UNBEATABLE Gorilla Special for SADC Residents!

Rwanda has long been one of those places that sits just beyond easy reach.
This Iconic Africa Special changes that, opening up access to gorilla trekking for our SADC guests at rates up to 70% lower than usual — something that VERY rarely comes around.

There are certain trips that tend to live more in conversation than in reality.

Rwanda is one of them.

It comes up easily enough — over a glass of wine, around a dinner table, somewhere between “we should really go” and “one day.” The images are always the same: mist hanging low over forested slopes, the quiet anticipation of a trek, that first moment of eye contact with a gorilla in the undergrowth.

And then, just as quickly, the conversation moves on.

Not because the interest fades, but because the numbers tend to bring things back down to earth.

Gorilla trekking, for all its appeal, has always sat at the upper end of the safari spectrum. Permits priced in dollars, logistics to match — it’s the kind of experience that often gets postponed, rather than planned.

But every now and then, something shifts.

Set just outside Volcanoes National Park, Amarembo by Touch Down sits quietly on the edge of one of Africa’s most compelling wildlife experiences. There’s no overstatement to it. It’s comfortable, well-positioned, and close enough that early mornings don’t feel like a logistical exercise.

More importantly, it places you exactly where you need to be — at the start of a day that rarely unfolds the same way twice.

A gorilla trek isn’t something you can fully prepare for. There’s the briefing, of course, and the general outline of how things might go, but once you step into the forest, everything slows. The air shifts, the sounds change, and the sense of anticipation builds gradually rather than all at once.

You walk. You stop. You listen.

And then, at some point, you’re there.

It’s not dramatic in the way people expect. No sudden reveal, no orchestrated moment. Just a quiet realisation that you’re sharing space with something entirely self-contained. A silverback watching without concern. A younger gorilla moving through the foliage with a kind of casual confidence. The forest continuing around them as if nothing has changed — even though, for you, it has. Monumentally.

It’s an experience that tends to stay with people for reasons that are hard to put into words at the time.

Which is perhaps why it’s always been so sought after.

For travellers within the SADC region, the current Iconic Africa Special has secured rates at Amarembo in a way that makes the broader Rwanda experience significantly more accessible than it has been in the past.

A 3 day, 4 night stay including all meals, trekking permits (1 Gorilla, 1 Golden monkey), is now on sale for R49, 999! The offer is valid for travel until the 30 May, with strictly limited availability!

It’s not something being shouted about, and perhaps that’s why it feels as interesting as it does.

Because when a place like Rwanda — long considered just out of reach — suddenly becomes more than possible, and it changes the nature of the conversation entirely.

It moves from “one day” to “now”.

And those are often the trips that end up meaning the most!

Bisate Lodge – Volcanoes, Gorillas, and the Luxury of Doing It Properly

There are certain places that don’t feel like a destination so much as a pilgrimage. Bisate Lodge is one of them.

Perched on the edge of Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, Bisate looks out across misty slopes and ancient forest — the kind of landscape that makes you lower your voice without realising you’ve done it. It’s dramatic, moody, and intensely beautiful, and the lodge leans into that atmosphere with a sense of theatre and purpose.

The design is striking: thatched, nest-like villas tucked into the hillside, each one offering sweeping views of the volcanic peaks. It feels both futuristic and rooted — as if it belongs to another era, but also exactly here. Inside, everything is warm and tactile: rich textures, thoughtful details, and a sense of comfort that feels earned rather than flashy.

But Bisate isn’t only about aesthetics. It’s about intention.

This is luxury with a backbone — a lodge built with conservation at its core, deeply tied to reforestation and community impact. You feel it in the way the team speaks about the land, in the pride behind the experience, and in the sense that your presence here contributes to something that lasts beyond your stay.

And then there are the gorillas.

There is no truly adequate way to describe the moment you first see a mountain gorilla in the wild. It is humbling, electric, and oddly intimate — like being allowed into a world that has no need for you, yet tolerates your awe. The trek itself is part of the story: early mornings, boots and rain jackets, breath in your chest as you climb into the forest, and then… that moment.

