UGANDA/RWANDA GORILLA CONSERVATION YOGA RETREAT
With little more than 1,000 mountain gorillas remaining in the wild we couldn’t think of a better focus for our next conservation-focused yoga retreat. We’ll be spending a week in the foothills of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda, which is home to more than half of the world’s population of wild mountain gorillas. We’ll spend a day hiking in this incredible forest and meeting these gorilla families here, spending time with the local people who protect their home and learning more about the plight of wild mountain gorillas in support The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.
DATES: Saturday 22nd - Friday 28th May 2027
WHAT TO EXPECT
Each day we will be waking up to spectacular views across Lake Mutanda and The Virunga Volcanoes from our home base in Kisoro. We’ll practice yoga each morning and afternoon in a dedicated, spacious yoga shala and spend our days hiking, boating and meeting Uganda’s famous gorillas and golden monkeys.
THE CONSERVATION FOCUS
Proceeds from this retreat are donated to The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. As well as spending time in Bwindi (+ an optional hike into Mgahinga) we will be visiting the Dian Fossey Foundation in Rwanda as part of this retreat and having a private tour of their facility to learn more about the work we are supporting.
Our accomodation.
Welcome to Chameleon Hill Lodge. The accommodation for our Uganda yoga and gorilla trekking retreat is a boutique hilltop retreat perched above Lake Mutanda on the edge of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, with the Virunga Volcanoes rising beyond the water on the horizon. The spacious rooms are spread across the rolling hillside, each one individually designed with hand-crafted Euro-African furnishings and its own distinct identity — vivid, warm, and unlike anything else in the region.
Accommodation options range from classic chalets with private terraces overlooking the lake, to deluxe chalets sleeping up to three, to two-bedroom villas ideal for sharing. Every option is positioned to make the most of the lake, the forest, and the extraordinary sky above them both. The views from the rooms and common areas and from our dedicated yoga space are really something else!
The spacious dining area and its wooden deck sit at the top of the hill, overlooking Lake Mutanda that stretches to the volcanoes beyond. This is where mornings begin and evenings end and where, between gorilla treks in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and other excursions, you'll find yourself returning to happily sit and take it all in.
This lodge is full of heart and charm right in the beautiful foothills of one of Africa's most important mountain gorilla habitats.
Our schedule.
Our schedule could change as we adjust to permit availability, energy levels and weather. But this will hopefully give you a good idea of what to expect from our week.
Day one (Saturday)
8AM: Attendees to meet at a pre-arranged location in Kigali for the drive to Volcanoes National Park (approx 3 hours) where will have a private guided tour of the Ellen Degeneres Campus to learn more about the Dian Fossey Fund’s work before continuing on to Chameleon Hill.
4.30PM: Afternoon yoga
6PM: Sundowners and dinner
Day two (Sunday)
8AM: Breakfast at the lodge
9.30AM: Morning meditation & vinyasa yoga
11AM: Today we’ll head to a local coffee farm where we’ll experience an interesting, authentic coffee tour before proceeding to Lake Mutanda to meet our boat. We’ll cross the lake to Mutanda island for a community tour before returning back to Chameleon Hill late in the afternoon
1.30PM: Return to the lodge for lunch
4.30PM: Afternoon yoga
6PM: Sundowners and dinner
Day three (Monday)
7AM: Breakfast at the lodge
8AM: Depart for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for Gorilla tracking
1.30PM: Lunch at the lodge and afternoon at leisure (massage, kayaking, local walks)
4.30PM: Afternoon restorative yoga
6PM: Sundowners and dinner
Day four (Tuesday)
7AM: Morning meditation & vinyasa yoga
8.30AM: Breakfast at the lodge
10AM: Depart for Magahinga for Golden Monkey Trekking. We’ll return to Chameleon Hill across Lake Mutanda, by boat and via Mutanda island for a community tour and picnic lunch.
6PM: Sundowners and dinner
Day five (Wednesday)
7AM: Morning meditation & vinyasa yoga
8.30AM: Breakfast at the lodge
9.30AM: Depart for a Magic Walk: we’ll follow our guide through indigenous forest down to the stream in the valley. Along the way, we’ll learn about medicinal plants, shrubs and flowers that have been put to good use for centuries by the ancient shamans and healers.
