Breakfast 2 Kilometers Up

Who They Are

Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge is situated in Nkuringo, bordering the southwestern corner of the Bwindi National Park.  At 2,100 meters, Clouds enjoys a panoramic view of the Virunga Mountains and the Great Rift Valley.  Up to 20 guests are accommodated in 6 single/double stone cottages and 2 family suites, each featuring en-suite bathrooms, private gardens, and double-sided fireplaces.

After a Cold, Wet Day in the Forests...

The lodge is part of the International Gorilla Conservation Program’s tri-nation project to protect the highly endangered mountain gorilla.  Nine of Uganda’s top artists’ works are featured at the lodge, with their art focusing on people, conservation, and community.

In addition to gorilla tracking – there are about 21 gorillas at Nkuringo -  guests can enjoy interactive visits to Bakiga and Batwa communities, as well as walks through the Baniga forest, where, if you’re lucky, you might get a glimpse of wild chimpanzees.

What They Are Doing

Clouds is a unique partnership between the Nkuringo community (Nkuringo Community Development Foundation), the African Wildlife Foundation, and Uganda Safari Company, who also own Semliki Safari Lodge.

At Play

As part of this agreement, almost all staff members are from the local community and have been trained in the hospitality industry.  A percentage of the lodge’s income goes to the NCDF, which funds are split between health care, education,  business development and agriculture.

A pig project is run by 13 members of the Nteko community, who manage and breed the animals. In 2009 income was made from the sale of piglets.  The project receives food scraps from the lodge.

A vegetable garden started by the lodge for its own use has now been supplemented with gardens at two primary schools. Besides teaching locals more modern farming methods, it is hoped to encourage them to eat vegetables and address the problem of malnutrition in the community.  Pupils are encouraged to take seedlings to start gardens at home.

The Weavers

The most successful project has been the Nkuringo weavers. There are now about 400 participants, who the foundation are helping with their business and to manage their product lines.  The weavers are also taught about family planning and financial management.  Their business generates about $2500 a month and is growing.

Some of the Nkuringo Orphans Perform

The foundation has recently started working with a group of 58 orphans, the Nkuringo Orphans Group, who sometimes put on a performance for guests.  While the project is still new, five children are already in private boarding schools.

In Toro-Semliki Park

Who They Are

Semliki Safari Lodge, a member of the Wild Places group in Uganda, lies in the heart of the Albertine Rift Valley in the Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve.  Toro-Semliki, 550 square kilometers of pristine habitat, is home to several West African species as well as the unique forest elephants and dry habitat chimpanzees. It is also a hotspot for bird watchers, with over 450 species.  Lake Albert, on the northern boundary of the reserve, provides excellent opportunities for shoebill sightings.

Tent Interior, Part 1

Tent Interior, Part Two

Accommodation at Semliki Safari Lodge is in 8 luxury tents with thatched roofs, mahogany floors, stone bathrooms and private verandahs with sweeping views of the Wassa forest or the Kijura escarpment.

What They Are Doing

As part of the original concession agreement, Semliki Safari Lodge has always played a large role in the conservation of the reserve.  Assistance with ranger patrols, controlled burning and wildlife monitoring over the years has led to the creation of the Wild Places Conservation Trust.  The trust, established in 2008, combines elements of park management and conservation with community development in order to preserve the ecological environment in and around the reserve and improve the quality of life for neighboring communities.

Conservation

The trust, in cooperation with the Uganda Wildlife Authority, has stepped up

A Shoebill Stork on Lake Albert

anti-poaching efforts through increased mobile patrols and the creation of ranger outposts. Together they have made great strides in reducing timber and wildlife poaching and in stemming cattle encroachment.  The recent purchasing of GPS equipment has assisted greatly in anti-poaching efforts and wildlife monitoring.

Education

The trust has also pioneered a conservation education program in the local primary schools with the aim of creating a new generation of conservation-minded citizens along the reserve boundary.  The trust has targeted 13 neighboring schools, which each receive regular classroom instruction and have “environmental days.” Teacher training and the establishment of a community nature center are part of future trust plans.

Community

The trust has been active in the local health centers in an effort to improve public health services available to expectant mothers.  In addition to providing training and supplies to local traditional birth attendants, it also conducts regular maternal health education programs in the local health centers.

At the Lodge

In Their Own Words

“The Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve is a very unique reserve, both in terms of habitat and wildlife diversity.  It is with great pride and passion that we created the Wild Places Conservation Trust to work towards the protection and preservation of the reserve in cooperation with the local communities.  The trust aims to combine eco-tourism, sound park management, and community development to create a healthy environment in which the reserve and its wildlife thrive with a direct benefit to the neighboring communities.  We believe the Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve is a truly special place and we are pleased to be involved in its preservation and to share its magic with both its residents and its visitors.”