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Lift the “Pygmies” Up, Don’t Knock Them Down!
Look who’s back at Edirisa on Lake Bunyonyi! The Wheeling2help volunteer crew have returned. Two of their teams helped us whip up the Batwa Feast last year, bravely stepping in as our taste-testers so the first lot of 2025 could savour the real deal yesterday … Fancy giving it a go yourself? You’ll get to…
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The Coffee Pot Hotel: A Family’s Legacy
Kisoro’s Coffee Pot Café is an institution. Known all across the Ugandan slopes of the Virungas, this cozy place of mixed German and Bafumbira DNA opened its doors in 2010. After 15 years in the business, it’s currently reinventing itself. At the heart of this transformation is Joseph Ndagijimana who was a kid when his…
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Volunteer’s Dilemma: Cause, Cash or the Girl?
Stay in Africa to help, or return to Europe for paid work (and a girlfriend who misses you badly)? A dilemma that many a volunteer has faced before … but usually not just a few days after their arrival! Last month, that happened to Sifis Sareidakis, 25, a Greek computer analyst turned supply chain planner.…
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Lake Bunyonyi’s Best Street Food (on Water!)
Ever found yourself wondering, “What do fishermen eat before heading out to catch fish?” Turns out … more fish. At least if you’re hanging around Lake Bunyonyi. Meet Jimmy Betubiza — the local celebrity who’s been slipping into the lake at dawn for over 40 years. He’s 53, but looks like he’s been preserved in…
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Where Can I Learn the Most About Gorilla Conservation?
If gorilla tracking is more than a selfie opportunity to you, add the Ellen DeGeneres Campus to your itinerary. Even from Uganda, it’s worth a day trip — located about an hour from the Cyanika border post in Kinigi, Rwanda. This 12-acre (5-hectare) facility is home to the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. Yes, that Fossey…
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Kinunu Coffee Tour: Best Coffee Experience on the Congo Nile Trail
Planning to hike or bike the Congo Nile Trail in Rwanda? No matter where you start or how far you go, be sure to include a coffee experience in your itinerary. There are several on offer (and clearly signposted) along the Trail, but the leader of the pack is the Kinunu Coffee Tour. Here’s why…
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Friendship Camp 2025: Bonding at Lake Bunyonyi, Uganda
Illumineers from the Gorilla Highlands region and friends from near and far — we’re coming together again! You’re probably wondering: “Who’s ‘we’?” We are breakthrough young activists from DR Congo, Uganda, and Rwanda. Gorilla Highlands Experts want to see these amazing changemakers unite on a beautiful Lake Bunyonyi peninsula, right at the edge of the…
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When Spirits Say ‘Meow’
One of the first faces you’ll meet at Edirisa on Lake Bunyonyi isn’t human — it’s Sammy the Cat. Ever since the tragic demise of PK the Bird, she’s stepped up as our one and only Official Pet. Curious how she joined the crew? Well, once upon a not-so-charming time, our kitchen had a serious…
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The Virungas’ Most Intriguing Ethnic Group
Of all the cultures found around the Virungas, the Bafumbira are perhaps the most intriguing. Though they speak a dialect of Kinyarwanda, they live in Uganda’s southwestern corner, in Kisoro District. Their influence in Uganda far outweighs their numbers. They are a small minority, as there are only around 700,000 Bafumbira in their district while…
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Fancy Joining Two Hikers on the Congo Nile Trail at the End of July?
📁 Hiking“My travel buddy Heather and I are coming to Kenya for a horse riding safari and looking to come to Rwanda for about two weeks prior for cultural immersion, hiking and of course gorillas (at least in a way that can support the conservation efforts),” emailed us Sara from Melbourne almost a year ago. When…
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The 30th Island of Lake Bunyonyi?
Right, so officially Lake Bunyonyi has 29 islands … but who’s keeping track, really? (No one actually knows how they came up with that number.) With the water creeping up bit by bit, a brand-new island looks like it might be joining the gang soon. One of the longest ones, Habukomi, seems to be slowly…
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Digital Superman under Rwanda’s Famous Breast
“Cows are everything to me. They are my siblings, my comfort zone, my love. They raised me, fed me, and shaped who I am,” says Alexis Ngabo Karegeya. His passion for cattle is contagious, and it’s turned him into a fascinating guide for visitors to the lush pastures of Bigogwe. Found on the southern side…
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Congo Nile Trail Update 2025-05
Whether you’re cycling or hiking, the Congo Nile Trail offers unmatched beauty and local encounters. Just remember to plan with care and stay informed: 1. Mama Nelly’s Relocation Mama Nelly’s cooking can now only be enjoyed if you make prior arrangements. See our previous post for the details to learn about her relocation. 2. Trail…
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Nature. Culture. Together.
Nature. Culture. Together.That’s our slogan from now on. Nature and culture have always been central to what we do, but it’s the third word, together, that carries the most weight. It’s rich with meaning. It speaks to our interdependence with nature. It reflects the need for the three countries of our region to grow in…
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The Batwa Patient
There are few places where you desperately want to see a familiar face — like a hospital. Unless you work in one, all that antiseptic sparkle and military-level order is enough to make anyone feel a bit twitchy. That’s exactly where our Batwa “Pygmy” partners from Lake Bunyonyi ended up: first at the health centre…
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Primates in the Mist: Climbing Mount Bisoke in the Rainy Season
The Virungas are currently in the rainy season, and hiking the volcanoes feels completely different compared to the drier months. Two brave team members decided to take on the challenge of climbing Mt Bisoke (3,711 m/ 12,175 ft): our Greek volunteer, Sifis, and Rwandan office manager, Sasha. At the park headquarters we were paired with…
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Fishing Experiences on the Congo Nile Trail
Three connected boats, powered only by singing fishermen with no engine in sight — the Dutch TV crew was impressed! They came to Rwanda to film a travel documentary for 3 op Reis/BNNVARA, with the Congo Nile Trail as a featured highlight. Since the trail hugs Lake Kivu’s shore, capturing lake life was essential. Consider…
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Eggs! Eggs!! Eggs!!!
Let’s rewind to Christmas 2024 for a sec — remember what you were doing? Eating too much and dodging awkward family convos? Meanwhile, at Edirisa on Lake Bunyonyi we were on the edge of our seats. Because on 23 December, drumroll please, 300 fluffy little layer chicks landed — all alive (imagine that!!!), all peeping,…
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