Safari
Overlooking the primeval Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge is a lovely location from which to trek endangered mountain gorillas, who occasionally cross the little stream that separates the lodge from the forest and roam the grounds. The staff anticipate your every need – there's a drink (hot or cold) for your return, someone will take your clothes for laundering, your shoes will be polished and your grumbling stomach will be well fed. This is not canned tourism – it's the real deal, African style.
The atmosphere in the communal area, with its a cosy fireside bar and lounge in which to relax and share your experiences and sightings, is wonderfully warm and light-hearted. Meals are served in the main area too, and you can rest assured that your appetite will be satisfied – the chef can deliver excellent fare ranging from good pasta and vegetarian to classic beef or seafood dishes. Wi-Fi is available in the main lodge building only.
Eight cabins or bandas (three doubles and five twins) face the forest canopy, each with a private terrace from which you can see wildlife visitors, including chimps, mountain gorillas and leaping colobus monkeys, just metres away. Each stone and timber cabin has a steeply thatched roof, wooden floors, an en-suite bathroom with shower (hot and cold water) and flush toilet, fully netted beds and 240v power. A massage is included in the room rate – perfect for post-hike aches.
Follow your guide into the Bwindi Forest to track mountain gorillas – so magical when you consider that there are just 880 or so left in the world. Take a forest walk to a waterfall, follow the self-guided river trail, visit the Batwa pygmy village (of historical interest, although the Batwa have been relocated from their ancestral home), and shop for souvenirs at the local Bwindi crafts centre. A note for shoppers: the local organic coffee beans are first-class.
You don't have to wait for your trek for incredible wildlife-spotting. From your private veranda, look out for colobus monkeys, chimpanzees and mountain gorillas who occasionally cross the stream into the gardens.
Get to know the local community with a stroll to the nearby Batwa coffee shop and curio shops, or listen to the talented children's choir sing.
Don't underestimate the role of porters; they’re definitely worth having on your trek, sometimes literally pulling and pushing you up the slopes! And - a blessing in disguise - Wi-Fi is only available in the main lodge.
The Time + Tide Foundation is dedicated to preserving natural environments and supporting nearby communities, and guests contribute to sustainability purely by visiting their hotels. The foundation focuses on community and school-based learning, female empowerment, health, and wildlife conservation. Through initiatives like student sponsorship, it aims to ensure the long-term prosperity of wildlife economies and foster positive social change in Time + Tide communities.
A contribution of $10 per guest, which is included in the nightly rate, goes towards the above goals.
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13 nights from $13,657 per person
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10 nights from $22,293 per person
A tangle of lush green vines, this magical forest is the country’s top gorilla trekking destination.
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