Brought together during the Covid-19 epidemic, Gorilla Highlands Experts were 20+ local and global specialists — from park rangers to culinary masters — promoting and developing the Gorilla Highlands region shared by Rwanda, Uganda and DR Congo. We gained global recognition after a Washington Post article was published in 2021.
More people joined over time. We do not require expert knowledge anymore but simply deep love for the transboundary region, and a belief that wildlife can only thrive if the communities around national parks are doing well. In 2025 we have many heroes from all around the world physically engaged in Musanze (Rwanda) and at Lake Bunyonyi (Uganda) or digitally involved through lively WhatsApp groups and monthly Zoom calls.
Our flagship initiative is a youth program called Illumineers, while all our work stands on the following five pillars:
– peace: among nations, within families and in individuals
– nature: respect for the natural environment and the amazing wildlife of the region
– culture: self-respect, respect for others and culturally grounded development
– education: for the world to fully appreciate the region and the youth to reach their full potential
– entrepreneurship: for innovation, self-reliance and home-grown solutions
We are the final result of development initiatives that started decades ago and have a sister organisation, a responsible travel company called Gorilla Highlands Ltd.
Our slogan is Nature. Culture. Together.
To get a a more complete story about our region and work please download the Gorilla Highlands Info Kit (5 MB).
The Travel Team: Gorilla Highlands Tours
Among Gorilla Highlands Experts there are a number with tourism and hospitality backgrounds — the team behind Gorilla Highlands Tour, a responsible travel company that was registered in Rwanda in 2016. It makes unique itineraries that uncover the very best of the Gorilla Highlands region: in a jeep, on a mountain bike, on foot, or in a dugout canoe.
We want tourism to benefit local communities as much as possible while at the same time conserving the natural and cultural environment. Our ethos of Developmental, Lean & Mean blends a well-proven organisational strategy with a deep commitment to the social and economic empowerment of the continent — and personal growth of the people we serve. Lean & Mean signifies the focus on customer satisfaction and maximisation of resources. Developmental is our guarantee to support the growth and well-being of both communities and individuals.