Back at Bisate, the luxury lies in how well it holds you afterwards. A hot shower. A drink by the fire. A meal that feels restorative. It gives you space to process what you’ve just experienced, without rushing you into the next thing.

Bisate is for travellers who want their safari to mean something — not in a heavy, preachy way, but in a way that feels real. It’s extraordinary, not because it tries to impress you, but because it quietly does.

A mother and child, Titus Group, Bisate Lodge, Wilderness Safari, Rwanda

Singita Kwitonda: Where the Path to the Gorillas Begins

Some journeys announce themselves loudly: roaring waterfalls, thundering hooves, sweeping plains. Others begin in a whisper — a curl of mist drifting across a volcanic slope, a soft crackle of bamboo, a quiet exhale in the forest as a mountain gorilla meets your gaze. Singita Kwitonda Lodge exists for that kind of journey: the kind that stays with you long after your boots are clean and your heartbeat has settled.

Built on the edge of Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, Kwitonda doesn’t feel placed in the landscape so much as grown from it. The lodge’s architecture — timber walkways, lava-stone walls, huge panes of glass framing the volcanoes — creates a feeling of being held inside the ecosystem rather than observing it. It’s soft-spoken luxury: fireplaces quietly glowing, deep sofas encouraging you to sink rather than sit, and staff who anticipate your needs with the gentleness of people who understand the emotional weight of a gorilla trek.

That trek is the axis on which every day turns. Mornings begin early with rich Rwandan coffee, boots waiting, gaiters neatly arranged, and a palpable sense of anticipation humming through the air. Guides brief you with the kind of calm, precise storytelling that turns nerves into excitement. And then you’re walking — into a forest that feels ancient, alive, and almost sentient.

The encounter itself is often described as moving, profound, transformative. What’s remarkable about Kwitonda is how it holds you after that experience. You return mud-splattered, wide-eyed, and slightly overwhelmed, and without a single forced word, the lodge creates space for reflection. A hot shower, a warm drink, the quiet crackle of a fire — these aren’t amenities; they’re invitations to process what just happened.

In the end, the true luxury of Kwitonda is its deep respect for the moment you’re here to have. It doesn’t compete with the gorillas. It doesn’t rush you past them. It simply builds a sanctuary around the most extraordinary hour you may ever spend in nature.

Gorilla Forest Lodge: Close Encounters

Around 700 mountain gorillas exist in the wild. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda is home to more than half of them.

Gorilla Forest Lodge, tucked away near the westernmost edge of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, is unrivalled as a base from which to set off in search of these magnificent creatures. It enjoys a prime location for this ultimate bucket list wildlife activity. Sometimes you don’t even have to go anywhere; one of the local gorilla families visits the lodge grounds around four to six times a month.

The camp boasts ten private luxury tents allowing guests to unwind in the heart of the forest itself.

Eco-friendly, contemporary yet classic at the same time, this unique camp blends effortlessly with the dramatic African mountain landscape. Perfectly situated in a national park, you are just a few minutes away from an epic gorilla trekking adventure. The only accommodation located within the park itself, the camp boasts an unrivalled location with exceptional wildlife and birdlife viewing opportunities.

For an idea of what type of incredible encounters might await you in the forest, have a look at this amazing video:

What was previously Gorilla Forest Camp is now being reinvented as Gorilla Forest Lodge, with canvas tents giving way to more permanent, upgraded rooms. Each of its 10 suites is being significantly enlarged and reimagined.

Floor-to-ceiling windows will complement expansive veranda-like decks. Design elements include clay-look, textured-plaster walls, woven banana leaf ceilings and elongated framed vistas. All you will hear is the sound of trees dancing, birds singing and nature taking its course. The camp retains an intimate, exclusive feel, enabling you to experience Africa’s magic with the lightest of footprints yet with practically every mod con.

