human-wildlife conflict in areas around National Parks.

A tea tour is available to interested Volcanoes Safaris guests, demonstrating how tea is grown, picked and traditionally processed in Uganda. The tour also shows how ‘black’, ‘green’ and ‘white’ teas are produced and differentiated. Guests are invited to sample the fine teas at the end of the tour whilst looking out over the impressive forest.

In 2015, the VSPT officially opened the Bwindi Bar, located near the Volcanoes Safaris Bwindi Lodge on the edge of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The bar provides a practical training institution for local disadvantaged youths living near the Bwindi National Park in Buhoma.

The VSPT aims to provide practical experience in the tourism industry, to create more job opportunities in the region. Thanks to this programme, trainees are armed with the appropriate skills set to go on to gain successful employment in hospitality in the Bwindi area.

The trainees gain practical skills in food and service during their three month training. They are then sent for further internships at nearby lodges. Bwindi Bar serves a variety of delicious locally-inspired food and drinks, including the famous Ugandan 'Rolex' wrap and the signature 'Gorillini' cocktail!

Congratulations to Bwindi Bar on winning the 2016 PURE Community Engagement Award!

Bwindi Community Hospital was established in 2003 to provide health care to the Batwa community and, due to the high demand of health services, the hospital opened its services to all people living in the area. What started as an outreach clinic under a tree is now a 112 bed hospital providing health care and educational services to a population of over 100,000 people. A simple stroll through the village will lead you to the hospital.

Uganda offers some of the world’s best bird watching, with a vast diversity of bird species. Uganda has over 1,000 bird species with 150 found only in Uganda. Each of our lodges offers the chance to see a number of different birds, with the vast majority endemic to the Region.

At Bwindi Lodge the beautiful walk to the river takes you through the lush grounds of the lodge with the magical Bwindi Impenetrable Forest on the other side of the river. Gorillas, chimps and birds can often be heard in the undergrowth. A natural pool in the river can be used for quick cool dip!

This escorted walk in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, traces the river up into the park, where 3 beautiful waterfalls can be found along the way.

The forest is home to 350 bird species of which is 23 endemic bird species, clouds of butterflies and rare plant life. This walk offers excellent photographic opportunities and the guide will provide a great insight into this globally important habitat.

The Building of a permanent settlement for the Gahinga Batwa, Uganda

The Batwa are thought to be one of the oldest surviving indigenous people in the Central African Region. Known for their unique pygmy culture in the forests, the Batwa of the Virunga Mountains survived by hunting small game, gathering plants and fruits, living in caves and constructing huts of leaves and branches.

With international attention on conservation of the endangered mountain gorillas, the Mgahinga part of the Virunga volcanoes in Uganda was turned into a national park in 1991 to provide protection to the wildlife from poaching and habitat encroachment. The creation of the park required the Batwa to be removed from their homes in the mountains and be displaced in a modern world unfamiliar to them. The Batwa ended up squatting in nearby farm land. They earned a living through occasional labor or begging. With limited education, adapting to the modern world has been a difficult journey. They do not have resources or land and suffer from acute poverty, malnutrition and poor health.

Volcanoes Safaris has now built a permanent village for the Batwa community and their families. About 10 acres of land has been purchased to allow them to build homes, a community centre and have land for agricultural and recreational use. The homes were completed in early 2018 and the official launch of the village took place at the end of May 2018.

The Gahinga Batwa community is comprised of over 100 adults and children. They have had no permanent home since they left Mgahinga National Park over 25 years ago.

There is 1 gorilla family that can be easily tracked in MGahinga National Park, just a short distance from the lodge.

The cost is 700 USD per person per trek.

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. 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.

Supported by the Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust, this hands-on experience will open your eyes to another world – that of one of Uganda’s longest surviving tribes. Visit the local Batwa community in their traditional dwellings and learn about how they have lived for generations in the surrounding forest.

Supported by the Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust, the local Batwa community visits Mount Gahinga Lodge and performs their traditional song and dance for lodge guests.

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.

Located less than a kilometer from Mount Gahinga Lodge, the Kisozi Caldera is an easy to moderate hike to the top of a small hill where the caldera sweeps from corner to corner. A caldera is formed by volcanic eruptions, and many dot the stunning landscape of this volcanic region.

Both Uganda and Rwanda offer some of the world’s best bird watching, with a vast diversity of bird species. Uganda has over 1,000 bird species with 150 found only in Uganda. Rwanda has over 700 bird species and is home to the second highest number of Albertine endemics in the Albertine region. Each of our lodges offers the chance to see a number of different birds, with the vast majority endemic to the Region.

This exclusive experience allows a total group of 8 guests to track a gorilla group in the forest on their own. This enables guests to have a deeper connection with these fascinating animals, accompanied by their own guide who can give them personal briefing.

The cost is 5600 USD per trek per day in Uganda, for a maximum of 8 guests.

The lodge is available for exclusive use bookings.