Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust celebrates the opening of the Bwindi Gorilla Conservation Centre on World Gorilla Day
A permanent space at Bwindi Lodge connecting ecotourism to gorilla and human health.
The Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust (VSPT) opens the Bwindi Gorilla Conservation Centre at Bwindi Lodge.
The Gorilla Conservation Centre showcases the work of three long standing partners: Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust (VSPT), Conservation through Public Health (CTPH) and Gorilla Doctors and celebrates 25 years of Bwindi Lodge.
The story of Bwindi Lodge began in 1999 when Phenny Gongo, a ranger who habituated the gorillas for tourism identified the site. A simple mobile camp was set up, around where the Bwindi Gorilla Conservation Centre is today!
“The building of Bwindi Lodge was part of Volcanoes Safaris vision to become the Great Apes company Africa.
As a charter signatory to the 2005 UN Kinshasa Declaration on protecting great apes, our long- term commitment to gorilla conservation is central to our ethos and vision. The Bwindi Gorilla Conservation Centre is a practical testament to it.”
“We are honoured to have the work of Gorilla Doctors featured at the Bwindi Gorilla Conservation Centre. For forty years we have been keeping eastern gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda, and the DRC healthy with our life-saving veterinary care. The new centre provides a wonderful way for visitors and the local community to engage with our mission, and shows a real commitment to conservation education and stewardship from Volcanoes Safaris.”
“We congratulate Volcanoes Safaris on the opening of the Bwindi Gorilla Conservation Centre, which marks a wonderful milestone in our partnership, providing a permanent space where visitors, researchers, and community members can see how gorilla health, human health, and livelihoods are all connected. We look forward to continuing this vital work together for decades to come.
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Notes to editors
Photo credit: Volcanoes Safaris
Video of the opening of the Bwindi Gorilla Conservation Centre, created by Alex Braczkowski.
About Bwindi Lodge
Gorillas in Bwindi National Park were habituated for tourism in 1993.
In 1999, the site for Bwindi Lodge was acquired. In 2000 we started the building of the first permanent lodge in Bwindi.
Shortly afterwards, Praveen Moman, founder of Volcanoes Safaris, had the privilege of trekking gorillas with the President of Uganda. This led to Volcanoes Safaris initiating a series of meetings between the President and key tourism stakeholders on policies to kick-start primate tourism in Uganda.
Since 1999 the population of the mountain gorilla population in Bwindi has increased from about 300 to an estimated 600, thanks to the work of the Uganda Wildlife Authority, Conservation partners, and sensitive and controlled ecotourism and adherence of strict protocols. Revenue from gorilla ecotourism supports habitat protection while creating skills and improved livelihoods for local communities. Protecting the gorillas requires continued collaboration between Uganda Wildlife Authority, the tourism industry, conservation organisations, and local communities.
Guests can visit the Bwindi Gorilla Conservation Centre as part of a four-night gorilla safari at Bwindi Lodge. 2026 rates start from $5,579 per person in the low season. For more details, contact the Volcanoes Safaris sales team at enquiries@volcanoessafaris.com.
The lodge is a one-hour drive from Kihihi Airstrip. Daily flights are available from Entebbe. The starting point for gorilla trekking in Bwindi is a short walk from the lodge.
About Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust (VSPT)
VSPT is a non-profit organization in Uganda that works with local communities and conservation partners to enrich local livelihoods, promote the conservation of the great apes, restore natural habitats, and reduce human-wildlife conflict.
Guests can participate in VSPT activities, including making the famous Ugandan 'Rolex' delicacy at Bwindi Bar, learning about the processing of tea, and how to make baskets.
About Gorilla Doctors
Since 1986, the Gorilla Doctors is the only organization in the world keeping eastern gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda, and DR Congo healthy and in the wild through life-saving veterinary care, science, and a One Health approach.
About Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH)
CTPH is an award-winning non-profit organisation founded in 2003 by Dr Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, her husband, Lawrence Zikusoka, and veterinary technician Stephen Rubanga. CTPH champions a One Health approach to conservation that addresses the health of people, animals and the environment together.