The communal areas of Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Lodge boast a cosy lounge featuring a well-stocked bar and a luxurious dining area.

From here you can enjoy magnificent views over the verdant rainforest. As the day settles and the stars come out, you will hear chatter coupled with the sounds of nature around a warm campfire. Exchange stories of the day’s adventures while enjoying a drink or two. Uganda is known for providing rich flavours and locally sourced ingredients enhance every meal. Expertly prepared dishes promise simple flavours and showcase fresh delights — try traditional smoked beef in peanut sauce served with Kalo (millet bread). Candlelit alfresco dining is also available on your suite’s private deck.

Though a gorilla trek is likely to be the centrepiece of your GFL experience (and you may wish to devote more than a single day to trekking, as coming face to face with the great apes can be a truly life-altering experience), don’t miss the opportunity to discover the flora and fauna of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest on a guided walk, or to engage with the indigenous Batwa people during a Community and Philanthropy Tour.

An overnight visit to game-rich Queen Elizabeth National Park and the possibility to see the famous tree-climbing lions is easily arranged.

Or simply relax in camp, amid the splendour of the forest. Take a treatment at the spa. Swap stories by the campfire before dinner. Savour the rare privilege of being in this extraordinary place.

Gorilla trekking should be on everyone’s bucket list, and this newly reimagined lodge, should be one of the first to be looked at as an option. And with so much more to Uganda than only gorillas, the possibilities for a truly adventurous safari are endless.

Get in touch through info@iconicafrica.com for more information…

Erebero Hills – The Best of Bwindi

The considered design of Erebero Hills – meaning “a place where you can see far” – takes creative inspiration from the surrounding landscape of rolling hills. Sweeping views across the forest will be on offer from all guest suites, or from the hillside swimming pool on warm afternoons. Combining sustainable luxury with the thrill of observing one of the world’s most endangered species in their natural habitat, Erebero Hills will provide a unique and rewarding safari experience.

Located on the northern edge of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Erebero Hills holds an enviable position offering both privacy and convenient access to a preferred gorilla trekking location.

An AMAZING SPECIAL OFFER is currently on the go; due to high demand, Asilia are extending their exclusive opening special to offer ONE FREE GORILLA PERMIT PER PERSON for all new bookings confirmed by 28th February 2025.

Book now, and be one of the first to stay in what will likely prove to be a groundbreaking new lodge in this discreet corner of Uganda.

Driving an ambitious reforestation project, Asilia aims to create a forest buffer zone within the 45 acres surrounding the lodge. A long-term project, this will eventually deliver an accessible forest for the Batwa people who are no longer allowed in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and will create sustainable livelihood opportunities for local communities both now during the planting phase, and for many years to come.

Imagine yourself in a rare moment, crouched on the forest floor, respectfully avoiding eye contact while observing some of the last remaining eastern and mountain gorillas up close.

These majestic creatures are found only in three countries – Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo – and live in four national parks, including Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Volcanoes National Park, and Virunga National Park. Asilia’s gorilla trekking tours offer an exclusive opportunity, a privilege, to witness them in their natural habitat.

Erebero Hills is set to provide the service and attention to detail that Asilia is well-renowned for, alongside a meaningful and empowering positive impact commitment.

Eight forest-view suites tucked into the hillside – each with a private viewing deck and uninterrupted views of the forest across the valley – have been designed for style and luxury. The spacious, glass fronted interiors are filled with natural light, with a king-sized bed and both indoor and outdoor seating options designed to maximise the expansive views. A boot-room at the entrance to each suite offers a thoughtful design element, while the en suite bathroom applies the finishing touches with a free-standing bathtub and both an indoor and outdoor shower, all with breathtaking views of the forest. The main lounge and swimming pool offer additional areas for relaxation, while spa treatments can be enjoyed in-room to ease tired muscles.

