Nomadic Skies

DISCOVER TRAVEL WITH MEANING

The bio-diverse Virunga of South West Uganda

A unique and diverse journey starting in Kigali (Rwanda), trekking through the Gorilla Highlands and cloud and equatorial forests of SW Uganda, ascending the high Virunga Volcanoes, travelling across lakes by local boat, and experiencing the savannah of the Albertine Rift Valley, ending in Entebbe on the shores of Lake Victoria. The journey provides opportunities for chimp and gorilla tracking.

Nomadic Skies
Nomadic Skies

Journey essentials

We are offering 3 trip variations for our Ugandan journeys;

1) A 14 day Gorilla Highlands journey: For those who have less time and a deep exploration of the Gorilla Highlands of Uganda.
2) Our full 17 day itinerary: A trekking journey that will offer an unprecedented deep exploration of the gorilla highlands and include a journey into the Albertine Rift Valley to encounter Africa's big game and trek to see chimpanzee.
3) A 'trek lighter version' of our full 17 day journey: that will include vehicle transport to reduce trekking lengths and allow a more leisurely exploration of forests and lakes.

The Gorilla Highlands of Uganda

  • 14 days/13 nights starting and finishing in Kigali (Rwanda)
  • Internationally and locally led by experts in rural development and the cultures of SW Uganda
  • 3 nights in high quality hotels in Kigali and Lake Bunyonyi
  • 4 nights supported camp trekking staying in local homesteads (supported by 4WD vehicle that will transport our luggage)
  • 6 nights in private huts and lodges (locally and community owned)
  • 9 days moderate trekking including potential of 2 ascents of the high Virunga (above 3600m)

Additional days for our longer trip to the Albertine Rift valley and Lake Victoria

  • The 3 day addition for our longer trips (increasing the trip to 17 days in total)
  • Starting in Kigali (Rwanda) - finishing in Entebbe (Uganda) on the shores of Lake Victoria.
  • 1 additional hotel night and 2 nights in a safari lodge

Journey dates:
2026

  • 5th to 22nd January 2026: 17 day full trekking journey
  • 1st to 13th February: 14 day Gorilla Highland Journey
  • 3rd to 19th August: 17 day 'trek light' option for the full journey.

COST

14 day journey: US$ 4,600
17 day journey: US$ 5,250


Price per person based on 2 people sharing
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Nomadic Skies
WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

I cannot imagine travelling and experiencing all that this country has to offer, the wildlife, the incredible landscape and the communities with anyone other than Nomadic Skies! Nothing in the future is going to touch it!

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Sam Sanger

UK

Nomadic Skies delivered a 13 out of 10 and has set the bar very high for my future travel. They have created a very special way of slowing down tourism to be immersive and engaging in local culture.

Lerin Pierce

USA

Truely, a trip of a lifetime. The warmth and welcome of the Ugandan people really shines through, from the amazing support team to the communities you walk through on the journey. Travel through a patchwork of fields and villages, volcanoes and lakes, and see gorillas, chimpanzees, game animals of spectacular bird life.

Honor Roberts

UK

The trip provides a truly immersive experience with the people, the natural beauty, and the wildlife of Uganda. There are many people who “talk the talk” of local capacity building, but on a Nomadic Skies trip, you get a chance to “walk the walk”, both literally and figuratively.

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Laura Tiehen

USA

This was a way of travelling I could never have even imagined. The places we went to and the experiences we had were so varied, rich and beautiful that this trip of a lifetime will stay with me forever. It has totally changed the way I think about travel, and about genuinely benefitting and connecting with the people who’s country I have the great privilege of visiting.

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Cal Major

UK

This trip was more immersive than I had originally thought, but was so much better for it. Getting to know the people and their culture, even for this short time, was the biggest ad on to a holiday I have ever had

Nomadic Skies

A spectacular trip with something for everybody. My typical holidays are skiing, biking, rock climbing etc. so I wondered if the trip was for me but it turned out to be an incredibly rich and varied adventure.

Jolyon Winter

Switzerland

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Nomadic Skies

Journey highlights

A journey into biodiverse nature, African culture and stunning Volcanic landscapes

Experience this spectacular area of equatorial Africa on foot and by local boats in a way that no other visitors to the area do. Get off the beaten track and interact with the local Abakiga and Banyruanda people. Be guided by the indigenous forest people (Batwa) learning their forest wisdom, following their paths and visiting their ancestral sites. Experience hugely different habitats from high volcanic peaks, through cloud and equatorial forest, through rich smallholder farmlands, across island splattered crater lakes, and (with the potential bolt-on) to the Albertine Rift Valley savanna. Experience at close quarters incredible varied wildlife including primates( Monkey, gorilla and chimpanzee), Big game (elephant, hippo buffalo etc.), stunning birdlife, reptiles and insects.

Gorilla Highlands Journey
Visiting 2 National Parks - Mgahinga Volcanoes and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and the stunning and varied habitats and wildlife. • An exploration and trek through 3 varied forests with indigenous Batwa forest guides (Echuya, Mgahinga and Bwindi and Kyambura Gorge).
Explore Batwa culture, walk Batwa trails and visit Batwa cultural sites as part of our collaboration with indigenous forest people.
Travel by boat across stunning lakes Bunyonyi and Mutanda including travelling by local dugout canoe as part of our journey.
• Spend 4 nights camping with local households exploring the culture and lives of the Abakiga people.
• Stay in private huts on the edges of Mgahinga and Bwindi Forests with opportunities to see varied wildlife and birds.
• Have the opportunity to ascend two of the stunning high Virunga – Mount Sabinyo (3634m) and Mount Gahinga (3474m) and experience the vegetational zones from bamboo, through virgin forest, into the giant heather and lichen forest and to the otherworldly high alpine zone.

