Activities

The chimpanzee is man’s closest relative. Once found in 25 African countries, chimpanzees are now becoming extinct in some countries through deforestation and commercial poaching. They share about 99% of human genes: their brain is startlingly similar to our own and they adapt to their environment, developing tools much like humans do. Guests can track chimpanzees at several places in Uganda: Kyambura Gorge, Kibale forest and Kalinzu. 

Kyambura is a unique underground forest in the middle of the savannah.  There are only 20 chimps in the whole forest and they have become isolated from other chimps due to human encroachment and have started inbreeding. The chimps are just as habituated as those in Kibale but the success rate is not as high due to the challenges of the habitat. The success rate is on par with Kalinzu at around 50-60%. Hippo, elephant and even lion can be spotted in the gorge.

Kibale offers a very large chimpanzee population (over 120 touristed chimps - 1400 in whole forest) for viewing and is very popular, with as many as 6 groups tracking each day. Their success rate is around 90%.

Finally Kalinzu counts about 40 chimpanzees in the tourist population (around 300 in the whole forest).  They are moderately habituated with about a 50-60% success rate of seeing them. The forest is beautiful, with dense vegetation and streams throughout. The walk requires good fitness levels in some parts and should not be considered an easier option to Kyambura Gorge. Monkeys can also be seen on the walk including L'Hoist, Blue, Black and White Colobus, Baboons, and Red Tails. 

From Kyambura Gorge Lodge

Formally known as ‘Pygmies’, the Batwa are widely regarded to be the oldest surviving peoples of central Africa and their culture is one of the most ancient and endangered. For thousands of years they have survived in the dark forests of the African Great Lakes region and over generations built up a symbiotic relationship with their natural home in which skills were passed down throughout their history. Traditionally hunter-gatherers, Batwa people also had a vast knowledge of forest plants, especially for medicinal purposes, they could track bees to find their hives and collect honey and had a whole range of techniques for hunting and gathering.  It was customary for this knowledge to be passed on orally through dancing, song and storytelling.  Sadly, the plight of the Batwa people has not been a happy one in modern times as both the gazetting of national parks and times of civil unrest in the 19^th and 20^th centuries have forced them from their forest homes, putting much of their traditions at risk as they struggle to both adapt and be accepted by the modern world.

The Batwa Dance Group perform once a week on Volcanoes Safaris land for the benefit of the local community and Volcanoes Safaris clients. Regular performances provide an opportunity to practice and to interact with the local community, with whom the much maligned Batwa have a tenuous relationship. There has been a marked improvement in the standard of performance and the group have begun to develop a greater repertoire of songs. The VSPT has purchased drums to further enhance the performances. The response by Volcanoes Safaris clients has been overwhelming and between 30-40 members of the local community attends their performances each week.

From Mount Gahinga Lodge

Undeniably the most unique primate that survives in the forgotten forests of Africa is the gorilla, both the mountain gorilla and the lowland gorilla. In contrast to the six billion human beings living on our crowded planet there are only some seven hundred mountain gorillas left on the borders of Uganda, Rwanda and Congo.

Gorilla Trekking through the misty forests requires patience and stamina, often involving walking for hours in the mud and the wet. Finally meeting them in the undergrowth is an inspiring moment. Quietly chewing away at their vegetarian delicacies, they seem like a marooned human family. The tender grooming and firm disciplining of their offspring seems all too familiar. The gorilla family cast a wary glance at the sudden human intrusion into their private world but is comforted by the clucking made by the trackers. When provoked, the noisy but harmless silverback grunts, screeches, bares his fangs and beats his chest, before slithering off with attendant females, offspring and other mature males.

Parc National des Volcans (PNV) in Rwanda and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda offer very different trekking environments. The vegetation in Bwindi is more dense, which gives it a unique atmosphere. The hillsides there are steeper so it is usually considered a more difficult trek. However, the difficulty of gorilla tracking also depends on weather conditions and the duration of the tracking, which are both hard to predict. The parks both offer spectacular landscapes and a rich variety of wildlife and bird species. 

From Virunga Lodge or Bwindi Lodge

Elevation 4137 m - Its name means “The Guide”. The typical cone-shaped mountain provides some of the best views in the country so don't forget to take your camera. Much of the climb passes a rocky surface covered by grasses and small shrubs. Once at the top, hikers are rewarded with the view of the Virunga volcanoes, Lake Edward in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi and the peaks of the Rwenzori Mountains. The hike takes approximately 8 hours round-trip covering 12km.

From Mount Gahinga

Climbing Sabyinyo Volcano

Elevation 3660m – Its name means 'Old Man's Teeth'. This volcano offers 3 challenging peaks to climb. A climb up the mountain takes you up a ridge along the eastern side of the climb to the peak. If you continue, the climb to the peak involves walking a ridge with breath-taking drops into gorges in Rwanda and Uganda, a fantastic dual experience. The final hike up to the peak is steep with several ladders and mush scrambling. Once at the top you will be in Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda at the same time. The journey takes about eight hours round-trip to cover the 14km stretch.

From Mount Gahinga

Climbing Gahinga Volcano

Elevation 3474m - Its name means “Small Pile of Rocks”. A hike, which takes you about six hours round-trip, goes through a great example of a pure Bamboo forest. Gahinga once had a Crater Lake on top but time has since transformed it into a lush swamp. The distance to the swamp from the lodge is 8km.