In addition to housing more than half the world’s remaining population of mountain gorilla, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest plays home to staggeringly rich array of biodiversity. Over 350 species of bird, more than 200 species of butterfly, and more than 100 mammal species, of which 10 are primates. With convenient flights from Kenya, Erebero Hills combines easily with Asilia’s Kenya portfolio, allowing for an incredible East Africa adventure.

Gorillas live in family groups led by a dominant silverback male and are majestic, highly intelligent, and social creatures. They communicate through a repertoire of up to 25 distinct sounds. They share strong family bonds and are known to create and use tools. It’s fascinating to see them building nests on the ground or in trees using branches and leaves, which they use both during the day and at night. Sadly, they are critically endangered, according to the IUCN Red List. 

If you would like to be one of the vanguard to stay in what may prove to be Asilia’s flagship lodge, we’d just like to remind you about the special offer, with a free gorilla trekking permit for every booking confirmed before 28th February. That amounts to a saving of $600 per person.

Get in touch through info@iconicafrica.com to enquire…

Life Changing Gorilla Encounters

For many, the film Gorillas in the Mist sits in the fantasy bracket of what is actually possible in terms of wildlife encounters in the modern world.
It just seems too surreal that encountering the most majestic of the world’s great apes in the flesh would be an actual possibility. Yet Wilderness Safari’s Bisate Lodge in Rwanda was constructed to craft this exact experience for its guests.

Perched on the slopes of an extinct volcano in the Virunga Range, the lodge looks out over an incredible view of two more volcanoes, Bisoke and Karisimbi, whose days of eruptions have long been consigned to the pages of history. The former of the two rises above where Diane Fossey herself situated her research centre (the name of the centre, “Karisoke” came from combining the two names).
The coming of morning reveals the tendrils of mist made so famous in Fossey’s book, weaving their sinuous way through the treetops before eventually being burnt off by the African sun. Exotic birds flit through the camp and announce the arrival of the day, and you know it’s time to head up into the mountains on your gorilla trek.

Family gorilla troops are known to the rangers and their whereabouts tracked, meaning that encounters are close to a sure thing, although the distance required to hike each day might vary considerably based on the gorillas’ movements. Due to the gorillas’ susceptibility to human diseases, the time allowed for encounters is limited to an hour per day, but the intensity of the experience is such that these 60 minutes can feel like you’ve fitted a lifetime into them!
Infants play around barely an arm’s length from you, whilst adults move slowly by, feeding as they go. If you are lucky the dominant silverback might be in attendance; imagine looking into the eyes of a 150kg ape at only two metres distance.
The intimacy of these gorilla encounters is what blows peoples’ minds. When you look at them, you know they are looking back at you for the same reasons. There are hidden depths behind their eyes; you can tell that they are working you out just as surely as you are working them out.

While Gorilla trekking is the star attraction of Bisate lodge, it is certainly not the only reason to visit. The nearby Volcanoes National Park offers multiple other adventures: golden monkey trekking; the Fossey hike or even scaling Mount Bisoke itself.
On the property of the lodge itself, explore nature trails where local and unique bird species proliferate and where recent camera trap footage even recorded a discreet visit by a silverback! Get involved in Bisate’s reforestation project by planting a tree, thus helping to lure wildlife back to the area. Or follow the hum rising from the local villages below, and integrate into the community whose lives are so integral to the lodge.

With fewer than 1000 mountain gorillas left in the wild, there are very few places where one can have such a moving, potentially life-altering experience as this. Being on foot with an animal that is so similar yet so different to us is utterly profound, and one is left pondering one’s place in the grand scheme of things long after the adrenalin of the encounter has worn off.

If this sounds like the experience you are after, get hold of our sales team now at info@iconicafrica.com.

There are some unbeatable specials currently running, so don’t wait to get in touch…

Gorilla Trekking: The Time is Now!

