Uganda: Trekking The Albertine Rift

Arrive in Kigali, Rwanda, for a private road transfer to The Retreat. The city sits in rolling hills that form the eastern edge of the Albertine Rift. The day is at leisure to recover from travel and adjust to East Africa’s tempo. Dinner options are varied, with the chance to sample Rwanda’s growing culinary scene before setting out for Uganda the following morning.

Cross into Uganda by road to Lake Bunyonyi, a flooded valley scattered with terraced hillsides and islands. Staying at Birdnest Resort, days are spent acclimatising with gentle hikes through surrounding communities and canoe trips on the lake. This region offers insight into subsistence farming practices and birdlife, with species such as grey crowned cranes and herons common along the shoreline.

Begin a multi-day hike westward toward Lake Kayumbu. Trails traverse steep ridges and fertile valleys where bananas, sorghum, and beans are cultivated. Nights are in lightweight expedition camps, with food prepared over open fires in hosts communities. The route is physically demanding but provides privileged access to communities rarely visited by travellers.

Three nights at Mount Gahinga Lodge with two gorilla tracking permits included. Mgahinga sits where Uganda meets Rwanda and the DRC, a landscape of dormant volcanoes and afro-montane forest. Gorilla treks are accompanied by rangers, while golden monkeys and duikers also inhabit the park. Afternoons can be spent at the lodge or exploring volcanic slopes with community guides. Only one gorilla family is habituated here, ensuring a more intimate experience.

From Mgahinga, hike northwards to Nkuringo. This is a full day on foot, climbing and descending through remote village trails, tea gardens, and steep forest patches. The Nkuringo sector of Bwindi receives fewer visitors than Buhoma, and Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge offers comfortable rest after the day’s walk. The trek emphasises cultural contact, with time to meet families and learn about land use in this rugged terrain.

Continue walking northwards through Bwindi’s dense interior. The trail passes waterfalls and clear streams, leading eventually to Buhoma. Bwindi is a stronghold of the mountain gorilla and also supports chimpanzees, L’Hoest’s monkeys, and hundreds of bird species including the endemic African green broadbill. A final gorilla trek concludes the journey before nights at Bwindi Lodge, offering reflection on the traverse of the Rift and its communities.