Save Gorillas: Focus on Communities
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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.
Volcanoes Safaris is the only company in the world to focus exclusively on the gorilla and chimpanzee parks of Uganda and Rwanda, a very rare and distinct type of eco-tourism. We have three lodges near the mountain gorilla parks: Virunga Lodge in Rwanda and Bwindi Lodge and Mount Gahinga Lodge in Uganda. Kyambura Gorge Lodge and Kibale Lodge, opening in early 2024, focus on the chimpanzees.
Each of our lodges are connected to unique community and conservation projects, developed by the Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust, which allow guests to experience the local community and participant in eco-tourism and community-based conservation.
In 2022 we celebrated the 25th anniversary of Volcanoes Safaris with a series of events with our partners, including the Jane Goodall Institute, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, and Empowers Africa. We hosted a retreat with 25 conservationists at Mount Gahinga Lodge, where the ‘Albertine Apes’ group was created to support collective action and advocacy to support the long term future of the great apes in the Albertine Rift.
Each Volcanoes Lodge undertakes a range of non-profit community and conservation activities in its neighbourhood.
The Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust aims to create long-term, self-sustaining projects that enrich the livelihoods of local communities, promote the conservation of the great apes, restore natural habitats and work with communities and institutions to reduce human-wildlife conflict.
Our new partnership with Empowers Africa as our fiscal sponsor provides a simple way for contributions from US residents to be tax-deductible.
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
© Volcanoes Safaris 1997 – 2023. All Rights Reserved
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.