Africa’s most diverse protected area is the Virunga National Park; a third of the world’s mountain gorillas occur here, as well as over one thousand species of bird, mammal, reptile and amphibians.
Yet the national park itself is just a sample of the incredible wildlife experience the region offers. The Virunga Mountain range, which runs along the borders of Rwanda, Uganda and the DRC, is home to perhaps Africa’s greatest wildlife encounter, which can be experienced in a number of places and from a number of lodges in the area; Gorilla trekking.


Coming face to face with the great apes in the wild is an emotional experience. Time stretches out before you yet goes by so fast at the same time. You feel like you have been holding your breath for the whole duration of the encounter.
Sitting barely a metre from a huge silverback male is something very few people have the opportunity to do, and with only a small population surviving in the wild, it may even be that the current generation is the last on planet earth to be able to have these encounters.

The fantastic news is that the experience has suddenly become far more accessible than it has been for years. A special on gorilla trekking permits for African citizens is currently running and will be continuing until the end of 2022. The often prohibitive cost of $1500 for a permit has been reduced to just $500, so there literally isn’t a better time to go than right now!

Mountain gorillas, Virunga Mountains, Rwanda

With a number of lodges in the Virunga region currently running specials as well, the combination of reduced permit prices and discounted accommodation has seen a surge in interest in the experience.
Given that space is limited in most of the lodges and only a certain number of guests can participate in each trek, be sure to contact us as soo as you have dates in mind over which you might like to visit.
This is truly a bucket-list adventure, and there was never a better time to go!

Face to Face with Mountain Gorillas: a Life-Changing Experience

It’s an odd thing to look at yourself looking back at you, but not in a mirror.

No, you are far removed from where you would normally find a mirror. Surrounding you is damp montane forest, the air is filled with strange bird cries, and the eyes that gaze back into yours are fringed all around by dense black fur. They are not human but somehow are. You know they are looking at you just as intently as you are looking at them, and behind those peaceful, sad eyes is… something.

Photograph courtesy Sonke Moolman-Pautz

This is gorilla trekking; this is the encounter people fly around the world for. The chance to come face to face – literally – with something that is so undeniably human, yet isn’t.
It is the type of experience that changes lives.

Photograph courtesy Sonke Moolman-Pautz

The few mountain gorillas left in the world are mostly confined to the Virunga Mountains, a range of volcanoes that run along the border between Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, with a number of national parks between the three countries ensuring the continued protection of the great apes. Rwanda and Uganda are by far the more popular destinations, and the Volcanoes National Parks in the latter and the Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga National Parks in the former are usually the destinations of choice for those wishing to experience the magic first hand. A wide range of lodges dotted around the region ensures visitors have a lot of choice when it comes to selecting the right fit for them, and Iconic Africa are able to help you work your way through the options.

Dramatic landscapes are a hallmark of the gorilla trekking regions. Photograph courtesy Sonke Moolman-Pautz

Recent Gorilla-trekker and Iconic Africa guest Sonke Moolman-Pautz stayed at Singita Kwitondo lodge, and had this to say about the experience:

This trip exceeded all of our expectations and we had really high expectations to begin with! We had such magical encounters with the Gentle Giants of the Forest on both of our treks – so grateful that the Team at Iconic Africa suggested that we meet up with the Gorillas twice. It really is so worth it!

Singita Kwitondo is an absolute sanctuary of warmth and solitude. Exceptional in every way! But I think the most unexpected part of our adventure is the lasting effect that Rwanda has had on all of us. It honestly is the most incredible country with the most gentle and kind people that I have ever encountered. And to think what they have had to endure. It really has changed us, so much to learn! I honestly cannot wait to go back.

Iconic Africa arranged a completely flawless trip for a large group during a difficult and fluid time (Covid). So thoughtful with so many personal touches! We were treated like absolute VIPs from start to finish. Highly recommended!

A little family disagreement amongst one of the local troops. Photograph courtesy Sonke Moolman-Pautz

With some amazing specials on offer right now, there simply has not been a better time to see the gorillas. This is honestly one of those life-changing travel experiences that has to be lived first-hand to be understood.

Get in touch with Iconic Africa here to start planning your trip…