Tag: uganda

Gorilla Forest Lodge: Close Encounters

Posted on by James

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

Posted on by James

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…

Gorilla Trekking: The Time is Now!

Posted on by James

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

Posted on by James

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…

A Once-in-a-Lifetime Gorilla Safari Combo

Posted on by Lexi Hall

“Spending time with these gorillas changed my life.” – Ellen Degeneres.

No wildlife adventure can compete with coming face-to-face with a wild gorilla – it truly is the ultimate wildlife experience. 

“They are so incredible and so closely linked to us, sharing 98 per cent of our DNA. There are only 880 of these majestic creatures left on this planet,” adds Degeneres. So don’t leave it too late!

Due to the huge demand for a safari and gorilla combo, we have carefully crafted an incredible 7-night tour at a combination of our selected Sanctuary Retreats giving you a MASSIVE saving! Save over 33% on this amazing experience. Witness the iconic mountain gorillas now and bask in unimaginable luxury surrounded by the densest vegetation and the world’s most revered wildlife population. Pay a visit to the elephant orphanage in Kenya; see large prides of lion in Tanzania before stopping in Uganda to visit the majestic mountain gorillas. 

Best times to visit:

The best times to visit the gorillas are December to March and June to September as the rainy season is from April to May and October to November, with the wettest month being April. You can expect tropical climates and change in weather depending on your altitude.  

When to book:

Bookings fill up quickly and we recommend securing your trip between 12 and 18 months beforehand. 

Our very own director John Holley travelled to Rwanda to see Gorillas up close in their natural habitat. He had no idea how close….. that could be. Here’s a sneak peek… to give you an idea just how close he came!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAPi9rgsv3w

See below for full itinerary:

Spend 1 night at the Ole Sereni Hotel in Nairobi on a Bed & Breakfast basis. 

Situated along the Nairobi River in beautiful Kenya, Nairobi is East Africa’s most cosmopolitan city. It serves as an excellent starting point for African safari trips around Kenya. Nairobi is Africa’s 4th largest city and is a vibrant and exciting place, with some fascinating attractions: its cafe culture, unbridled nightlife, the National Museum, the Karen Blixen Museum and most notably just 20 minutes from the city centre wild lions and buffalo roam in the world’s only urban game reserve. Make sure you pay a visit to the elephant orphanage operated by the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.

This journey will then take you to the Masai Mara National Reserve offering wonderful scenery and plenty of game. It is perhaps the only region left in Kenya where the visitor may see animals in the same super-abundance as existed a century ago.

Spend 4 nights at the Sanctuary Olonana Camp in the Masai Mara on an all-inclusive basis. 

The Masai Mara together with Tanzania’s Serengeti form Africa’s most famous wildlife park, the Masai Mara National Reserve. The image of acacia trees dotting endless grass plains epitomises Africa for many, then add a Maasai warrior and some cattle to the picture and the conversation need go no further. The undeniable highlight of the Masai Mara National Reserve is undoubtedly the annual wildebeest migration traversing the vast plains of the Serengeti and the Masai Mara. It is known as the largest mass movement of land mammals on the planet – with more than a million animals following the rains. Large prides of lion, elephants, giraffes, gazelles and eland can also be spotted in the reserve. Aside from horse riding safaris and traditional vehicle safaris, hot-air ballooning over the Mara plains has become almost essential.

Finally, fly to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in southwestern Uganda. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and accessible only on foot, it is one of the richest ecosystems in Africa providing habitat for over 90 mammals (including 11 primates), 346 species of birds (including 23 highly localized Albertine Rift endemics), 202 species of butterflies, 163 tree species, over 100 species of ferns, 27 species of frogs, chameleons, geckos and other endangered species. chameleons, geckos and other endangered species.

Spend 3 nights at Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest on an all-inclusive basis.

Located in southwestern Uganda, the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is said to be Africa’s oldest rainforest. It is world-renowned for its excellent gorilla-sighting opportunities. The rugged landscape features dense jungle, cascading waterfalls, sparkling mountain streams, deep valleys and steep ridges. This untouched forest has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its breathtaking natural beauty and unique ecological significance. Don’t miss the opportunity to explore the spectacular Virunga Volcanoes. Bwindi is, however, most notable for her 340 Mountain Gorillas, about half the world’s population of this critically endangered primate. 

The opulence doesn’t end with your luxurious room! All guests visiting &Beyond safari lodges can now enjoy the use of a complementary pair of Swarovski binoculars, for the entire duration of their stay!

This offer is in high demand and difficult to get availability for, so don’t wait to book your once-in-a-lifetime experience. This offer is based for 2 adults sharing. The percentage discount varies based on selected property, seasonality and length of stay.  

*Please be sure to carefully check your passport & visa requirements for yourself and all the guests accompanying you on your trip.