From Mount Gahinga

Climbing Karisimbi Volcano

Elevation 4507m - Its name in Kinyarwanda means "White Shell", which refers to its often white-capped summit. This is due in part to the fact that Karisimbi is the fifth-highest mountain in Africa. The climb will start early in the morning and takes 6 hours. You will climb further via the Bisoke side before reaching the first rest point at an altitude of 3,700m for overnight camping. This giant mountain takes 2 days to climb and is the most rewarding of the volcano climb challenges.

From Mount Gahinga or Virunga Lodge

The Kazinga Channel linking Lakes Edward and George is especially rich in wildlife and a great place to see a diverse range of mammals, birds, and reptiles, including the African crocodile. Boat trips on the Kazinga Channel provide a wonderful opportunity to photograph the many birds and mammals that come to forage or cool off at the waters' edge. The area’s great variety contributes to making Uganda known as the "Pearl of Africa."

From Kyambura Gorge Lodge

This enchanting River Walk is taken on the lodge property and lasts around 30-45 minutes. This short trip takes you through lush gardens where monkeys and gorillas have frequently been viewed taking their own walk around the area.

From Bwindi Lodge

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is blessed with a unique bird fauna; 79 bird species have thus far been recorded within the park, including several species endemic to the East Congo Montane region.  For the Virunga Conservation Area as a whole, over 295 species in the Virungas are endemic to the Albertine Rift Afromontane region representing 59% of the total of known endemic species.

From Mount Gahinga Lodge

The Ruwenzori are some of Africa’s biggest block mountains and a World Heritage Site. The mountain forms a border between Uganda and Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), measuring about 120 km (75 miles) long and about 64 km (40 miles) wide. The highest peak of the Rwenzoris is Margherita Peak on Mt. Stanley (at 5110m above mean sea-level). This is the third highest peak in Africa, after Kilimanjaro and Mt. Kenya, but is considered the most arduous climb in Africa. 

One of the first Europeans to see the Rwenzoris called them Lunae Montes, Mountains of the Moon, which were believed by the ancient Greeks to be the source of the Nile River.

Several hiking itineraries are offered depending on trekking experience. For those who wish to get a taste of the mountains, Volcanoes offers a half day trip where guests will have the opportunity to take a short walk in the foothills of the mountains and take in the views of this magnificent mountain range.

From Kyambura Gorge Lodge 

Spend one hour with the exciting Golden Monkeys. Rare and equally deserving of protection as the gorillas, they are found only in the Virungas and in one other forest in Rwanda. Listed as endangered, it's a rare treat to be able to see these unique creatures in the wild. So named because of their bright orange-gold bodies, the golden monkeys have only been able to be visited since 2003. It's a very different experience to gorilla viewing; where huge gorillas are easily visible and interact the golden monkeys are smaller, nimbler and faster.

From Mount Gahinga or Virunga Lodge

Guests can take a walk to visit a women’s coffee cooperative and coffee processing station. The project, supported through VSPT, enables women from the neighbouring community to increase their livelihoods by allowing them to harvest and process coffee locally. This rich and aromatic 100% organic coffee is served and sold in the Kyambura Gorge Lodge and a number of other lodges in the area.

From Kyambura Gorge Lodge

This 30-minute walk to the school goes down from the lodge through a village and terrace farming. In addition to being able to see the school and the village, guests have a chance to enter the classrooms and speak with the students and teachers if they so wish. VS has contributed a water tank and other items (backpacks, shoes, etc) via some of its guests to the school. The school has over 800 students and has been supported by the VSPT to help improve the classrooms, resources and standard of teaching.

From Virunga Lodge

The Sculpture Gallery is located an hour’s drive away from Volcanoes Kyambura Gorge Lodge, at the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains in a stunning architect-designed building overlooking the Mobuku valley. The project currently has some impressive sponsors, including the Tate Gallery in London, the Royal Academy as well as artistic giant Damien Hirst, who donated a sculpture that sold for £313,250 to help with construction costs. A competition was won in 2009 by London firm Cullum and Nightingale to design and build central Africa’s first foundry for casting bronze. The building is now complete and is beginning to open for business, attracting visitors from Uganda, Africa and beyond. The building itself is shaped like an upturned galleon and sits with panoramic views around the Rift Valley. The roof is metal, made from oil drums that have been beaten flat and there is a keel-like beam from which sculptures can be moved about on rails.

From Kyambura Gorge Lodge

Formally known as ‘Pygmies’, the Batwa are widely regarded to be the oldest surviving peoples of central Africa and their culture is one of the most ancient and endangered. For thousands of years they have survived in the dark forests of the African Great Lakes region and over generations built up a symbiotic relationship with their natural home in which skills were passed down throughout their history.  Traditionally hunter-gatherers, Batwa people also had a vast knowledge of forest plants, especially for medicinal purposes, they could track bees to find their hives and collect honey and had a whole range of techniques for hunting and gathering.  It was customary for this knowledge to be passed on orally through dancing, song and storytelling.  Sadly, the plight of the Batwa people has not been a happy one in modern times as both the gazetting of national parks and times of civil unrest in the 19^th and 20^th centuries have forced them from their forest homes, putting much of their traditions at risk as they struggle to both adapt and be accepted by the modern world.

The trip will start with an hour-long hike through the forest past a series of stunning vistas. Along the way you will watch demonstrations of how the Batwa used to live in the forest, how they use medicinal plants and how they hunt and gather food. You will also find out about the delicate fare on offer in the forest including wild honey, yams and mushrooms as well as being able to visit traditional dwellings and even trying out a spot of dancing! You can also try your hand with a bow and arrow!

From Bwindi Lodge