1.30PM: Lunch at the lodge and afternoon at leisure (massage, kayaking, local walks)
4.30PM: Afternoon yoga
6PM: Sundowners and dinner
Day six (Thursday)
7AM: Morning meditation & vinyasa yoga
8.30AM: Breakfast at the lodge
10AM: Day at leisure (optional activities available include boating and kayaking, massage, a local village tour, walks etc) More Gorillas? Today you can also head to Mgahinga to see the mountain gorillas here or you can take part in a Gorilla Habituation Experience in Bwindi (habituation groups have the opportunity to spend upto four hours with the gorilla families). *It is adviced to prebooked gorilla trekking experiences to ensure permit availability on the day of your trek.
4.30PM: Afternoon yoga
6PM: Sundowners and dinner
Departure day (Friday)
7AM: Breakfast and morning at leisure
9AM: Road transfer back to Kigali (please book your international flights departing after 4PM today, or overnight in Kigali)
**Those continuing on to our optional extension will transfer to the next destination again and fly home from Entebbe Airport in Uganda.
Investment.
We have several options for room types on this retreat. Click here to see room options in more detail.
EARLY BIRD PRICES (Available until 15 September 2026)
Classic Chalet (0/4 available)
Sharing: USD4,890 per person | Private: USD5,760
Deluxe Chalet (2/6 available)
Sharing: USD5,790 per person | Private: USD7,190
Villa (2/2 available)
Sharing: USD6,350 per person | Private: USD7,950
**A note on tracking permits: Gorilla trekking permits are purchased outright as there are a limited number issued each day. This means that your permit is non-refundable once we have purchased it for you.
Making a booking.
It’s a US$1,600 deposit to secure your space + $600 for your tracking permit, and the remainder is due 90 days before the start of the retreat. Please let us know your preferred room type and ensure you read our T’s & C’s when completing your booking.
This $1,600 deposit +$600 gorilla trekking permit purchase holds your space on our 2027 Uganda retreat.
($500 deposit folks- It’s fully refundable until 15 June (when we plan to announce the details of this retreat).
Contact us.
What can we help you with? Drop us a line and we’ll do our best to respond within 48hrs.
Here’s what your week on our Rwanda and Uganda Gorilla Trekking Yoga Retreat could look like…
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Accommodation: 6 nights at Chameleon Hill Forest Lodge
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks
Drinks: juices, tea, coffee and drinking water (other options are available at the bar on account)
Activities: twice daily yoga, local guided walks and drives, 1 gorilla tracking permit for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest + transport too/from the entry gate, 1 Golden Monkey tracking permit + transport too/from the entry gate, named activities in the itinerary: Magic Walk, Best of Uganda Day Tour and Tour of The Dian Fossey Gorilla Campus (see activities list for detailed inclusions and exclusions)
Transfers: road transfers too and from from a pre-determined location in Kigali, Rwanda.
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
International flights and any other travel not outlined in the itinerary
Any additional activities not mentioned
Travel Insurance (required) eg. World Nomad
Alcoholic beverages (available for purchase at the lodge bar)
Optional Mgahinga tracking permit or Habituation Permit + transportation to and from the trekking locations
Other important travel information.
PICK UP DAY: Pick up is from The Nest Hotel in Kigali - we suggest you plan to arrive the day before the retreat and spend one or two nights at The Nest, so you’re relaxed and ready for our adventure.
VISAS & VACCINATIONS: You will be required to obtain a visa for both Rwanda and Uganda ahead of arrival - these are currently $50 and can be purchased online. They must be printed and carried with you.
TRAVEL INSURANCE: You are required to ensure that you have fully comprehensive travel insurance ahead of your trip. Your insurance details will be required before the trip commences.
OPTIONAL HOLIDAY EXTENSION: More details coming soon!
Following the retreat, we will venture to another area of the country, offering the opportunity to further explore the Pearl of Africa, discovering different cultures, wildlife and conservation stories. If you are, or think you might be interested in joining us, please let us know and we will confirm details as soon as possible. We wanted you to be aware of this optional extension before booking your international flights, so you can decide whether you'd like to include it in your travel plans.