Additional days for the 17 day journey
Take a private wildlife launch down the Kazinga channel of Queen Elizabeth National Park viewing big game and birds at close proximity.
Track and view chimpanzee along the forested Kyambura Gorge where birdlife abounds and hippos populate the river.
• Take a boat on Lake Victoria to view rare Shoebill Stork and other lake birdlife.

• Potential to include the unique experience of Mountain Gorilla tracking as an optional extra that can be included in the itinerary of the core journey (2026 price for a permit is $800).

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Groups of 2 to 5

Small group bespoke trips

Nomadic Skies can also design a bespoke trip for small groups (families and friends). We can adapt our journey in Uganda according to your interests and timeframes:


Due to rainfall patterns, trips are best between December and February, and June to August.


Contact us to discuss you interest.

Itinerary summary

See downloadable brochure for a detailed itinerary

Core Journey

Day 1: Arrival in Kigali (Rwanda). Night in Kigali hotel
Day 2: Vehicle transport from Kigali to Lake Bunyonyi (3-4 hours). Night in hotel lodge.
Day 3: Trek (8.5km) and boat exploration of lake Bunyonyi and its islands. Night on a locally owned island- homestay camp.
Day 4: Cross Bunyonyi by local dugout canoes. Trek to edge of Echuya Forest (6.5km). Night in a homestay camp.
Day 5: Trek through Echuya led by Batwa guides (indigenous forest people) and trek to lake Kayumbu (16.6km). Night in homestay camp.
Day 6: Trek to edge of Mgahinga (Virunga) National Park (18km). Night in homestay camp.
Day 7: Trek along the Batewa trails of Mgahinga forest with Batwa guides (6.9km). Night on self contained community huts.
Day 8: Optional ascent of Mount Sabinyo at 3634m (11.4km) or the slightly easier Mount Gahinga at 3474m (10.7km) or tracking Golden monkeys or guided nature walks in Mgahinga national park. Night in community huts.
Day 9: Optional activities in the Mgahinga National Park including Golden Monkey and gorge exploration and vehicle transport to South shore of Lake Matanda with a boat journey to a lakeside lodge.
Day 10: Trek along village trails o Rushaga at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (13.7km). Night in local lodge huts.
Day 11: Potential Gorilla Tracking day or community/nature walks. 2nd night in local lodge huts.
Day 12: Trek through Bwindi Impenetrable Forest with Batwa guides (12.4km) and night in Buhoma Community camp self-contained huts.
Day 13: Return journey by vehicle to Kigali (night in Kigali)
Day 14: departure day


For the full 17 days
Day 13: Community exploration in Buhoma and vehicle transportation to Queen Elizabeth national Park (4 hours). Night in rooms/huts at a local lodge.
Day 14: Chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge, wildlife boat launch down the Kazinga channel to see big game, potential sunset driving safari. 2nd night in Lodge.
Day 15: Drive to Entebbe (6-7 hours) Night in Hotel by Lake Victoria.
Day 16: Exploration of Entebbe by boat and foot including optional boat to ssee the nesting shoebill storks. 2nd night in lakeside hotel.
Day 17: Departure from Entebbe.

Nomadic Skies

Discover a stunning corner of equatorial Africa

Background of the journey

This is an amazing and diverse journey.

We will travel across volcanic crater lakes by local dugout canoe, along village trails, through equatorial forest teaming with life to the soaring Virunga Volcanoes with their other-worldly Africa Alpine vegetation culminating at the habitat of the Mountain Gorilla.

This journey has been developed based on founder, Gavin Anderson's, longstanding and intimate knowledge of Uganda and the Virunga area. Having lived in Uganda for 9 years (and Africa for 14 years), Gavin has been involved in development activities in the area for over 25 years. He was also Chairman of the Mountain Club of Uganda, pioneering journeys in the Virunga and other mountain and rural areas of Uganda.

Maps of our journey

Red routes are trekking sections,
Blue routes are sections by boat
Black routes are sections by vehicle
Hiking map
Overall route
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Inspiring unique journeys

Nomadic Skies

01

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Sacred fibres: Textiles of the hidden High Himalaya

An immersive journey into the textiles of the mountain communities of the Humla area of Northwestern Nepal An inspiring opportunity to travel with fellow textile enthusiasts. Find out about the practical, cultural and sacred relevance of woven and sewn textiles. Spend time with skilled local artisans, work with them and learn from them. A window into rich but little explored cultural heritage and a journey of personal creative development and inspiration in a stunning mountain environment.


29th September to 14th October 2024

Nomadic Skies

02

Tour

Silk Trade & Pilgrim Routes of Armenia

13 days
Journey along the hidden pilgrim trails and silk trade routes of Southern Armenia, exploring the ancient, modern and recent history and natural environments of the Vorotan River Gorge in collaboration with hill communities along our route.

Cost: From US$ 2900 (around £2300)


2025

  • 11th to 23rd May 2025
Nomadic Skies

03

Tour

Trails of remote High Himalayan culture and wisdom

19 days
A stunning trek to the sacred and other-worldly Lake Phoksundo. Ascending off established trails through Shamanic Hindu mountain villages to the monasteries and stunning landscapes of the hidden, culturally Tibetan valleys of the High Himalayan of North West Nepal.

NEW: Bespoke journeys for groups of 2 to 5: Having built up our local teams and indigenous guides we are now offering tailored trips for small groups. Contact us for more details.


2025 Group trips:

  • 13th to 31st October (open for bookings): An exploration of indigenous beliefs and practices around wildlife and conservation in high mountain communities.
Nomadic Skies

Explore South West Uganda

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SKIES
NOMADIC SKIES