Volcanoes Safaris

Story

Founded in 1997 by Praveen Moman, Volcanoes Safaris pioneers gorilla and chimpanzee ecotourism in Uganda and Rwanda. For more than twenty-five years, the company leads the revival of responsible wildlife tourism while inviting you to discover the rich culture, history, and hospitality traditions of Africa's Great Lakes Region. What begins with Mount Gahinga Lodge grows into a collection of award-winning lodges and conservation-focused experiences that connect you with mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, breathtaking landscapes, and local communities.

The journey traces its roots back to 1927, when Praveen Moman's great-uncle, Churanji Lal Phakey, became the first family member to settle in Uganda. In 1997, Praveen established Mount Gahinga Lodge after returning to the same region he first explored as a child, laying the foundation for Volcanoes Safaris. Since then, the company continues expanding across Uganda and Rwanda with landmark developments, including Bwindi Lodge, Virunga Lodge, Kyambura Gorge Lodge, and Kibale Lodge, while supporting gorilla and chimpanzee trekking experiences throughout the region.

Volcanoes Safaris strengthens conservation through long-term partnerships and community initiatives. Milestones include signing the UN Kinshasa Declaration on Saving the Great Apes, establishing the Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust (VSPT), launching the Gahinga Batwa Village, supporting the Jane Goodall Institute Uganda, partnering with the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, and creating projects such as the Albertine Apes Alliance, the Virunga Community Carpentry and Tailoring Centre, and the Kyambura Discovery Centre. Every journey allows you to contribute to conservation, community development, and responsible ecotourism across the Albertine Rift.

Mission

Volcanoes Safaris delivers distinctive gorilla and chimpanzee safari experiences while connecting you with local culture, conservation, and authentic hospitality. Every lodge reflects the character of its surroundings, respects local traditions and aesthetics, uses natural resources responsibly, and supports neighboring communities. Sustainable tourism creates meaningful economic opportunities that help protect endangered wildlife and preserve habitats for future generations.

Vision

For more than twenty-five years, Volcanoes Safaris follows a clear vision. You experience lodges that respect local culture and aesthetics, connect with local communities and conservation projects, and use resources responsibly.

You discover the core Afro-chic design ethos inspired by Praveen’s life experiences—the simplicity of life in the bush, the values of Mahatma Gandhi, and the appreciation of African culture and aesthetics. Volcanoes Safaris draws primary design inspiration from many sources, including the homes of local African villagers, the surrounding landscape, handcrafted approaches, and improvised design by eye rather than obviously contrived styles (called kienyeji in Swahili). In post-colonial Africa, you experience a respectful approach to local culture and people. The essence of luxury remains subtle, natural, and never contrived.

Volcanoes Safaris minimises the environmental impact of the lodges by using solar power whenever possible, harvesting rainwater, and recycling water and wastewater whenever possible. The lodges also avoid unnecessary single-use plastics.

You support a conservation approach that places species such as the mountain gorilla within the economic mainstream. Volcanoes Safaris demonstrates that sensitive and well-managed tourism plays an essential role in conservation. You also help ensure that conservation and tourism deliver tangible, long-term benefits to local communities, giving endangered species the best chance to survive.

Volcanoes Safaris believes that every journey should create a positive impact on local communities and wildlife conservation. By staying at a Volcanoes Safaris lodge, you directly support long-term community development and conservation initiatives across Uganda and Rwanda.
Connecting Lodges to Communities and Conservation

The Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust (VSPT), established in 2009, connects Volcanoes Safaris' lodges in Rwanda and Uganda with neighboring communities and conservation activities. Volcanoes Safaris contributes $50 per night from every guest stay to fund the Trust, alongside grants from conservation organizations and private donations. VSPT creates long-term, self-sustaining projects that improve local livelihoods, promote great ape conservation, restore natural habitats, and reduce human-wildlife conflict. During your stay, you can visit VSPT projects and experience the daily lives of the surrounding communities.
Improving livelihoods, protecting fragile ecosystems, and conservation of great apes

Volcanoes Safaris supports projects that improve livelihoods, protect fragile ecosystems, and conserve great apes. Near Bwindi Lodge, Bwindi Bar provides hospitality training for disadvantaged local youth. The Gahinga Batwa Village, officially opened in 2018, offers a permanent home for the Mount Gahinga Batwa Community, one of the oldest surviving Indigenous peoples of the Central African Forest. The Kyambura Gorge Eco-tourism Project, launched in 2019, safeguards the gorge ecosystem after more than a decade of conservation work, making Volcanoes Safaris and VSPT the largest single stakeholder in the ecosystem after the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Volcanoes Safaris also advances wildlife conservation through the Kyambura Lion Monitoring Project, launched in 2023. The project supports large carnivore conservation in Queen Elizabeth National Park through wildlife monitoring, annual surveys, conservation education, ecotourism training for young Ugandans, and responses to human-wildlife conflict. During a game drive, you can contribute by tracking GPS locations and photographing lions, with your observations becoming part of the official wildlife census.

The Albertine Rift Ecosystems and Great Apes: Conservation Challenges 2022 to 2050

To mark its 25th anniversary, Volcanoes Safaris hosted the Albertine Rift Ecosystems and Great Apes: Conservation Challenges 2022 to 2050 retreat at Mount Gahinga Lodge. Conservation partners reflected on decades of achievements and challenges while developing collaborative actions to safeguard great apes and the unique Albertine Rift ecosystems through 2050. The retreat also led to the creation of the Albertine Apes Alliance, which continues to coordinate conservation efforts across the region.