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25 Friendship Campers, 4 Days at Lake Bunyonyi
Just one week to go! ⏱️ The 25 awesome delegates may already be packing their bags for Uganda’s Lake Bunyonyi — the next stop of the GHE Friendship Camp journey! Coming in from DR Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda, the crew is all about crossing borders, sparking friendships, and celebrating our region’s colourful cultures: 🇷🇼 Adeline…
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Lake Bunyonyi’s Island of Death
Smack in the middle of Lake Bunyonyi floats a scruffy little island with a few dead trees and a whole lot of baggage. You wouldn’t give it a second look, unless locals tell you that the forlorn patch of land is called Akampene, or Punishment Island … Back in the day, if a girl was…
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What About National Unity?!
Mobutu Sese Seko put “liboke” into the national slogan: “Tolingi Zaire liboke moko, lisanga moko” (We want a united and undivided Zaire) and the French neglected to include that meaning — national unity — in the dictionary. Here’s to hoping that DR Congo becomes a peacefully delicious mix again! You may also like: Honestly, It’s…
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Discover Banana Beer Culture on the Congo Nile Trail
The Congo Nile Trail shouldn’t be about scenic views only; you better make it a journey into our region’s rich cultural traditions! One of the more memorable experiences along the way is discovering urwagwa, the traditional banana beer.Just 10 km/6 mi from the Koko River, a short detour brings you to the Koko Centre. Here,…
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Edirisa Treasures: Our Cute Little Museum by the Big Gorgeous Lake
For over 20 years we’ve poured our hearts into projects, adventures and memories at Lake Bunyonyi — and for almost as long we’ve dreamed of a little museum to hold it all. This week that dream finally came to life. Andrea, an old friend and a true expert in the field, arrived with another cherished…
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Fresh Fruit, Fresh Look: Welcome to Musanze!
Experienced travellers often say that visiting a market offers an unmatched plunge into local culture: a glimpse into the daily rhythms and the very feel of a country. In the lively atmosphere of the Musanze Agri Market, filled with chatter and laughter, you can sense Rwanda’s passion for rapid urbanisation and order. In 2023–2024, the…
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Nkombo Island: Where Rwanda and Congo Say ‘I Do’
Perhaps no place in Rwanda better demonstrates the enduring ties it shares with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) than Nkombo island. A fascinating detour from the Congo Nile Trail, the island is also becoming a destination for couples who wish to tie the nuptial knot. Nkombo’s clean, sandy beaches and resorts like Marchal Nkombo…
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Follow Us Here for This, There for That
Time to celebrate 🎉 — our multi-month regrouping on social media is done! We now have: 🦍 Gorilla Highlands Travels – touring & volunteering (Instagram, Facebook) 💡 Gorilla Highlands Illumineers – youth program (Instagram, Facebook) 🌋 Gorilla National Parks – all five of them (Instagram, Facebook) 🛶 Lake Bunyonyi – our Ugandan home (Instagram, Facebook) 🚴 Congo Nile Trail – hiking/cycling on Rwanda’s Kivu shores…
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Why “Illumineers”: Building a Young Future for DR Congo, Rwanda and Uganda
Right from the moment we started dreaming about taking an active role in shaping the future of the Gorilla Highlands region shared by Rwanda, Uganda and DR Congo, our foremost focus has always been on the youth. We see young leaders as the driving force behind the change we envision, while we stay open to unexpected inspirations…
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Comfort Is Comfortable & Shall Make You Comfy
Heard of Comfort Kansiime? She’s our freshest face and started in July, bright-eyed and ready for adventure. (You might’ve noticed we’re now officially called just “Lake Bunyonyi” on socials, but this profile will prove that Edirisa’s spirit is still beating strong underneath.) For Comfort, the gig at Edirisa on Lake Bunyonyi is her first proper…
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DR Congo Opens Enormous Area to Oil & Gas Exploration
A jewel of nature created to protect Grauer’s gorillas, Kahuzi-Biega National Park in eastern DR Congo now stands on the edge — unraveling under the weight of a hauntingly familiar “collective failure.” You may also like: Can Primate Parachuters Be Responsible Tourists?Rwandafully Classy: 40 Baby Gorillas NamedEastern DR Congo: Beautifully Chaotic & CaptivatingHonestly, It’s Been…
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Koko Bridge Reopens After 13 Years
After more than a decade of disuse, the Koko Bridge connecting Musasa to Gihango sector that leads to Bumba has finally been repaired and reopened to the public. This long-awaited restoration allows travellers to cross the river safely, eliminating the need for makeshift crossings. Previously, hikers and bikers on the Congo Nile Trail had to…
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Drawn to the Thrill of the Catch? Consider Lake Chahafi!
In the hills of Kisoro, where mist rolls off the Virungas and time seems to slow down, fish from Lakes Chahafi and Kayumbu is nothing short of treasure. So valuable, in fact, that fishmongers won’t dare cut a Mirror Carp unless someone is ready to buy the whole thing. A single kilo sells for no…
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Checking on Our Neighbours: Kyahugye Is Madly Special
Life at Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort hits different, trust us. You don’t usually wake up on an island to find a zebra and a donkey having a chilled breakfast outside your window — unless you’re here, of course. That’s assuming the crested cranes haven’t already shrieked you into consciousness. Cradled by the waters of Lake…
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Jenna’s Traveling Roots: Why We Made Our Home in the Virungas
Some very special people are choosing to live in Musanze, Rwanda … This is the second instalment in the Why We Made Our Home in the Virungas series, a story about Jenna’s Traveling Roots. (Click here for the first video, Lan’s cute take on his school called Virunga Valley Academy.) You may also like: Nyabingi?…
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Congolese Saint in the Making — for Stopping Corruption!
This story is all the buzz in DR Congo right now: Floribert Kositi stopped 5 tonnes of spoiled rice from Rwanda, refused a USD 2,000 bribe, and was then killed by the smugglers. He’s on a fast track to Catholic sainthood. Can he inspire more youth to say no to corruption and yes to peace?…
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Welsh ‘Congo House’ Leads to Nelson Mandela
“How did this find you? It’s quite an interesting story!” says the director, Tudur Evans, who is actually one of ours. He came to Uganda many years ago as a young volunteer helping us with a documentary production about Batwa “Pygmies” — and now he is a pro advising us on the videos we make!…
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We Have a Musanze Job Opportunity For You!
Job Title: Part-Time Gorilla Highlands Office StaffLocation: Musanze, RwandaEngagement Starts: 4 August 2025Job Interviews: 2 AugustApplication Deadline: 30 July Are you a Rwandan aged 18 or above who is eager to join one of the biggest global businesses — the travel industry? Do you care about the nature and cultures of the Gorilla Highlands region…
